Most shops are just landfill waiting to happen.

You are actually right , the shops are nice but some of the contents are similar usual tat masquerading as 'better' /'tasteful' as they're made in more natural looking colours and materials ,but really it's still another load of 'stuff' that we don't really need.

Yanbu it’s horrifying. The pics of ‘fashion’ in the Atacama desert rotting are just grim: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/chile-fashion-pollution

I agree about overcome consumption and tat.

However, I think it is okay to get pleasure from something that others may not deem worthy. My daughter has had health problems for the last five years and has been in and out of hospital. Her jellycat collection gives her so much joy. She loves choosing a new one for her birthday or Christmas and it is nice to see her smile when she has been through such a lot and missed out on so much. It isn’t just ‘landfill’ to her.

But it's environmentally sound, you could become part of a seagull.

If you prefer, you could be turned into a diamond, I believe there's also a company that will put your mortal remains into a firework if you want to go out with a bang.

That's super interesting! Have just googled mine and they are stainless steel (phew!) Something I will definitely keep in mind for future purchases, thank you so much!

Another one who feels the china tarrifs could bring good. Less plastic tat coming in.
Here all we're doing is opening more trade with countries with questionable records on the environment and working practices.

One of my friends only buys one new Christmas decoration each year. It's for the outside tree that she decorates in memory of her late DS whose 10th anniversary will be here in a couple of weeks time. Always themed with something he liked.

Ugh. No way in hell will you ever get people to dispose of their loved ones like that. I find the very suggestion offensive.

Absolutely YANBU, I’m appalled at the tat being churned out almost everywhere.
Clothes too, does every supermarket really need to have a line a dreadful, frumpy, polyester clothing?
Also what the hell were they thinking with that shop name?! Reminds me of Soilent Green 🤣

I will still use my 16 year old decs until they are bashed about. May get a new tree as its pre-lit but with the old style bulbs. Have some spare bulbs, but its getting tatty looking.

It's just shorthand for that type of "pile 'em high, flog 'em cheap" type shop. It's not all tat but a lot of it is.

B&M isn’t just tat. Yes, they sell some tat. They also sell essential homewares, food, cleaning materials, wooden furniture…

Yes, turquoise or pink or yellow are this year's colours, so chuck out your tree and baubles, red and gold are so last year!
It's madness. I've had people ask me what colour I'm going for this year for Christmas and I always say you name it, I'll have the colour somewhere amongst my multicolour collection!

Our local B and M is great for plants, its got good offers and often the perennials are reduced so we buy lots. Its also good for some household products but the majority is awful plastic tat, halloween, valentines day, xmas stuff etc etc. It might close next year to build flats and we shall miss it. Even Poundland has reduced its range of plastic tat, might be a supply problem as its usually full of tat celebrating every event or day .

Our kids started giving each other gifts of money/chocolate/edible treats/books , or alternatively clubbing together and getting online vouchers/game upgrades/days out.

They're teenagers so sort themselves out. They don't tend to do cards.

What I mean is, a table lasting 9 years is not evidence in and of itself that B&M doesn't sell large quantities of absolute rubbish (your table is made of MDF and i claim my £5). As an example it's similar to the people on the style and beauty boards who say things like, "I got this top from Primark and it's still in great condition after 6 months!" as though that's somehow a hallmark of a quality item.

I agree with this.

I'm very unfashionable because I would rather have things than experiences. With experiences, it's throwing money away, because the experience only lasts a short time. When I buy things, I can enjoy them for years and years! And my things are good enough quality to donate or sell when the time comes. I don't think I buy much tat...I stocked up on seasonal decor a few years ago, but intend to use it for the next 30 years or so. (I'm 50.) I have a lot of things, but I keep them endlessly and enjoy them.

I usually pop in a shop to buy a particular item. It’s soul destroying seeing a queue of baskets full of absolute tat.

This I don't understand. Until my parents moved house, they had some decorations which came from the late 70s.

Again its copying the latest SM fad and who are sad in following these influencers

9 years ? Wow.

Meanwhile, antique auctions are heaving with furniture manufactured in the 1800s. Still in working order.

I hear you OP! At the start of 2024 I started a "no buy" year as far as possible. I bought no clothes apart from some knickers as some fell apart, but nothing else. I bought zero "tat", no ornaments, really cut back and just got food for cooking from scratch as far as possible. I saved a ton of money doing this and the house was a lot tidier too. It went so well I've continued with this in 2025. I don't try to convince people to do this, but it is highly recommended.

Yes, I buy plants from B and M and we joke that 99% of Ghanzou provinces factories have an item on the shelves, so much of the items are just total crap....but still see pople with trolleys piled high with glitter cushions, plastic toys and other awful tat !

You’re not wrong at all. Consumerism is absolutely out of control - seasonal items, fast fashion, so much plastic crap. I’m not going to pretend like I buy nothing and live a minimalist lifestyle but it is so depressing. Since having a baby I’ve been really trying to pass down clothes, books and toys so they don’t get wasted beyond their point of use.

The last washing machine I bought was not economic to repair because the bearings were a sealed unit that could only be purchased together with a new drum. The price of a new drum was almost as much as buying a new machine. It should be illegal for companies to manufacture and sell rubbish like this. It was a Bosch too, not a mega cheap brand.

I mean, that's sort of my point. I don't find it remarkable (what a weird thing to assume), everyone is saying that B&M is full of cheap, plastic tat. I'm saying it has perfectly normal furniture and other things that are just as good as anywhere else, but often at cheaper prices.
If my coffee table was cheap tat, it wouldn't have lasted 9 years, hence my point.