To suggest that people should buy less stuff

[Noras]

i just think that the mess we are in is because we get stuff from overseas that we don’t really need. People buy a lot of tat and junk eg cheap clothing, rubbish confectionary and artificial tat for homes. If we all just cut down on huge chunks of it we could cut out our balance of payment deficit.

Also people need to buy less from overseas owned companies. People need to check each and every company they buy from and go for smaller independents etc There needs to be an online list of stores to avoid.

There is so much built in obsolescence- phones or laptops that no longer charge properly or can't update with new operating system update after 5-6 years. My own personal example is a Panasonic TV I bought new for the London 2012 Olympics so we could watch them at home on a new TV. 12 years later the TV is still absolutely fine except it is now not able to have the Netflix app as it is has been terminated on that model. Why????

We have done all of the local things, such as they are… . and choose to ensure the kids are aware of the culture and history of England, we visited Salisbury cathedral so that they could see the magna carter… an important turning point in social history!

Our city breaks are very much educational as well as fun!

We have RSPB, National Trust and English heritage memberships we like to make the most of (bought as family presents at Christmas rather than plastic / unsustainable stocking fillers)

I can only assume that you feel that enjoyment and learning are somehow incompatible with sustainability, but that’s simply not the case!

From your comment it seemed like you thought we were jetting to New York and Beijing.. but no… it’s public transport or zero emissions driving (we charge the car on a renewables tariff as we signed up to that for our household and has gas disconnected 12 years ago to reduce our emissions)

I live in a country where almost everything is made in China. Just because something is made in an Asian country doesn't mean it's rubbish, brands known for their good quality stuff still have it made in China.

I live in a flat with an unmodernised kitchen, it would be 50 years old and I don't think it's ugly at all, in fact I detest ultra modern kitchens. (Obviously it has been painted during those 50 years and has a more modern stove). If I was buying a house I wouldn't buy one with a very modern kitchen.

I sewed up holes in a couple of socks at the weekend, I doubt many people bother doing that any more! I also painted my 80's kitchen cupboards and wrapped the worktops - looks like a completely different kitchen and took no skill. I have a travel habit though so can't pretend to be an eco saint.

But you'd have spent that 15 grand on putting in the kitchen - so you're no better off.

I was wondering this weekend if people still do this! I do because I buy expensive socks :D

The poster I was replying to said their kitchen was 80s pine; I certainly wasn't implying that all old kitchens are ugly, but 80s pine is - and the poster was near enough admitting that when they said potential buyers were likely to knock off £15k from the asking price solely due to the kitchen!

Yes I think good quality shoes are worth investing in. My walking boots cost £200.00 but they will hopefully last me 10 years or more if I take care of them.

I've bought cheaper ones in the past and they just start to leak, or the heel gets so worn and starts to rub.

Same here - a mish mash of furniture but all made of wood. Most I've had for over 30 years and more recent stuff is from a charity furniture shop.

I know. I look at 70s photos with fondness. Nothing matched. Nothing was designer and no one cared. When did it all change? That we all had to have houses that looked like Interior design magazines.

Just get a Now Tv Dongle. My telly has never been smart but I still have all the channels through that.

I work in manufacturing (jewellery)
Some fashions in jewellery are just not competitive to make here, relative to what people are prepared to pay, and I guess that is the case with a lot of industries.
We still make things though and also repair imported items because its not cost effective to send back to be repaired/altered.

DH calls all those places "pointless shops" - Tiger, Sostrene Grene, Lakeland, any gift or shabby chic home shop, the fancy gift bits of garden centres. Basically anywhere that sells things you either could have got cheaper from Asda or B&Q, or don't want anyway.

I think Lakeland is a useful shop for kitchen stuff.

Since Christmas I’ve not brought anything!

can afford too… all my Money is on bills… I’m so sad… I’ve missed the Jan sales….

this is life…. Its all bills bills bills

I would be perfectly happy with an 80s pine kitchen - it would still beat a modern kitchen hands down in my opinion. Not everyone is a fan of shiny new things. I don't live in the UK, no-one would knock that much off for a dated kitchen here.

www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/british-retailers-exploit-child-syrian-refugees-tu/

These firms avoid exploitative practices: https://goodmakertales.com/

@NattyTurtle59 I agree, many well-known brands have their manufacturing base in China. It’s not about assuming that cheaper means low quality. More that the West was happy to take advantage of lower prices and was quick to abandon its own manufacturing output. And now the UK is largely a service economy.

The backbone of a list is here is here : Armani, Aldi, Asos, Benetton, C&A, Dolce Gabbana, Esprit, H&M, Hugo Boss, Louis Vuitton, Levi Strauss, Next, Marks & Spencer, Primark, and Zara. We tend to think of Asia—Bangladesh, Viet Nam, Cambodia, Pakistan, China—Central America— Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti and Mauritius whereas the biggest supplier of european clothing is much nearer to home in Romania.
https://cleanclothes.org/news/2019/western-european-brands-are-profiting-from-poverty-wages-in-romania-europes-biggest-fashion-manufacturer

I don't buy off Shein or Temu. I did buy some Holo Taco and ILNP nail polish the other week. Holo Taco is owned by a Canadian woman and made in the USA, ILNP is American, and both lots were sent from the USA. I also buy Orly nail polish (another American company) but they have a UK website. But, I would like to add I pay VAT on these so the UK is still getting money out of these purchases. One thing I will spend a lot of money on is nail polish. It makes me happy!

ETA: Orly are made in the USA as well. I used to like Barry M, but more and more of their stuff was getting made in China.

I can appreciate the sadness you feel about not having anyone to ‘make memories’ with.

Both my parents died in their early 60s of cancer, and my only Aunt died unexpectedly from n her early 60s too! I had the unfortunate circumstance of speaking at my Dads and Aunts eulogy whilst heavily pregnant with my second daughter who both of them never had the chance to meet!

I appreciate how short life is and cherish childhood memories with the family I grew up with which is why I focus on doing as much as possible with my children, and making happy memories it’s obvious that the photos, and memories will be all they will have one day!

Seeing my children have fun and experience new things brings me far more joy than owning things….

The trips fossil hunting with my Dad I will cherish forever, along with trips to museums and days spent listening to test matches while fishing with him!

It’s far more precious than any toys or object I was ever bought!

I agree. I watched a documentary that said that there are enough items of clothing in existence currently, that if manufacturing stopped today, there would still be enough garments for everyone on the planet and the next six generations. Isn't that an absolutely mad thought?!

I agree with you, I just get sick of people equating "made in China" with everything being tat.