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.

oddly enough DH & I went shopping yesterday to look for a particular item and both of us came away thinking all we could find was tat & poor quality items…

I like the fact that so much of the furniture and other things in our house have been inherited, given to us or bought second hand.

So our sofa and armchairs are from ILs, we had them reupholstered. Our bookshelves are from ILs, plus some that my DHs work were getting rid of. Our dinner plates and bowls, cutlery, baking trays, tablecloths and napkins, big serving platters and dishes we use for Christmas and parties were also from my ILs. (Obviously they bought good quality). Our dining room table, chairs and coffee table are second hand.

Some of our furniture is already over 100 years old and will certainly last for our lifetimes. WE will not need to replace any of it just to be on trend.

@Bjorkdidit exactly. I can't afford to buy stuff from B+M just to throw it away.
I buy stuff from there if I need it but also I buy stuff I don't actually need but I simply like (ie a Christmas decoration).
I don't then throw it away 😂
Why would I do that?

I used to buy all the WBD clothes from charity shops and make any accessories by hand. I remember one year my son going as Willy Wonker and it was really fun and satisfying getting charity shop finds for the clothes. I made the hat out of cardboard.

I live in a stupidly small flat so I have to consider every new item purchased and where it will be put. Also what can I get rid of to make room for it. One thing I dislike about Christmas is that people kindly give you “stuff” that you need to find space for. I much prefer non-permanent presents like chocolates and wine.

There are people that feel they have to make their home perfect and fit in SM.

Moved into my flat 16 years ago and I bought quality. Dining table, sofa, tv stand, coffee table etc and they are the same ones I am using today.

I’m with you about seasonal decor (though my Christmas stuff is all old and well used) but Sostrene Green sells plates and bowls and glasses and mugs - I don’t know about you, but I need that sort of stuff. Or do you think we should all have some sort of utility stuff and not worry about it being pleasing to look at and touch?

Towers of silence seem very environmental, lots of wild critters need a good meal.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tower_of_Silence

I think there’s a middle ground though where most people are. Just cos you buy something unnecessary doesn’t mean you buy Temu stuff to post on social media. I am really cutting back on buying clothes but I wanted a particular shade of shirt . I bought it, it’s nice and makes me feel good and it will probably last a few years. Did I need it ? No . But it doesn’t make me a stupid over consumer. I think some of you are being a little unfair

Me too, I don't like being given 'stuff'. If people ask what I would like I say toiletries, chocolate, wine, etc. Things that I can actually use and enjoy.

I think she's understanding it just fine.

It's a cheap shot to accuse someone of not understanding merely because they don't agree with you.

I just don’t care 🤷‍♀️

I like to change theme every year and do something different. Exception is Christmas, I just build on that I don’t throw away.

I agree. It makes me feel so sad. All we can do is be mindful of our own buying habits.

Couldn't agree more. This is definitely the age of consumerism and I think the combination of cheap Chinese tat (Ali express/Shein/Temu/Wish/Light in the Box etc) plus social media has created a perfect storm.

I make a huge effort to not buy shite and my absolute line in the sand are kinder eggs
3.5 billion (x2 egg and toy) unnecessary pieces of plastic crap a year.

So is some of the things I own.
Maybe not quite so old but I have things going back 30 years or so (I am almost 50 so basically I have owned them my whole adult life).
But where did I buy them...... Woolworths. Which is basically what B+M is now. They took over the gap in the market when Woolies went.

I feel the same when I watch inside the factory. So much energy, resources and time spent on stuff that we could do completely without!

Oh don't be disingenuous. There's a huge gulf between having decorations and changing those decorations seasonally/yearly.

B and M isn't just plastic tat though?

They sell food, cleaning products, homeware (plates, lamps, mugs) and loads of other bits. Often at a cheaper price. Yeah they sell tat as well but it's not exclusively that.

Fair enough but it's a pretty repugant attitude.

I agree but the economy depends on it really in our mega capitalist lifestyle and approach.

Art and music, theatres, cinemas, concert halls, sports arenas and equipment, mobile phones, tv are unnecessary too. Likewise toys, holiday travel, confectionery and alcohol. Numerous foodstuffs are unnecessary. A nutritionist could devise a healthy plant and insect based diet.

Good luck with that. A miserable animal existence.

Can’t go wrong with those things and they’re always appreciated. Maybe I’m just getting old. 🤣

My kids are in their twenties now and I still have things that are older than them. I bought my vegetable peeler in the 1990s and it’s still the best. I had to replace my toaster a couple of year’s ago as it totally broke down but I’d had it for about twenty years and never wanted it replaced (classic Dualit). My saucepans are older than my kids and still as good as new (Alessi brand). I only replace my phone when it conks out and I never buy brand new. My current phone is an 11 although I think Apple are up to a 16 now. I never replace anything unless it’s completely broken. I’ve still got too much stuff/tat/clutter in the house though as it’s accumulated through having different phases of childhood/young adulthood which inevitably causes clutter.

To be fair you have a point on non recyclable tat! But one man’s tatt is another’s treasure.

The difference is that if you spend money on experiences/ food/ drink you aren't then left with a pile of stuff to get rid of.that eventually goes to landfill.
huge amounts of energy goes into making tat. people use it then it needs disposing of.
Huge amounts of energy goes into making confectionary. people use it and there is nothing to go on landfill