Shops' seasonal tat!

[Passaggressfedup]

Society is in economic decline. The average family struggles to afford their bills. They can't afford to save let alone any form of luxury. This is what is shared through whatever social media platform.

So it makes me wonder? Who buys all the tat that covers whole shelves of supermarkets or shops selling cheap stuff? Christmas is over and here comes Valentine tat. Big teddy bears, huge chocolate boxes, cards that cost £10. Then the same for mother's day. The next day, all the shit for Easter? Easter family pyjamas, decorative pillows, duvet, garden stuff with bunnies on them...and it goes on, theme after theme, tat after that.

Surely this happens because it sells, and sells very well. So who has the disposable income to buy that absolute unnecessary stuff? Not even luxury, things that will end up in the bin.

Are the media selling us fake stories about families on the brick of financial crisis? Or are all these shops selling stuff that are recycled every year because it's not selling?

None of my friends (all would fall into middle class) are on the breadline. Most have holidays booked, we’re still having meals out, days out, birthday nights out etc.

People will always buy decorations - yes some of it is abit naf (and imo) ‘tat’. But also lots of lovely seasonal things in various shops. I buy a small amount for every season - a few new Xmas decs each year, maybe some nice seasonal bits for outdoor dining in the Summer, cushions etc. We haven’t changed any plans for this year so far and millions and millions of families are not on the breadline (perhaps being abit more careful is more realistic). Buying an Easter themed mug or an outdoor cushion isnt going to stop.

I think it is quite realistic to say that 40% of over 16s buy something you consider tat once in a while. It doesn't have to be bank breaking to do so. Once or twice a year buying something for less than half of adult population is giant number of items
I am not sure how you come up with that random 40% either. What is it based on? I used £30 as an average of 2 £15 items based on what seems to be an average price for tat.

As for saying it's the well off who buys these things...well off people don't shop in those popular shops full of these sort of items.

I agree with some posters who say that people have got used to the thought of 'deserving' little treats. So even when they struggle to afford essentials, they don't see it that they have a budgeting issue.

I myself went through a phase of buying tat. I had extra money and so thought why not. It didn't feel I was spending much because it was only small amounts. Then I changed jobs and had to give it up completely. I really don't miss the stuff, but what a shock at how much more disposable income I have at the end of the month.

I think many families would find themselves much better off if they had a zero attitude to tat.

What is tat, actually?

But again OP- why are you so sure it’s people who can’t afford the essentials who are buying little treats?

IME- the little treats people are those who can cover the basics, but can’t afford the big treats. So little treats it is. (And this is long term historically known behaviour- in times of hardship spending on small, cheap “luxuries” increases, not because people are stupid, because they can’t afford the £200 thing but they can spare £10 for the little jolly thing that will brighten an otherwise dull week.)

No, people don’t need luxuries, the clues in the name. And yes you could just always just save save save every penny and never have anything beyond what you absolutely need . But that’s a shit way to live. We accept those who are forced to live like that as they have no disposable income are to be pitied. I do think we also need to learn to pity those whose mental health is so bad they can’t allow themselves to ever spend money they have spare on things they’d find fun. Maybe not home decorations, but spend that extra £40 for the cook steak once in a while. Buy the £50 eyeshadow palette. Say yes to the £40 cinema trip. And yes, treat yourself to the £600 cross body bag and sling it on to just take the dog for walk.

And re my last post - if you were looking for a COL indicator- I’ve been on MN for so long I remember when the “mums wasting money” threads were all about £600-£1000 bags, now things are so shit we’re debating if it’s excessively reckless spending to buy an Easter door wreath.

Can someone please announce they’ve had a £2k bonus which they are going to spend on a bag and can’t decide between a couple of options, and we can get all nostalgic about the “family holiday!” “Buy art!” “I’d simply get a Tescos bag for life and put the rest in my pension.” posts.

But again OP- why are you so sure it’s people who can’t afford the essentials who are buying little treats?
I'm not sure of anything, just questioning why there is so much constant mention about COL and the significant impact it is having on average people who just can't afford to buy important things. Every single thread about rising obesity evolve in posts about how families can't afford to eat healthily.

So either only well off people are buying very unessential stuff, or people are choosing to buy that sort of things over healthy food (as an example).

It's not the buying of tat that I question, it's the growing number of families moaning they can't afford important things.

And let's not forget people who save every penny and then die without ever being able to enjoy their nest egg. Like my late father who was stashing money away for a rainy day his entire working life just to drop dead at the age of 45.
Unless you are using a food bank and have no money to switch your cooker on, spend the damn £8 on Easter pajama once a year!

Often in difficult times, people have to cut back on bigger stuff (holidays, cars etc) so they treat themselves to smaller things they can still afford. Cost of living affects pretty much everyone, but you just slide a bit down the scale. There’s still plenty of people shopping in Sainsburys, but some of them used to shop in Waitrose. Maybe people used to buy their tat in Homesense but now they look in Home Bargains. And so on.

People all have their own set of priorities. Everyone believes their priority list is in the right order.

Ah! Now this is clear! You are defining “well off” as “has any spare money after bills, mortgage/rent paid and basic food bought.” This makes sense now!

No OP, the majority of people are not living in poverty. However the COL crisis has meant that many people who were “comfortable” with quite a lot of money left over after bills/rent/food now don’t. It means that people who previously were ok are now being pushed into poverty.

It also means that lots of people are having to host /stay at home for “celebration” events (Christmas, Easter, Halloween, summer holidays etc) and as such are prepared to spend a fraction of what they would have done being outside the home, making their home feel more special for that event/time period.

Rather unkind to working class families! As well as the Germany stuff I also have a couple of sets of nursery rhyme lights, they are probably from the 1930s, twisted, cotton covered wires, I think my parents bought them when they were first married in 1937, my aunt also had them. They still work too now I've put a modern plug on, not at all generational wealth, two up, two down house then a council house but people who knew how to not waste money.