Consumer Skills & Protection

Smart spending — comparing prices, reading reviews, distinguishing ads from reality. Impulse buying and the psychology behind it.

Major purchases (phones, laptops, cars) — research strategies, negotiation basics, timing purchases. Warranties — what's worth it. Return policies.

Reading contracts and fine print. Subscription traps. How companies use dark patterns to get your money. Your consumer rights (FTC protections, chargebacks).

Identity theft — how it happens, how to prevent it, what to do if it happens to you. Financial scams (phishing, social engineering, crypto scams, romance scams). Evaluating financial advice from influencers.

How advertising and marketing manipulate psychology. Planned obsolescence. Ethical consumerism and voting with your wallet. The true cost of "cheap" products. Data privacy — your financial data is a product.