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.

Not so much things, as I buy mainly from Vinted and I'm not much of a ‘wanter’ otherwise, but having agreed to Sunday lunch this week, I've decided to cook at home, rather than going out.

Going out, for four of us, nearly £100 plus drinks, for just an average Sunday. Don't mind for a celebration event, but a random Sunday - no way.

Particularly with sodding QR codes everywhere

I somewhat agree with you but I do wonder whether things are now overpriced or just damn expensive because wages haven’t risen in line with the production cost of things?

Once you find your "uniform" you don't have to follow fashion. I found mine years ago. I only buy from t.oast, Saint and Sofia, Seasalt, I either wear Docs or Monkey Boots (unless it's a very special occasion), I'm comfortable, my clothes last forever (and can be repaired) and I don't care what anyone else thinks of my outfits.

I used to spend about £200 on cheap clothes every payday in my 20s. A few hundreds every year on crap tech. Now I buy much less but those laptops or phones or items of clothes are more expensive and last much longer so I’m saving money compared to before. But my greatest pleasure in terms of what I now do with my disposable income is saving. It feels hugely comforting having a buffer and mentally I feel lighter not having many physical objects. Being a shopaholic took up too much headspace, time and energy when I look back.

I understand these sentiments, and should be a lot more of this mindset as I am the absolute opposite - a spendthrift and impulsive with not much control sometimes 😆😂

Buying things is a bit addictive for me but I think I am trying to soothe lots of trauma sometimes with the dopamine hit. My poor brain and bank balance aren't better for it though lol 😅

I've got a friend who's extremely miserly to the point of only ever buying charity shop clothes (nothing wrong with second hand but she's got stuck in only ever buying from charity shops), and I remember her only ever drinking soda and lime when we went out - even if I paid 😂 OK, so save money buy something has to give! Cheapskate and miserly isn't good 😕

I can see where you’re coming from and more power to you. I’ve certainly cut down on some things, I absolutely refuse to pay a fiver for a coffee, have cut down on meals out except breakfast (as we really enjoy this as a family), have cut down takeaways and cook more at home.

Totally agree. I have only bought second hand for years now! Prices are ridiculous now.

Totally agree. You have seen the consumer society for what it is, OP, a means to make profit out of us. That it is also wrecking the world with pollution is something else to think about. Why should a washing machine made last year only work for 5 years? The one I bought in 1975 (from an electricity showroom i.e. from the state electricity supplier) was still working in 2006, c.30 years, a reasonable life-span. We need to go back to that - but it will be a huge readjustment since consumerism has been made to make money turn over and apparently provides prosperity for all - but it doesn't, it just milks us.
Good on you for not buying anying unless something breaks.

It's the gaping chasm between price and quality that sucks the enjoyment out of buying anything, even if you can afford it.

I recently refused to go to pay £30 for a Sunday roast. There was nothing they could have put on that plate that would have justified the cost for me.

I think we are going back to the old ways, people are going to start buying clothes that they know are hard-wearing and will last many years, shoes that can be repaired, white goods that they can have serviced and will last for decades, cars that are reliable and not those full of pointless electronic gizmos that serve no real purpose.

I have to admit I've bought a lot of clothes recently (although probably not by some people's standards) but I've come to an end now. I'm retired and the clothes I have now will last me for years, as will my footwear. I have a weekly coffee and cake treat, but otherwise am trying to limit that to when socialising with friends. I rent so don't have to worry about decorating, but my furniture is for life. I did get another TV recently as I wanted a bigger one, but it is second hand. I rarely go out and if I'm going to spend money I would rather have something to keep than an experience. I buy a few DVDs and CDs, and only buy second hand books now, or use the library. No matter how wealthy I was I would never redecorate because I thought the look was "dated".

I'm more than happy going out for long walks and would rather do that than spend money on entertainment.

I haven't read the full thread yet but on a thread about being frugal someone mentioned Patrick Grant's book, so I bought the kindle version straight away.

If you look at early photographs of children it is common to see boys wearing dresses. According to by elderly father this was because younger siblings wore whatever has been bought for the eldest child - even in very wealthy families.

Me too!

I can afford to buy clothes and eat out fairly easily (grown up kids,no mortgage) as our expenses are low nowadays but the pace of price rises means I no longer bother unless it’s a special occasion/something has broken.
I simply don’t find it a ‘treat’ anymore as feeling ripped off and used is not a pleasant feeling and the quality of the goods is generally so awful the double whammy of feeling fleeced is enough to put me off completely

This made me laugh. Not sure if you are joking or not.

Yes, that's it. Mindful spending.

i buy coffee out, but only at places that do coffee I ENJOY & I enjoy being around people sometimes (I live alone) but don't always want 'company' that I have to chat to. Sometimes it's just nice having life go on around you.

i also live in a very small house & already have 'too much stuff' so im very mindful of buying things because I need to get rid of some some stuff, not accumulate more. So I keep it to a minimum, but I will buy things if I think they'll be very useful or I love them.

🤷🏻‍♀️

I’m frugal with everything, buy on Vinted, stopped eating out as much etc. But there’s no way I’d give up my Elemis marine cream, it’s gorgeous. To be fair to QVC they have it on today’s special value a couple of times a year and I get my grown up kids to get me it for Xmas

Maybe she just likes soda and lime… I drink it a lot because I like it, it’s caffeine free and low calorie without sweetener

I was just in Aldi and saw the amount of tat they had specifically for Halloween i.e. towels, mugs, front door mats, duvet covers. Who on earth needs to buy all these tat just because it's Halloween? I often wonder what happens to the collective tons of this rubbish from all the stores selling this.

I don't think she's bragging at all. I just think we have been so brainwashed and conditioned into believing we need to keep buying new things.

Sort of joking but I did buy it.
Most of my fun money goes on the garden, I feel huge pleasure in having a garden full of flowers.
I can mainly resist clothes but any I do buy stay in my wardrobe for ever, I still wear some things which are over 20 years old.

I have always been a "uniform" person. The uniform has changed over time as my tastes and needs have changed but it makes life so much easier.

Yep, sounds fair. People who have to follow the latest fashion make me laugh. Just suddenly changing their style like sheep, wearing something ridiculous that doesn’t suit them just because some daft designer somewhere is rubbing their hands together and laughing at them 😂

That’s what I’ve never understood, not long ago we were told there aren’t enough people to do all these minimum wage jobs and now we should be supporting their creation/maintaining these jobs??