To refuse to pay current prices?

[Blusteryskies]

I'm probably unreasonable for asking such a question, but has anyone else reached the point where they just won't buy things anymore even though they can afford to? I no longer see the point of buying things. Clothes, meals out, house items etc. Everything seems so overpriced and quality no longer correlates with price. I've decided I literally don't need to buy anything. I have enough clothes to last me years, furniture, homewares etc. Unless something dies, I won't be replacing it. Why do we need new clothes because someone has decided style has shifted massively in the past few years? Interiors likewise. I'm stating the bleeding obvious, but it all just feels like a con to fleece us out of our money and now brands are ever increasing their prices and their profit margins. I'm just fed up of it, and no longer feel like it's worth participating in mass consumerism. It's a never ending cycle of pointless, unfullfilling consumption.

I’m the same. I must stop though as it’s not even making me happy.

That’s how life used to be until marketing became a degree subject.

I am enjoying Patrick Grant's book but I think he has a bit of a rose tinted view of pre industrial Britain.

It’s not just the prices that are shit, quality is also shit! I feel like every business is cutting corners as much as they can but still raising prices. We rarely go out to eat anymore, same with takeaways. I’m a decent cook and find making it at home is better. Takeaways are saved for when neither of us can be bothered.

I had a look on Next this morning for some fleeced lined wellies for my son and they were almost £40! Mind you he is only a toddler! Straight to vinted and got a pair new with tags for £10.

I had a look on Next this morning for some fleeced lined wellies for my son and they were almost £40! Mind you he is only a toddler! Straight to vinted and got a pair new with tags for £10.

Surely this will only be a short term solution now though? The number of idiots prepared to buy them new and never use them will diminish as the prices rise. Then we are all screwed

I've always lived a bit like this though. Never been one to have a load of stuff, clothes last years, but I pay premium to start with. It's getting more difficult though, I agree, to get quality, too much synthetic materials at the moment, at huge prices. Coats and boots have lasted me 15 years, jumpers too. White goods, I have still have some that are 20 years old.

Hate holidays, yes, I know weird

But, the thing we do spend money on is food, drinks, and cars!

It’s not like this in most of the rest of Europe. Friends who live in Italy, Spain and France earn slightly less than I do and do not have to think a million times before buying a latte.

I've never been one for buying stuff, it makes you happy for about 5 minutes then it wears off. I spend all my money on holidays. I do love fresh flowers though from the supermarket.

We had our first takeaway in ages last night as we had a stressful day and didn't have time to cook and it was almost £20 for fish and chips for two.

It's the car market that boggles my mind. PCP and lease deals have got people into the habit of having new cars every 3 years. Almost all company cars now are leased. What happens to all these 3 year old cars, where do they all go?

I'm not interested in cars at all and I hate driving so maybe it's just me but I find it so wasteful and the impact on the environment from producing all these cars that aren't really necessary must be huge!

I've never been.one to fritter away on coffees when out.
You save so much money by not doing this.

The three years old cars are sold to someone else.

Absolutely. We don’t go out often, but I wanted to see a new film. Managed to get a babysitter. Prices up 2 seats (basic) at Vue sat eve and local pub tea (not a spoons, but not gastro pub either) with parking would have been around £80 for both to have tea out and watch a film. I didn’t go, I refused to pay it even though we can. Rented something on Amazon and bought two steaks. Had £50 change and ate better.
Some posters are making fun of this again as rich vs poor, but the point of the poster is the cost of anything - it’s not good for the economy if we stop going out, buying goods etc. Most people here seem to want to have a poke at the rich but when the local cinema or restaurant closes because people are going out less - those jobs are lost. The government is rinsing business and they will raise costs, they just open fewer outlets or not expand business. We need wealth in this country to contribute tax, spend money! We also need them to own businesses here. Currently this country is in a massive mess - this poster highlights it.

She’s not bragging. She’s highlighting that even people who can spend money are not doing. It’s not about rich vs poor. This is not a good place for the country to be, and turning it into a class war will only make it worse for those who don’t have much cash to spend. Stop being daft.

Yes, it not about rich or poor but about whether it is personally worth it to buy something that would have been worth it 5,10, 20 years ago. I went out for a meal and spent £65 for two recently and it was worth it. Beautiful presentation, fantastic staff and tasty food. Those places are few and far between now.

Surely the market must be oversaturated by now though with so many people replacing a car that would easily last 10 years after 3! Maybe its one of those things that just seems more common than it used to be.

Thank you. I’m not in the UK, will see if I can access borrow box or if our library has it. Doubt it.

They get auctioned off.

@Limpetrocks yep to give you an example - we are having a few nights in Haarlem this week ( 15 minutes outside Amsterdam) very upmarket small city - everywhere candle lit, warm, cosy, inviting- busy!! Last night I had a beautiful ‘fresh’ pasta dish with fresh tomatoes, mushrooms, Parmesan and truffle oil ( very good portion too) - H had an amazing sliced through steak perfectly medium rare cooked and tender as butter with chim churri, home made rosti, asparagus, garlic mushrooms and fresh roasted tomatoes, starter of toasted sourdough with raw finely chopped tuna and a lovely dressing - 2 large glasses of a good Tempranillo and some nice sparking water - 74 euros in total - no service charge! And fantastic service too . The wine was 5 euros 20 a glass - and it was good too and we are wine snobs. Actually we had 4 glasses wine but 2 were on the house as they apologised for a 25 minute delay on serving mains due to being full . no way in UK would we have got this meal for under £90 at the quality it was in a very very smart independent place - never mind £65

It's supply and demand with top theatre shows. Seats are always sold out so they know they can get those prices.
They have quite alot to cover as well. Hiring the theatre, the wages, costumes etc.

Yes, our coffee in Spain was €1.60 this summer. So much cheaper than here.

Yes. A lot of overheads, I can’t imagine that Cynthia Erivo would be on a low wage. Paying at least £200 to see her in that production sounds entirely reasonable to me.

Brilliant 😂

By that measure why do anything that costs money? Why go out at all? Why have hobbies? Why travel? Everything costs money and costs only go in one direction but if things bring you pleasure, joy, happiness, contentment then isn’t it worth it?

I agree, everything cost a fortune and most items are made as cheap as possible, they don't aim for good, they aim for acceptable.
Everything is all about maximising profits for the shareholders or the company owners.

We must not cut back too much because so many people rely on our spending to keep them in a job. Moderation in everything- but never buy expensive take away coffee!

I agree with the ridiculous consumerism. I deplore the way capitalist society encourages it. And the more we buy or demand the more prices inflate! So it’s actually not great for the people on lower incomes for wealthier people to keep buying. So whoever said only on mumsnet would you pompously brag about only replacing when worn out is missing the point. Most people do only replace something when worn out BUT they used to be able to indulge in a bit extra - a few treats and a little luxury. I completely understand why people who might have had any spare cash don’t want to do that anymore. It feeds the cycle . Unfortunately however economic growth then suffers! Jobs are also being lost especially at the higher end and over 50’s . So many friends family’s being made redundant! All with teenagers still at school to support.

I think energy bills have become ridiculous and that impacts those who are the most vulnerable especially the elderly.

My friend did say she had enough free samples of toiletries to last until she is dead now. So won’t buy toiletries! She is a well paid lawyer! But cuts vouchers out of magazines to get the discounts. I do the same- I save wherever I can regardless of income. Any one with any financial brain would do this - cut costs and then save whatever you can for an emergency fund. Invest the rest. Don’t spend it on ‘stuff’.

If they educated children in schools about how to invest and make money I’m pretty sure we would not have a society where so many are having to go to food banks.

It saddens me that so many are caught up in the consumer trap feeling that success in life means the latest fashion item or silly face cream on tiktok.

I think with company’s like Shein easily and cheaply accessible online on the phone our young people are growing up more consumerist than ever. Agh