Most shops are just landfill waiting to happen.

[SummerDaytoNight]

I mean, all are to a point, but I’m talking about the non essential ones.

Our society is engineering its own collapse. We only need food, health, house basics and clothing. And I suppose, technology.

Fast fashion could go. Housing should just be the essentials.

My friend took me into a shop called sostrene grene. It was lovely, but nothing was essential. Most shops are like that.

The horse has bolted, but I wish we could limit the unnecessarily stuff and just have the basics. Im not talking Amish level, but there’s no need for all this waste. It would be so much better if only the essentials were produced.

At the point of production, it’s already basically landfill.

This I don't understand. Until my parents moved house, they had some decorations which came from the late 70s.

Again its copying the latest SM fad and who are sad in following these influencers

I usually pop in a shop to buy a particular item. It’s soul destroying seeing a queue of baskets full of absolute tat.

I agree with this.

I'm very unfashionable because I would rather have things than experiences. With experiences, it's throwing money away, because the experience only lasts a short time. When I buy things, I can enjoy them for years and years! And my things are good enough quality to donate or sell when the time comes. I don't think I buy much tat...I stocked up on seasonal decor a few years ago, but intend to use it for the next 30 years or so. (I'm 50.) I have a lot of things, but I keep them endlessly and enjoy them.

What I mean is, a table lasting 9 years is not evidence in and of itself that B&M doesn't sell large quantities of absolute rubbish (your table is made of MDF and i claim my £5). As an example it's similar to the people on the style and beauty boards who say things like, "I got this top from Primark and it's still in great condition after 6 months!" as though that's somehow a hallmark of a quality item.

Our kids started giving each other gifts of money/chocolate/edible treats/books , or alternatively clubbing together and getting online vouchers/game upgrades/days out.

They're teenagers so sort themselves out. They don't tend to do cards.

Our local B and M is great for plants, its got good offers and often the perennials are reduced so we buy lots. Its also good for some household products but the majority is awful plastic tat, halloween, valentines day, xmas stuff etc etc. It might close next year to build flats and we shall miss it. Even Poundland has reduced its range of plastic tat, might be a supply problem as its usually full of tat celebrating every event or day .

Yes, turquoise or pink or yellow are this year's colours, so chuck out your tree and baubles, red and gold are so last year!
It's madness. I've had people ask me what colour I'm going for this year for Christmas and I always say you name it, I'll have the colour somewhere amongst my multicolour collection!

B&M isn’t just tat. Yes, they sell some tat. They also sell essential homewares, food, cleaning materials, wooden furniture…

It's just shorthand for that type of "pile 'em high, flog 'em cheap" type shop. It's not all tat but a lot of it is.

I will still use my 16 year old decs until they are bashed about. May get a new tree as its pre-lit but with the old style bulbs. Have some spare bulbs, but its getting tatty looking.

Absolutely YANBU, I’m appalled at the tat being churned out almost everywhere.
Clothes too, does every supermarket really need to have a line a dreadful, frumpy, polyester clothing?
Also what the hell were they thinking with that shop name?! Reminds me of Soilent Green 🤣

Ugh. No way in hell will you ever get people to dispose of their loved ones like that. I find the very suggestion offensive.

One of my friends only buys one new Christmas decoration each year. It's for the outside tree that she decorates in memory of her late DS whose 10th anniversary will be here in a couple of weeks time. Always themed with something he liked.

Another one who feels the china tarrifs could bring good. Less plastic tat coming in.
Here all we're doing is opening more trade with countries with questionable records on the environment and working practices.

That's super interesting! Have just googled mine and they are stainless steel (phew!) Something I will definitely keep in mind for future purchases, thank you so much!

But it's environmentally sound, you could become part of a seagull.

If you prefer, you could be turned into a diamond, I believe there's also a company that will put your mortal remains into a firework if you want to go out with a bang.

I agree about overcome consumption and tat.

However, I think it is okay to get pleasure from something that others may not deem worthy. My daughter has had health problems for the last five years and has been in and out of hospital. Her jellycat collection gives her so much joy. She loves choosing a new one for her birthday or Christmas and it is nice to see her smile when she has been through such a lot and missed out on so much. It isn’t just ‘landfill’ to her.

Yanbu it’s horrifying. The pics of ‘fashion’ in the Atacama desert rotting are just grim: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/chile-fashion-pollution

You are actually right , the shops are nice but some of the contents are similar usual tat masquerading as 'better' /'tasteful' as they're made in more natural looking colours and materials ,but really it's still another load of 'stuff' that we don't really need.

This thread is a bit negative. I don't know anyone who's this wasteful. Most people I know buy stuff they like and then use it or years, and then donate or sell it on.

Online selling sites like eBay etc have created the secondary economy, which is a good thing. In a way, we waste less than before.

Let's flip the premise of this thread on its head and think for a moment about all the things that ARE used to death and then recycled responsibly!

I agree, and hell will freeze over before my precious bunnies go into landfill! I'm never throwing them away!

Not forgetting Halloween, Easter, Mothers/ Fathers Day and all the other dates that have become commercial opportunities

Years ago you bought Xmas decorations and the same ones came out year after year. Nowadays people have a new theme, so new decorations and/or tree every year.
My kids plastic Halloween bucket came out year after year for trick or treating, not a new one every year.

I love "seasonal tat". I keep it and it comes back out each year. Really most stuff is unnecessary but I refuse to live my life like a puritan in a barren home.

Lot of people feeling attacked when they’re absolutely not what OP was talking about. Sigh. Welcome to online discussions. Or maybe it’s just humanity. Meanwhile the problems don’t get solved and people cross their arms and harrumph at the “other side”.