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Original poster

To suggest that people should buy less stuff

305 replies

Noras · 02/02/2025 12:20

i just think that the mess we are in is because we get stuff from overseas that we don’t really need. People buy a lot of tat and junk eg cheap clothing, rubbish confectionary and artificial tat for homes. If we all just cut down on huge chunks of it we could cut out our balance of payment deficit.

Also people need to buy less from overseas owned companies. People need to check each and every company they buy from and go for smaller independents etc There needs to be an online list of stores to avoid.

OP posts:
username299 · 02/02/2025 12:25

We're indoctrinated into buying more. Years ago you bought something to last a lifetime. Now items have a shelf life built into them.

We exploit people for cheap, disposable goods, then we dump them in developing countries.

T4phage · 02/02/2025 12:25

I agree. People buy tat because it momentarily cheers them up without spending too much, but it just ends up in landfill soon afterwards.

Findacleverusername · 02/02/2025 12:24

As soon as we moved from a manufacturing economy to a retail economy we set ourselves up for living in a society that needs people endless buying, " stuff" for it to function.
Unfortunately.

NuffSaidSam · 02/02/2025 12:22

Buying less stuff would certainly be better for the environment.

I'm not sure if it would overall be better for the economy. There'd have to be more fundamental changes than people just stop buying stuff I think, otherwise we'd be looking at mass unemployment. Lots of people have jobs based on our consumerist culture.

Cappuccinowithonesugarplease · 02/02/2025 12:22

I agree op. Consumerism is getting worse and worse especially that you can now buy furnishings to change with all seasons etc. I also hate fast fashion.