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.

I think (understandably) the thread has morphed into people as consumers feeling guilty about buying too much and promising to buy less (which I am doing).

My point is about how much is produced in the first place. It needs to be stopped at the production level. We just don’t need all of this stuff. Once it’s produced, it’s landfill whether it’s bought or not. The only way we can prevent the amount of landfill we have is to stop producing it in the first place.

Then put resources into what is actually needed.

But it's only produced because there is a demand for it

Well, I for one have never "demanded" Easter crackers, yet somebody produced them, and if none of us buy them they will indeed end up as landfill, exactly as the OP says.

Ditto wreaths with carrots on and countless other things. When I see them, I do wonder if I am just a boring old stick-in-the-mud with no sense of fun, and wonder what it would be like to be someone who buys all these decorative items and uses them. I think they are pointless then I think well, if they bring someone joy, even for a short time, they aren't pointless, are they?
But if seeing them stresses me - a person who can afford them, but chooses not to buy them - then how much more does it stress someone who can't really afford them but wants to have them just to bring a bit of pleasure into their lives, however briefly, and who am I to police other people's pleasure?
Confused ...

If we didn't buy it, they wouldn't produce it - and vice versa. The question is, how could the cycle be broken? Is it realistic to have laws to prevent stuff being produced? I don't think that's ever going to happen. But as consumers, we can do our bit, even if it's only a tiny contribution.

I am sorry but if buying a plastic Easter wreath with carrots on is what people are relying on to bring themselves joy, then there really is something wrong with our world. And if you think that makes me sound judgmental - I don’t care.

Who's demanding it? Who says there’s a demand? Do you think if they stopped producing so much people would actually notice? Honestly?

I'm not saying nothing should be produced. We need to be thinking about getting rid of the excess. And at the moment there is far, far too much excess.

I don’t think it’s impossible to have laws to stop things being produced. I think we could have laws preventing fast fashion. And preventing things being shipped around the world. And sending landfill to poorer countries.

Not easy in any way shape or form, but not impossible. We only have one planet. What planet do we want our descendants to inherit?

It's not MDF so I'll have that £5 back cheers.

Well one way is price but look at what tariffs do to consumerism and markets when they’re put on cheap producers.

Agree. But businesses need to stop producing it. Then it can’t be bought.

As soon as it’s made, it’s landfill whether it’s bought or not. I find that quite scary.

People buy unnecessary crap all the time. This is why parents have to be in full time work because they want, want, want. Look through your last bank statement for the past six months and the difference between what you wanted and needed. Fashion is a good one, people are buying baggy jeans now, not because there was anything wrong with their skinny jeans. The worst offenders are those who always update their furniture, so wasteful. Not to mention all of the SUVs that have started clogging our roads in the past couple of years. Big, fat consumer greed 🐷

AND ANOTHER THING…!

What is with all the people near me sitting with their engines running checking their phones. Honestly. Polluting the air their kids breathe, wasting their money and destroying the planet. It’s like people have gone collectively mad since Covid.

People can start taking some self responsibility for the sort of world they are creating and leaving for future generations. The ugy truth is, they don't care

Are we not allowed to discuss Temu on MN?

I buy a lot of things at thrift shops here in USA.

Agree.

And I’m not going to pretend I’m any better. I buy too much stuff and I NEED TO STOP.

Perhaps we could start a supportive thread for us spendaholics looking to buy less?

I have to agree with you. I have a family member who goes ALL OUT for every event - Easter, World Book Day, Halloween, Bonfire Night, not to mention birthdays and Christmases etc - every time a full ‘display’ usually a balloon arch, wreaths, outside decorations, goodie baskets, loads of presents, new outfits and pyjamas all round…

They also go on constant days out and holidays - and not cheap ones, Disneyland, big zoos and theme parks and so on.

She doesn’t work and he works in B&Q (not a manager) so how the fuck they afford it I have no idea

I hate to say it but as well as the consumerist angle the kids are completely spoiled

Probably bought on the never never!

amAzon is worse than B&M/ Home Bargains . I buy groceries, pet supplies etc in them.
Stop buying if you want. Nothing is built to last, phones that can’t do latest updates.
Can people buy books or only buy second hand?
If I can only have the basics I won’t bother working.
Vinted and charity shops, someone has to buy from a shop to start with.
I would like to see a return to natural fibres and UK or at least Europe made clothing.

I completely agree with you.
I’m frugal by nature and I automatically consider need vs want in every aspect of my life.
Consumerism is a deadly sin

We desperately need to look at what things are made of - I don’t know if anyone saw that that the liquid run off from landfill is being poured into sewage systems, then onto fields as fertiliser to grow our food. Absolutely grim. At some point these things have to be dealt with.

I would probably start off banning things like Shein and Temu and purchasing stuff direct from China on other platforms like Amazon or EBay. None of that stuff meets UK/EU safety standards - think of all the dodgy toys that are floating around from these sites. It wouldn’t solve the whole issue but it would be a start, and if people need to buy tat at least a physical shop employs people and pays VAT.

Long term though I’d love to see a cultural shift away from acquiring lots and lots of STUFF being a seen as desirable. I think all the defensiveness on this thread shows how tied up with lifestyle, class, really deep seated feelings shopping is - it’s a massive challenge.

Sales Taxes on plastic goods (including clothes) would be a start.

I am fairly frugal about stuff (im a lot shorter than average which means its hard to find clothes to fit....so when i do , i wear them forever- even primark stuff, some items have lasted 10 years!) but then I think if shops/pubs/hairdressers were only used by people like me they would all close! Which also isn't a good thing!

We don't celebrate Halloween and have never had any Easter decorations. We make a wreath at Christmas (DH made a frame that gets reused) and we have a bow that we save each year. Decorations are mostly 5+ years old, some are more than 10 years old.

Ha yes - I thought that too with that name 😳.

Sounds a little bit like the flea markets we have here in my home town. There are usually 3-4 every weekend and they are amzingly cheap. I just bought a cardigan, a T-Shirt and a dress for 9€, about 8 pounds. I.don't think Primark is much cheaper, the quality at fleamarkets is usually better though.
I also do clothes swaps, book swaps and repair cafes.

We also have a huge charity shop here which is two factory buildings with furniture, clothes, electronics, etc. I bought a smart TV for 44 pounds and a kitchen table for 9 pounds. They also have seasonal tat 😉

About 90% of my clothes and 70% of furniture are second hand.

I am on befits so I know what it means to be tight. That's why I buy mostly vegetarian, from the market and second hand. I don't get the argument if you can get clothes at better quality for less.

I am german though it might be different in the UK. I kind of get the feeling that flea markets are less common there.