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.

And soon those staff will be out of a job because nobody can afford to pay for those things as nobody except those on minimum wage has had wage increases

Regardless of price, I would rarely buy something I didn't need. I don't see spending money needlessly as 'treating myself'. I'd rather save towards a future big expense.

The problem is they don’t make those things anymore. I’m still running my 18 year old car because I want to, I got it from brand new, it’s my baby, and it still drives like a new car. But you’d be hard pushed to find a simple, non electric gadget ridden new car now.

I use a hand me down Bosch washing machine that must be over 20 years old!! Because it still works perfectly. I bet even Bosch don’t make something like that anymore 🤣

Clothes are all cheap, throwaway items. Even the “expensive” ones still wear out fast a lot of the time.

Yep. I've lived like this since the age of about 30, so 18 years. I remember going into IKEA wondering how all that stuff gets sold every day, despite the same furniture being available 2nd hand/free. There is so much stuff in the world that's perfectly usable, lovely historic high street clothing brands in charity shops or on vinted. Where possible, I buy 2nd hand, only buy stuff I need, and use things until they're no longer repairable.

Perhaps the poor people didn’t think they had a chance.
Or perhaps they felt that they had to continue to contribute to their family.
Or perhaps not a single teacher ever encouraged them.
Who knows without asking them?

Do you really think they “didn’t bother?”
I’ll wager the same number of rich people didn’t bother either, but they went on to university.
And then they didn’t bother at university either.

I know those rich people.
They didn’t bother after university either.
Or ever. Because why bother?

I know those poor people too.

After I took early retirement and no longer needed a work wardrobe I stopped buying new clothes for a few years. I just wore the stuff I already had until I wore it out. When I looked I had 14 winter coats. I have not bought another one and now I just wear the ones I already have. I've got most colours. I see burgundy is in this winter, I have 2 of that colour. 1 longer one with a fake fur collar and and a shorter one with a normal collar.

Well said!!

I feel like every single shop is trying to cheat me out of my money by selling low quality goods at a high price.
Even shops with a reputation for customer service.

I went into M&S (non food) last Spring with money to spend and an open mind. The clothes were either cheap polyester or boring workwear, pastel Breton shirts and unflattering three-quarter length trousers. Anything I liked the look of I had at home in a better version, bought several years ago. At 57 I was one of the youngest customers there (admittedly it was a Wednesday morning).

The homeware? Cheap pottery objects dipped in gold and silver paint, glasses that were recycled materials (ok) but so drab. Pans, bedding, towels etc. worse quality than IKEA at much higher prices.

I left with a pair of yoga pants (good) and a cheap T-shirt for DD made of that “perished effect” cotton, just because it had cherries on it. A waste of my time and their chance to part me from my cash.

And that’s supposed to be a good value for money place! Poundland is only slightly more miserable.

So with you OP. I just can’t get excited any more!

All the joy of treats, outings and lovely clothes is sucked out when you snort at the silly pricing.

Dismal.

I’ve spent on National Theatre at Home and BFI app. That’s what everyone’s really interested in - what you’re buying instead. £15 the lot - not much, is the answer.

You’re a long time dead and you can’t take it with you. If it’s affordable to you, and you want it, there’s only you who is missing out by not having it, regardless of whether it’s expensive ‘these days’ or not. If it doesn’t fit in your budget, that’s completely different.

I agree that we all buy more than we need but if we all do this and hardly anyone buys anything or goes out to eat then the last of the high street shops will shut and their staff lose their jobs, restaurants will give up completely as they are already struggling. We will be left with only the huge chains where each sale is such a tiny bit of their turnover that they don’t care.
Spend less certainly but rather than cutting everything think about spending in a considered way. Go to independent bookstores, go to independent coffee shops and restaurants, go to micro food producers, buy Christmas gifts from artists and makers. You will usually get a better product, much of the money will stay in the local economy, you will meet people passionate about what they do. And they will be genuinely grateful for your customer.

Yes, surely most people have stopped buying lots of things. It doesn't help, but it feels natural.

Eating out? McDonalds is quickly becoming the only restaurant majority of people can go to nowadays. A restaurant treat indeed.

Yes!!! Let's please start a club.

We just don't need the volume of things that in the 21st century are considered normal consumption, whereas in the past they were treats.

I have a bit of different view though. I'm happy to pay £££ for an item where I 99% know it is high quality and ethically made. And no, Prada bags don't qualify. For example, I have just bought a handmade, family business, high end second hand cashmere jumper, and I love it. But I wouldn't buy any of the cheap mainstream tat that's marketed to us daily and that none of really need, or would cherish 6 months from now.

My criteria for any purchase these days is:

• I need it. Not want, actually need, e.g. I don't have a single functioning handbag and therefore can justify getting one. I only have 1-2 of any type of item, e.g. one warm winter jacket, one pair of jeans
• It's absolutely beautiful and exactly what I wanted
• Materials are good and sustainable, i.e. not polyester. Yes, I'm looking at you, Self-Portrait dress for £800
• It sparks joy, I'm genuinely excited about using it
• It's 2nd hand if clothing - very few exceptions, I mostly wear 2000s stuff. I don't tend to buy clothes regularly and many of my items are 2000s originals
• It's expensive enough that it would allow the supply chain to not be a race to the bottom. I appreciate not everyone prefer to pay more, but I genuinely prefer to pay more for the right offering if I can see what my money is doing. For example, I pay £12 for my coffee because of how it is sourced, and because it's genuinely artisan and delicious. On principle I refuse to buy anything that's too cheap, because I want to support fair trade, pursuing superior quality and paying people well

Used to be normal not to be constantly buying stuff. Now it's apparently a niche lifestyle.

Used to be normal to expect quality from 'luxury' brands. Now it's not far from being the same as a Primark article, with a logo slapped on. I was browsing pretty much every 'luxury' brand at a recent trip, and it was tacky as hell. All about profit margins.

If we reduced the volume of consumption, we could increase the quality of what is produced for us.

Like I said, I do appreciate not everyone has the luxury to choose to pay a premium for good things.

It's striking a balance. I like to think if I see something I like I can get it (isn't that the point of working to be able to give ourselves little treats?!) but it's not being sucked into the consumerism too much. It has been a noticeable difference with the price increase and yet the quality still the same. I get everything has gone up but it's pretty frustrating.

A cinema showing has like 10 less people to pay
A recording doesn't have to pay the backstage crew, the ushers, the bars - the actors might not even be being paid depending on contract.

It's really not the same experience either

Nothing new to me. I only bought my kids new clothes as they became adults apart from school uniform. Always bought second hand from eBay.

Nothing Of mine has ever been fashionable as it’s years old. New shoes are usually from Asda. Only own one pair of trainers, one pair work shoes. Do own a few pairs flip flops though.

Never bought homeware, ornaments, pictures. All I have has been presents.

I absolutely love it when people come on mumsnet and virtue signal because you have the money for all this stuff you just want to make yourself feel better by playing pretend poor like you’ve forgotten that’s how the biggest majority of people actually live. If you really want to get a feel for how difficult things can be stop using your second hand washing machine for a bit and drag everything to the laundrette once a week on the bus pay £4.50 to get it washed and then drag it back home on the bus to dry because you can’t afford to pay to get it dried and don’t forget the extra strong tape on the fridge door because it’s broken and keeps falling off but it still works and you can’t afford to replace it. New clothes aren’t a thing I’m still wearing things I bought 5 years ago winter shoes are bought every year from primark I know they won’t last but it’s all I can afford. Playing pretend poor may make you feel good about yourself but it’s real life for a lot of people.

Sadly (happily? Maybe I am what OP aspires to) I do not have enough underwear to last a decade and just went on a lovely 90 minute date and got new undies (5 pairs!) to supplement my previous 4, and my husband got a pair of sweatpants since he only had one. Then a burrito and a bubble tea and a grocery pickup.

If I feel like I'm being taken advantage of, I just don't buy it

This.

Wow. There’s some weirdly paranoid and negative outlooks on this thread.
People have followed fashion forever. You choose not to and that’s fair enough. But don’t for one second think you’re superior to anyone else.

Haven’t RTFT.

As far as disposable income goes, I prefer to spend on experiences. Travel, festivals, raves, socialising.

Everything else has been massively deprioritised.

If so many of us are doing this, I wonder what impact it will have on businesses that sell “stuff”?

I dont agree that OP is humble bragging and I sort of see where she is coming from. I have a couple of side hustles on top of my pension which mean I can afford heating and so on and dont have to worry about the blils. But I cant remember the last time I bought clothes or make up or tat for the house. I have more than I could possibly need now. I buy things when they wear out and not before. I had to throw out the microwave last week but it was 15 years old! Same with an old non smart phone it had. As for food shopping I more or less buy the same things week on week - Im not a foodie. It must be 20 years since I was in the city center or somewhere like a pub or restaurant. I much prefer to socialise at home. My only real luxury is that I do pay for streaming services, a gardner and a cleaner as I am no longer physically up to doing these things.

Because buying stuff doesn't necessarily mean happiness.I rarely but stuff and when I need it in the queen of bootsales and giveaway pages

Not jyi g new clothes every few months or stuff in general doesn't make me miserable

However I spend my money on travel, but even then I don't waste if.