To think we shouldn’t be buying clothes etc just now unless absolutely necessary

[Dylaninthemovies1]

One of my favourite shops has a sale. Quite a lot off. I’ve recieved a couple of texts from friends and my husband told me about the sale.

Much as I love a bargain, I feel that if I buy something I’m contributing to putting someone’s life at risk (those working in the warehouse, delivery driver etc). DH thinks I would be helping folk keep a job.

YABU - you should still buy clothes etc and contribute to the economy

YANBU - clothes are not a necessity and these places should be encouraged to close at this time

Also Buy from ebay from non business sellers (and business sellers). That way you are helping a person who may need to sell items whilst still getting what you need.

I am doing limited shopping online but I am trying to buy from small traders and not from big companies if I do.

I think buy, unless you have specific reason to think a particular supplier is working under risky conditions. People need an income. It is up to the supplier to follow safe practices and up to the government to decide if they should close. If everyone stops spending on everything other than food and medicine then the economic impact will be even worse.

I also have mixed feelings about this OP. Ds is absolutely not going to fit in the same clothes and shoes for 3 months so at some point I will need to buy. I also think there is some need to keep the economy going but dont want to do so at the risk of health. A lot of drivers are in the gig economy and at the moment have no protection from the government. It's easy to say that health is more important and in the big picture it is, but people also need to be able to feed their families.

Mixed feelings here too. Since whole family are now house bound, I need certain items for home working (I know of a few shops doing % discount for home working essentials for examples).

I feel ordering is good for economy/workers in delivery services.

I guess if the rest of us isolate, they are working in safe environment if they don't enter clients' homes.

I have put off exchanging things that I need the money back for and it's in a shop that sells furnishings and food. But I felt a bit guilty because it's not massively essential.
I won't judge others, but.....

I think its one area of the economy we can keep going pretty safely

I ordered some jeans from Levi’s last week - when shops were still open - and they came yesterday. It was our usual DPD driver, and he told DP they were busier than ever, and that he was glad. He rang the bell, waited for DP to answer, but had left the parcel on the doorstep and was standing down the path. The driver signed the thing himself, so no contact. I took the jeans out of the package, left the wrapping by the bin, and we both washed our hands.

I don’t plan to buy loads of stuff, but if I need to, I will while I am allowed to.

I don't need clothes though I make quite a bit for us and I realised how much fabric I had stashed this year so I decided not to buy any new fabric this year, already.
DS may need new clothes and shoes if he grows any more. I'm aiming to get them from Ebay used as that will also mean someone can add to their family purse.

I will continue to order on line as previous poster said, as I see it as safer way of contributing to the economy. If everyone stopped ordering on line I think that would create more of a problem

Actually, thinking about it, taking things back for a refund won't help the economy.

I have mixed feelings but I think we are only going to get into even deeper recession if everyone stops spending. I am still ordering things from Amazon and Argos, mainly for ds aged 7 to keep him busy - he has autism and is really struggling. The parcels are left on the doorstep. I think it’s up to the companies to do their best to protect their staff but in some ways I feel at least I’m keeping some people in work. It’s really hard.

I think it's a really tough decision. I personally wouldn't buy clothes, but I have bought a few things that will help keep us busy over the coming months. But today I got a small parcel through the letterbox and, hand written onto the paper label was the message: Please only order essentials from now on. I don't know who wrote it...the shop or the post woman? I'm guessing the post woman. So this has made me feel a bit more sure that I'll try not to buy stuff from now on. But then, completely understand the argument for supporting businesses at this time. Gah.

I have mixed feelings too I have seen so many posts on here about people worrying about losing their jobs or not being paid so I keep thinking if no one buys from a certain shop then that shop won't be able to afford to keep people on and they will have no jobs but then I think that they are putting their health at risk because I am buying a non-essential item

Helped by the fact that it’s the lat thing I want to buy I do err on the side of thinking about production rather than the online element. I feel for people in factories making the stuff.

Just seen this . Looks like the posties would rather we didn’t buy stuff unnecessarily

www.theguardian.com/business/2020/mar/25/uk-postal-workers-plea-for-limit-to-non-essential-deliveries-royal-mail-coronavirus

Yes good link op.

There is a tradeoff between keeping the most vulnerable safe and continuing to let life continue as normal. That is why it seems quite a sensible approach to me to put the most stringent restrictions on the most vulnerable group (12 week lockdown) and allowing others to continue their jobs, even if they are not 'essential' workers.

It's a delicate balancing act and I am glad it's not my job to decide it. But I will continue to order online (when I have the money, I am self employed and my work has taken a nosedive). Delivery drivers, using sensible precautions, are less likely to be a danger, to themselves or others, than the idiots who wander into a supermarket every day for their 'essential' lottery ticket. And if it helps someone continue to put food on the table, good.

We are trying to flatten the curve, not eradicate the transfer of the virus completely (which just isn't possible or, some may argue, a long term solution).

My 3 yo twins have decided to have a do it growth spurt and I desperately need to order them something to wear like a pair of wellies. I suspected it was new shoe time just before this all kicked off and I'm annoyed with myself for not checking sooner.

Foot growth spurt!

I've ordered some clothes as I need them. My Hermes driver leaves my parcel in a safe place so doesn't see me. I didn't know what to do for the best but I've also had to order special skin stuff and books for the kids and know that he delivers the same stuff. I really am confused as to what to do. I feel terrible now for ordering what I did.

People should spend as normal if able to as more businesses will fold otherwise

You have to weigh corona virus up against the economy. I am the least capitalist person and I know this

This x 100

I’m gonna smacked people are so short sighted to what waiting for us around the corner.

Just what about the postal workers asking people not to? Does their view matter

I've ordered some outside clothes for DD as we'll be in the garden a lot and I did order some stuff like a slide, sand and water table, etc.

Our local Hermes man is self-employed too and until there is some proper government support announced for SE people, if he doesn't work he doesn't earn money so I know he particularly needs to work right now until his income is assured.

There are few other pleasures left for us and the economy needs it.