American households invest time and money in things they assume are worth it, whether it is because they are believed to improve quality of life or are cost-effective.
New parents may be loyal to a particular diaper brand that they believe prevents leaks. Families purchase or prepare school lunches to give their children a balanced diet.
But the reality is that they often don’t know whether these investments are having the desired effect. The lunchbox is coming home empty, but did the child eat the carrots and hummus or trade them for Twinkies? If families had the tools and time to evaluate the impact of these investments, they might learn there are smarter ways to spend their money.
