Buying stupid stuff... you don't need another sweater.
Given what's coming, it's time to look at our spending habits.
This is essay #99
Trust me, I love a good shopping experience, but maybe it’s time to just stop.
The Tariffs Are Coming! The Tariffs Are Coming!
Wait. You know what a tariff is, right?
A tariff is a tax on imported or exported goods and services, usually levied by the government of the importing country. Tariffs are a form of trade regulation that can be used to protect domestic industries or to raise revenue.
Listen up, this is not going to bode well for American consumers, making everything from clothing and furniture to electronics and medical supplies cost more… and WE will be paying the price increase, not the manufacturer.
Alicia Norman just published a valuable piece and you need to read it.
Share it widely with all your MAGA folks, if you haven’t cut them outta your life yet, that is. 😂
We can’t escape this… I mean, prices on plumbing fixtures and toilet paper, coffee and cars, are about to go up… no matter where you buy them. Our grocery prices will rise, despite new administration claims to the contrary.
But can we all agree we spend stupid money on crap we really don’t need? Case in point. ⬇️⬇️⬇️
Beyond our ‘must have’ consumables-like food- it might be time to take a hard look at WHAT we’re buying and WHERE we’re buying it.
Big box stores. If you can help it, don’t patronize them. These corporate giants undermine small business, which are truly the heart of our economy.
Did you know? There are 33,185,550 small businesses in the United States. Small businesses (get more data here) employ 61.7 million Americans, totaling 46.4% of private sector employees. That’s a bunch… we need to support them.
Need a gift? Skip the department store. Find a maker or local artisan and buy from them. Hit the local art gallery, farmers market, or one of the many craft shows about to spring up in churches and gyms everywhere. Guaranteed you’ll find a unique, handcrafted present you won’t see at Macys.
NOTE about Etsy. Etsy is the mecca for makers… but I learned that factories and made-in-China resellers have flooded Etsy with knock offs. So buy carefully there, check the sellers About Us page, and see where they’re located. You’ll be surprised.
The point is… when you can, buy local.
Here’s another idea. If you absolutely feel the need to buy something, check out consignment stores and thrift shops. The thrill of the hunt for something cool is definitely there. You spend very little and find some wonderful things.
And finally… just stop buying stupid shit. Like this:
Archie McPhee is a treasure trove of useless crap. 😂
It isn’t going to be hard to stop spending money when the policies of incoming clowns create a recession. We’ll be lucky to buy groceries. I dream of a national boycott where no one buys a damned thing for a week or more.
So, yes to toilet paper, coffee, and food. (And wine? 🍷) No to a shopping spree in the mall. I mean how many sweaters do you need?
You can only wear one at a time, right? 🤷🏼♀️
Wait, what color is the sweater? 🤣🤣🤣
In the spirit of this issue, I’d like to share my solution for curtailing and becoming more deliberate with my spending habits. I cancelled all things Amazon. For me, it is the best way to not be encouraged to spend unnecessarily. It may not work for all but it does for me. Amazon can be like a narcotic, I had to cut the cord!