Empower or Manipulate?

Marketing, million dollar marketing. It affects us, and they spend millions trying to get us to do what they want. So are we powerless, do we give in and die? Some times I feel like a pod in the matrix

They tell me what to buy, where, when, Kohl's 30% off coming to mind??
So what are we doing about it? I started an anti-marketing campaign in my life. I ask myself when I come across something, does this help "empower" me to reach my goals, or does it "manipulate" me to change my goals, or at least my direction? I want to make my own choices. Repeat. I WILL MAKE MY OWN CHOICES.