#landfillcore...so depressing 😞

[Badvocthebad]

I've been irl shopping recently and, of course, ads all over SM...
The absolute tat being sold in all shops with an "autmnal theme"!
Pumpkin cushions, pumpkin mugs, highland cows (?) on everything from socks to pjs to blankets...
Its all mass produced, plastic crap, probably made by children in sweatshops. (Polyester is plastic for those who aren't aware)
The world is burning. Literally. The over consumption is killing us all slowly (some of us not so slowly..)
I'm not against buying things you need (although how much of what what we buy do we really need?) <just spent a year clearing out 2 relatives houses....trust me, you don't need 2/3 of what's in your home>
Just this week I've bought vintage 100% linen napkins and some dinner plates from vinted. All as new, but used. (I don't use plastic or paper napkins)
Cost me about £25.
Plastic tat is killing this planet, plastic grass is killing the pollinators (they die, we all die...)
It's just so...depressing. It's why I don't really do irl shopping anymore. Even clothes are all polyester/viscose/acrylic messes.
I'm currently in the process of de cluttering my house/loft. I don't want my kids to have to go through what I have over the past few years (this is the 3rd house I've had to clear in a decade)
By 2032, there will be the largest weather transfer in history.
The boomers are dying out and there houses and garages and sheds and lofts and cellars which are full of stuff which will be saturating the market.
It's a sunny Sunday morning here and- yet again - I'm going to be doing a tip run to give things to the re-home section.
I know some will say "well, its free will"
But..is it? Really? When we are now bombarded with ads and insta worthy houses and influencers flogging the latest highland cow merch from b&m?
Aren't we all just being played?
Sorry, bit of a rant for a Sunday morning 😬😕

So how do you explain the aisles filled with decorations in the supermarkets and shops each year? They would not stock them if they did not sell.

It's all the other stuff - in the last month I have lost count of the number of "first day at school" helium balloons or balloon arches I have seen on social media or in real life. Balloons = single use plastics, non-recyclable landfill. Occasions like nursery graduations, baby showers, "proms" for kids leaving primary schools, santa trains, elves on shelves, easter bunny decorations and egg hunts, spring decor...

I totally get that it's nice to mark the passing of the seasons, special occasions, or specific festivals but WHY does this have to mean the buying of single-use shite? Yes it's cheaper and easier to go online and buy masses of crap from the other side of the world but you don't need it and your children will have just as much fun doing an easter egg hunt with hand written notes you've made, or getting the same old christmas decorations out of the box each year, or having their first day at school photo in front of a tree or flower border rather than a balloon arch.

We do the experiences gifts too, in recent years we've done axe-throwing, one of those interactive darts sessions, bowling, cinema. And doing that is supporting local businesses and jobs too. I don't have an issue as much with people buying food, it will get consumed and used up, and won't end in landfill in the same quantities.

I agree op. The level of consumerism I see is just depressing. I ask my kids not to buy me any tat for Xmas and birthdays. things like replacing saucepans and bakeware come from charity shops because they are awash with it from older people's homes being cleared. I've really tried to reduce the number of clothes I buy new. My ds2 horrifies me with the stuff he buys and then never wears.

You can avoid it to some degree though as some shops are worse than others.

What I really hate is why everything has to be so early. Why is Christmas stuff in now?

How do you fully remove the wax residues after the candle has been used fully?

I don't have children so don't have reason to be drawn to "plastic tat". For my friend's children when younger, I'd buy wooden toys.
The difference between the metal "hotwheels" cars and the entirely plastic copies has stood out to me for a long time.

I'm more tempted by the autumn animals themed goods than pumpkins. I'll usually choose a few things that will last a while, with a set purpose.

As a bunny lady, the Easter items are more tempting. However, there's only a certain amount of space. My aim each year is to enjoy the adverts or shop displays without buying everything.

Some shops started stocking Christmas items before Halloween ones 🤨

Agreed. I just don't take any notice of it. It was harder when my children were small. GC knows I don't buy stuff. I've notice that she's quite happy at mine with just a few toys and books. I think she gets overwhelmed herself when there's too much choice.

But you are buying too much stuff as well! As you are spending your weekends taking stuff to the tip!
Of course older people have houses full of stuff they have lived a long time!
Younger people just dispose of it without a care in the world!
My DP’s still have the same kitchen and bathroom from the 70’s. I mean the kitchen is solid pine made by a joiner!
Everything is still in working order but a bit tired looking!

My mum has shit loads of stuff including plenty of tat. She does have the space to store it though as her house is much bigger 😆

Seasonal decor is fine if you reuse it every season, if you’re going to have pumpkin nightlights and lamps but use them for 40 years then ok.

I don’t know anyone who buys new Christmas decorations every year but I do buy at least one ornament for the tree or other decor and just add to it.

And yes when I die my kids will likely have 200 baubles to rehome as I will have lived and collected them for 50 plus years.

The point is definitely not to collect plastic tat, so I don’t buy plastic decorations and try really hard to not wear polyester.

The stupidity is bleak.

Having space to store it does not make it OK.

Have you seen Wall-E? Actually a documentary.

The availability of cheap badly made shit is really depressing. No one needs an acrylic pumpkin printed blanket. No one needs a Santa mug. No one needs a wicker bunny. No one needs a back to school balloon arch.
Whether it’s for social media or personal use - it’s all totally unnecessary. And if you’re the type of person who falls for the crappy blanket you’re the type of person who goes all in for all types seasonal tat. it’s just incredibly shit for the planet and yet because it’s ‘affordable’ people think they can justify these things as ‘little treats’.
If you want to treat yourself, get out in the fresh air, bake a cake, go and visit a friend, arrange a video call with someone you don’t see enough because the live far away, watch a box set in the afternoon because it’s a luxury, go for a wild swim, pick some blackberries but ffs stay out of B&M.

@AuntieBioticswhere did I say it did?

@Meteorite87 if you scrape as much residue out as possible then fill the jar with boiling water, any remaining wax will melt, float to the top of the water and solidify. You can get it out then wash the jar in hot soapy water.

I agree OP, it’s bloody depressing. I’ve spent a good 6 months clearing out my flat and getting rid of unworn clothes, shoes and household items. When adding up the total of how much money I’ve wasted, it would have gone a long way to replacing my tatty old bathroom.

Needless to say, my shopping habits have changed completely. Even food shopping - I now take out a certain amount of cash and that has to last me the month. It really focuses the mind when you aren’t just mindlessly tapping your debit card for any purchases.

Funny thing is they made Wall-E for the dimmer people and they STILL don't get it.

Yes, it was spelt out fairly explicitly and people just thought it was cute 😂

I think this is worth sharing

Take a look at this video, 'the life of stuff' share.google/EL3ee21qS24cgv96A