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.

Yes I feel the same. I’ve stopped buying clothes I don’t need. We rarely eat out unless it’s a birthday thing now and even then I think I could have made this at home. I rarely get workmen in because after Brexit they completely took advantage and the last quote I had was so obscene it disgusted me. I prefer to spend my money on my hobby now which is jewellery making.

I don't "refuse to pay current prices". I just don't buy everything i want, and sadly now can't buy everything I need. My income has stayed static as prices have risen and that's just the way it is. I've stopped buying any treats, make my haircuts last about 10 weeks (rather than my preferred 6 or 7), buy economy sliced bread and the cheapest toiletries and sanpro.
I wish I was doing it to make a stand, or as a protest of sorts but it's just survival. My happy day is finding a yellow stickered box of eggs or some other staple (lots of the marked-down bits are snacks and luxuries that I can't afford even at half price). It's shit. At least I'm healthy, slim and have a secure home, a job I don't absolutely hate and people I love around me, or else it'd all be pretty miserable.

Agree

Years back i used to eat out every week but now hardly ever, mainly because of kids but also because I can buy good ingredients and cook well at home. Im sure the restaurant industry isn't doing as well generally.

I spend my 'disposable' income on school fees and small home improvements. Whereas before, it used to be clothes.

I would just look at it that you have enough clothes in now to wear for years so you don't have to pay the ever rising prices any more.

I'm the same. I decided not to buy new clothes; like you I have enough to keep me going and my style hasn't changed in years. I did buy two skirts in the Seasalt sale and new shoes on eBay (Ecco but a quarter of the rrp). And I think quality has declined while prices have gone up ((I used to buy from Lands End but the fabrics are dodgy and there's too much choice!). I'd rather put any extra money into nice food.

We’ve stopped eating out except for special occasions. We used to eat out several times per week, but the cost for very mediocre food is ridiculous now. I never spent a lot of money on clothes anyway so not much has changed there. Alcohol has been cut out for me but that’s more for health reasons than money, although DH still drinks.

I hate shopping (except food shopping) and I hate online shopping even more than high street shopping. I too have everything I could possibly need, for years to come. I too have stopped buying stuff. In fact I'm trying to get rid of some of it.

The good thing about having bought clothes from places like Seasalt is that the styles never change, they just bring out a slightly different colour each year so you wouldn't know if a Janelle coat was 10 years old or last years. I have never been fashionable though.

I started something similar a few years ago. Miy decision came from pure resentment. I couldn’t justify it, I felt fleeced. The only thing I would say is you do eventually get fed up of the same clothes over and over again. I still buy beautiful candles and have good shoes. Everything else I couldn’t care less.

I love eating out. But my husband and I were saying yesterday that’s it’s just not as enjoyable now because the food isn’t as good. Not sure what’s happened. This is central London and the quality seems to have gone down. We have also noted longer waits everywhere. For food to arrive, and for the tube to get there!

We are sticking to the local two restaurants we love until things improve. Other than for special occasions of course.

I’m lucky to have enough money and I’m happy to spend it. The problem is, that these days I don’t feel like I’m getting enough value for the money I’m spending. That’s what is making me rethink.

They could do that . As far as im
aware education is still free . Some of us grew up poor and decided through applying ourselves that our life would be better . I do get a bit meh when people say I grew up poor so that’s my lot in life . It doesn’t have to be , it will be harder but as an adult you can change things for a better life . Some of the most successful people I know started with nothing . It’s attitude that counts not money .

Oh I thought this was going to be another thread on shoplifting tips.

I totally agree @Blusteryskies. The current, crazy level of consumerism isn't for your benefit, the opposite, in fact, it's bad for our planet. Think who does benefit though. They want us all to carry on running around, buying things and taking out credit like rats.

I’m older and I find most of my knowledge about the contemporary world comes from MN!

I’m constantly struck by the “upping the ante” or spiralling of consumerism I hear about on here. Crazy Hollywood weddings which go on for days, hen parties which happen abroad and cost thousands, gender-reveals, baby showers, grand first birthday parties…

Then it’s Christmas Eve boxes and now this year ‘Boo Boxes ‘ for Halloween. It’s crazy stuff and so many parents either embrace it enthusiastically or feel pressured into it. It’s really depressing.

How old are you @Blusteryskies ? I've found the older I get, the less I want to participate in consumerist bollocks.

I am more considered in my purchasing though, so replacing synthetics for natural fibres, no more impulse buying and so on. I do tend towards buying second hand too. I am having to replace clothes as I've lost weight. Coat shopping has been challenging.

To be honest from an ecological perspective I've been repairing and mending things for years rather than buying new clothes or items. I am too old for fashion anyway!

Is this a new thing? Everyone has red lines surely where they can afford a thing but they just won’t buy it as it’s too expensive, not too expensive that they’d be destitute in fact far from it but the old “I just can’t justify spending that much” feeling even though you really really would like the thing.

@SeaAndStars totally agree with you on eating out. I love my food and used to love the experience of eating out, now it is almost always underwhelming and ridiculously overpriced. I love to cook as well and like you I can make lots of things at home!
what a shame to not feel that enjoyment if eating out anymore. Depressing

My weight fluctuates so much due to an illness that I’ve always paid a visit to charity shops for clothing when I’m in my bigger phase (have lots of lovely clothes that don’t fit and it’s depressing at times) but I’m becoming more and more delusioned at their pricing. Just because something is for example Boden, I’m not going to pay £30 for a bobbled dress that previously would have been a fiver max.

I agree. It's all driven by the people who want to make a profit. Tesco aren't really trying to 'help' you ('Every little helps') - they just want to make a profit out of you. I enjoy going to the shops, buying just what I need and seeing how much money I save by not buying all the things I can happily do without. Don't need takeaway coffee, don't need my nails done, don't need a new handbag, don't need a cream cake, don't need a smelly candle, don't need a new phone... I'll buy things if I've decided I want them but I rarely buy on impulse.

I find it depressing too. When I said 'rats' above, I was considering saying 'lab rats' but decided not to as some people might find it offensive. That is what it feels like though. Social media has so much influence on younger people in particular nowadays. A lot of people who spend a lot on discretionary things are not well off and a lot of it seems to be on credit. It will all blow up at some point!

Very true.

I think some business models are just not sustainable now. The eating out boom for the couple of decades preceding covid relied on lots of cheap labour. They may not be viable when we have a labour shortage and people increasingly value flexibility in their jobs.

And the mid range chain places like Prezzo seem like the worst of both worlds really, so I wonder how long they can last.

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