To tell you to keep buying.

[Devlesko]

If you are in a position to keep the economy going there is nothing wrong with shopping or buying online, whether essential or not.

It's people in this position who are able to keep the economy ticking over, even if it is just the odd delivery here and there.
Yes, a lot of us have lost jobs, income etc, and can't afford, but life goes on.

There are enough posties and delivery drivers, they need to keep their jobs too. Please don't feel guilty for buying stuff.

It's a dilemma isn't it. I haven't bought anything except for for a while and I'd love to order some nice bath stuff. But I haven't as I feel bad. But not sure about this.

I’m still shopping local-managed to buy DS some shoes from local independent via WhatsApp, the bakery on the corner is selling bread flour, and we get a veg box delivery. Also bought DS some bedding online but from a local independent for his new ‘big bed’ (he’s too small for his cot so we have put the spare room mattress on his floor)

However.

Even with stable jobs and low overheads (for which we are very very grateful) we are in no mood to splash about. Who knows what will come next. I’m not buying new socks or stationery or earrings or whatever under these circumstances. It would be silly of me.

Except food sorry.

That's all well and good but I watch my husband being forced to work on his days off with over 130 stops and working until after 7pm every night.. not having time to take a break for something to eat during those massive shifts. I hesitate over that buy button. I fear for his health tbh.

It's difficult - I'm lucky in that so far we haven't been impacted at all financially. I've switched all our food to local suppliers. I get a tesco click and collect order but I drop it all at the foodbank. I don't want to buy pointless stuff for ourselves but would be happy to donate items to good causes (e.g. refuges etc) if anyone knows how this works.

SSD, amazon sell nice bath stuff and food/dental/vitamins so you could combine a delivery if not happy with just ordering non essentials.

@gamerchick That's why I haven't been ordering anything (and to be honest this crises has made me rethink a bit how necessary a lot of my consumption was).

gamerchick - are his employers looking to recruit more staff? I hope they are and his hours return to normal soon.

I have placed a few orders. I try and save it up and buy a lot at the same time so only one delivery instead of three etc. That means I use bigger suppliers though eg John Lewis. I bought more than I needed right now from body shop because i didn’t want them coming out just with the three things I needed. It’s a dilemma whether to buy non essentials right now, but I think economically it’s probably important.

I appreciate for people in delivery jobs / warehousing that it’s difficult. Catch CV and die or die of starvation due to no job. Obviously those are extreme scenarios.

But if we have no economy left and unemployment hits 50%, thousands of people will die. Or we stay locked down and thousands die.

I’m supporting small independents who have turned their hand to home deliveries to keep themselves going.

Just read my post back and it sounds a bit overblown! What I should have said is-I’m going out of my way to buy the things I properly need from independent local businesses. I’m also buying things I don’t need right now, but will at some point, from the shops I really want to see standing after this. And I’ve trimmed my fringe and paid my hairdresser for a full cut-I don’t know what she’s doing for cash right now and I want to help. All that said I am behaving much more cautiously.

I hear that why. Definitely the same here.

gamerchick - are his employers looking to recruit more staff? I hope they are and his hours return to normal soon

Thankyou. Unlikely, it's DPD. They just get couriers in if they need more drivers but will push as much as they can on existing first. They're not expecting this level of work to last forever.

I just worry about husband. He's like a shell of himself atm.

I ordered vitamins (VitD) and minerals (magnesium) online as I was nearly out of them. If I stop taking them I get Psoriasis all over, muscle twitches and my bone and muscle pain gets worse. I also ordered 3 books online not realising that the company I ordered from wasn't delivering at the moment with the correct restrictions in Ireland! Presumably they can't social distance properly in the warehouse.

Oops. That should read current not correct! Although they are correct also.

I've ordered a few things locally (plants) and from independent businesses ( gin) and they've been grateful.

gamerchick

I hadn't considered the drivers would be over worked, we hear so much about extra staff being taken on.
I hope he gets some time off soon, or they employ more, even if just temporary.

To give them their dues they're not being complete bastards, I've been surprised at some of the stuff they've done for their drivers. The self employed are making a lot of money atm. It's the flip side of the coin compared to how a lot of self employed are right now.

I'm just worried about him. Its too much work.

I'm on half pay for forseeable
Future so not spending any money that I don't have to

Lush are doing online orders again from today.

I still shop,

I try to buy from small business as much as possible, even if it’s something I don’t need atm.

they are really struggling

I've bought items but only things I needed anyway not going to buy for the sake of it though I am however planning on buying new furniture in a few months so will be giving shops some business then

Lush are doing online orders again from today.

That'll set everyone off coughing.

I am trying to keep spending on stuff ideally from local suppliers - I'd like there to be an economy when this is all over, and particularly I'd like there to still be small local businesses.

Please keep buying if you can - I had to shut my shop due to the virus, and I'm now selling a small range of the stock via Facebook. Every order makes me do a happy dance, as it means that I may be able to keep things going until I can reopen the shop :)