Shops' seasonal tat!

The economy would be in an even worse state, if most people stopped buying things that they really do not need.

OP - it’s the lipstick thing.

Theres an old paper on this that was often taught in economics classes that when the economy took a downturn, sales of lipstick went up. This had various explanations but the one that was often seen as the most likely, women who could no longer afford a new dress or bag or shoes, would buy the smaller treat, a new lipstick. Don’t have £200 for a new summer bag, do have £10 for a new shade of lipstick.

People buying what you call tat, others call home seasonal decorations for important events though out the year is completely in tune with that. It’s people not having the money for big celebrations making the most of having to stay at home. Can’t afford the Christmas lights trail at a local country house/botanical gardens/significant place at £100+ for a family- buy £20 new lights and do a big switch on of your own lights.

Can’t afford to go out for Easter Sunday lunch as your family would in the past - host at home and spend £10 on a few decorations to make it feel special.

Notice the “tat” sales are often around school holidays. People who would have done days out or had a holiday or meals out spending a fraction on decorating their home to make it special.

(Our Easter/halloween/christmas decorations come out each year, sometimes I’ll replace something but it’s not all landfill- stop throwing things out and use storage)

You may have A levels in economics but it didn't appear to have come with reading comprehension because nowhere in my posts did I suggest that

1. Interest rates don't have significant impact on economic growth.
2. Personal finance are not affected by level on unemployment or that levels of unemployment are insignificant.

So, again, I don't know what you want me to say because you seem to agree with my post but nonetheless challenge me on what I wrote.

Me. I love a bit of seasonal tat and making it fun for the kids.

And yes, I have the disposable income to do so.

Not everyone is on their arse. The pubs, restaurants and shops here are heaving. People have money to spend and good luck to them!

😂 know

Knw not "no".

Were you joking? I only have an A level in Economics but I still no that Interest rates have a significant impact on economic growth. Equally, the unemployment rate is not exactly insignificant.

I don't know. Have you read my post beyond the second sentence?

I buy my seasonal tat in Tesco or b and m bargains.

never had matching Christmas pjs though.

i do have Christmas PJs, several sets.

What I'd like to know is, who wears Easter/Christmas family pyjamas and how do the couple remain attracted to each other?

MN is a forum that is skewed towards the wealthiest people. I don't think the wealthiest people are buying seasonal tat in Asda.

I think the supermarkets know that many people are addicted to consumption and they probably can't afford it but they buy it anyway. This is what makes the truly wealthy people wealthy.

Totally agree.

There seems a to be a proper bell curve of people, occupations and salaries on MN. Don't kid yourself that everyone is broke.

Hear, hear. Not all families are hard working and not all hard-working people are families.

But I agree - hate the amount of tat you see around, wasting resources. And it's not all cheap, either.

I love seasonal stuff. I reuse it year after year, of course.

I have bits for autumn/ Halloween/ Christmas/ Spring/ Easter/ Summer. A door wreath and a few bits dotted about, mainly.

4 times a year (seasons) I also change the cushion covers & throws in our bedroom and the family room at the back of the house which leads to the garden. I've just done the Spring ones- lighter colours & fabrics- and I've washed the cosy, winter ones for next year. I also change the curtains in that back room for lighter, linen ones around now, packing away the velvets for next autumn/winter. It makes me happy. I love interiors & changing it up.

My mam did this, so it's definitely passed on to me.

I'm going to have a squizz in the nice gift shops today (am on holiday in the UK) as I fancy a new cushion cover with pink & green in it.

How are unemployment and interest rates unrelated to personal wealth?

MN is hardly a forum full of wealthy people is it. Shops and restaurants are full of people with money to spend. Shops are not going to stock products they can't sell.

I have some Easter decs that were bought before I was born, over 30 years ago, from Germany and made of wood. But our easter tradition of going to the woods and finding and painting a stick just isn’t do-able at the moment as I’m too sick, so we bought a new Easter tree from Asda about 3 years ago when I started getting sick.
I have a box of Halloween decorations, but as Halloween typically happens during the darker/colder/rainy 31st October, many of our decs have been ruined by the weather, so they sometimes need replacing/exchanging for new. (I live in a village with an actual Halloween committee and you sign up to be on a Halloween “route”)
I bought a cute Easter PJs set for a friends baby, rather than an Easter egg - something she can wear over Easter and much more practical than an egg and cheaper too!
Sometimes topping up seasonal shit is the only joy left for some people!

Surely, people on here bemoan the fact that posters' socio-economic status is not reflective of real life where people have less money not more!

I don't believe the economy is nowhere near as bad as people make out

I had a thread about it ( under a different name, I will try and find it )

You conflate two almost unrelated issues. Bad economy is mostly characterised by the state of the stock market, GDP and interest rates and unemployment. Personal finances are affected by interest rates and unemployment but not so much by other factors. So someone could live in a country affected by low economic growth but be perfectly fine financially at the level of individual.

What and they choose to spend it on Tesco seasonal teddy bears or signs?

Equally, let's face it 'prosperity' is not the first word that comes to mind when describing this year so far!

Mumsnet

I call it landfillcore.

Doesn't matter how often you use it, sooner or later that's where it ends up. Totally unnecessary in it's creation and use.

Me. I love seasonal shit.

DH and I both work.
We have huge disposable income.
That's how we afford seasonal shit.
We reuse our seasonal shit year to year but also top up with anything that catches our eye.