Haul Videos

First, what in the heck are haul videos?

Haul videos are the video documentation of your most recent shopping spree, that is then uploaded to YouTube-mostly limited to teens, and early twenty-somethings….

What has that got to do with personal finance?

Well, great question.  My first impulse was that Haul Videos were showing two horrible trends affecting our youth:

1. Consumerism/materialism-most of the videos seem to be about cosmetic and clothing purchases, and seem to glorify Maximum Volume.  In other words, the amount of stuff was more important than the stuff, or price.
2. Celebrity Culture-The videos seem to be a cry for attention-hey look at me.  I am a worthy person, you can tell, by all the stuff I bought.

Haul Video for your review-shortest one I found:

But after viewing several of the videos made this year, I found what seemed to be a trend.   Many of the videos, had the items and prices pop up as they were showing their purchases.  Talking about the 70%  off table.   How they got free shipping from Sephora, at their clearance section on the web.

Let’s face it, kids view video, as folks my age viewed comic books, and newspapers (depending on the kids age).  They also take the place of “talking”.  When we found something we wanted to share with our friends, we jumped on our bikes, and rode to their home.  Young folks now, with urbanization maybe aren’t able to hang with their friends as easily.

Technology has also changed -video was just coming out when I was young-and required huge expense, reels of video tape, and watching taped boring family gatherings-watched over, and over, and over……

Now there are fun and easy ways to manage money with free online resources such as TurboTax, and self-help videos on YouTube to help formulate a personal budget plan. If we can teach our kids these easy techniques to get the most out of a budget, and where to find the right resources, they will learn to make good choices with their finances and still have the things they want in the process.

Now, our cell phone has as much or more video capability, CHEAP.

Marisa Meltzer, in Slate Magazine, describes “Haul Videos” in a recent article, and decided she would make her own.

So what would my recommendations be for my children (mine are grown, so this is an example) before they made a haul video:

• Planned Spending-only buy what you had planned to spend
• Best Price-when you decided what you need, make sure you get the best price
• Utility shop, not entertainment shop-In other words, don’t shop to relieve stress, or just to be shopping.  If that is your only form of entertainment-then go without credit cards or money-and just LOOK!
• Stress value-If you must post a video of your purchases for all the world to see, stress the value you will get out of each purpose-nothing wrong with it being cute, or cool or rad!!-hey, I am down with all that! (trying out slang-usually doesn’t work.)
• Saving and Giving need to be in proportion to your spending.

Would they listen to me-probably not.

So just like my parents thought long hair and bell-bottoms were going to be the end of the world, my initial reaction with “Haul Videos” were negative.  But after reflection-they are probably a harmless fad.

Maybe I will make a “Haul Video” the next time I go buy scrubs, or hit the sporting goods store for new fishing lures-I am sure you will all want to check it out on YouTube!

Have you guys had any experience with haul videos?  What do you think of the trend?  Go to YouTube-search haul videos, and see for yourself what is out there.

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