That sounds almost impossible? Unless you're Amish or something like that.

I suppose they're being a little hyperbolic but honestly plenty of folks just buy off brand generic products at ALDI. Pretty easy to avoid advertised stuff if you just shop at discounters. Popular here in Germany even among people who are well off.

Aldi advertise.

Cudos for you. I try something similar, I do not buy a product if I believe I saw its ads. It is a light version of your strategy (I'm not going to watch ads to know what is advertised and what isn't), but even it doesn't work in all cases. For example, my cat eats advertized food now. Not all of it though, but dry food is advertized.

This is one of the most obviously nonsense statements I’ve ever seen made.

You've never had any major brand of pop, ever?

Ok, I admit I was once a gullible teenager but luckily I didnt have any money then.

Probably tons of things you are missing out on.

Some of the most life-changing products I own were shown to me in an ad. Might not have bought that exact item, but the knowledge of that type of product even existing?!

Mindblowing.