Reduced Participation in Loyalty Programs

Here is good news: a CNBC story says U.S. shoppers are decreasing their participation in retail rewards programs. These programs feature money-saving offers for shoppers who shop at the same retail chain more than once a month. But the programs require a substantial time commitment, and the resulting time pressure makes the loyalty program not worth it, except perhaps if it is at one of a shopper’s two or three favorite stores. If people are taking steps to free up time, such as dropping out of loyalty programs, that will lead to lower stress, better decisions, and more productive action in their daily lives.