Is it irresponsible to order non-essential stuff online at the moment?

[Medievalist]

Would I be putting delivery drivers at risk unnecessarily or keeping them in jobs?

The deliveries I've had have left things on the step and backed away so they don't actually have contact with me.

I think if you order stuff online, you are keeping businesses going. It's an awkward balance.

Hand on heart, I've ordered some bits of food and that's about it. But I was considering getting other stuff that I would like, just to keep the businesses open. Look forward to seeing the consensus on here.

I have ordered coffee from a small roastery. They mostly supply cafes, so have lost most of their trade and are encouraging online orders, so I see it as a way of supporting a small business and of getting some nice coffee. It fits through a letterbox and is delivered by Royal Mail, so the postman would be delivering mail anyway and no contact is needed.

I'm a couple of hundred miles away from my young adult dcs and have been trawling Amazon to find things that might cheer them up. A big food parcel of would go down a treat of course but doesn't seem to be an option. Was also thinking of ordering some wine to see me through the lockdown and some plants/seeds for the garden. But none of those are essential....(well the wine maybe).

*parcel of food

A lot of small local suppliers like wine shops and delis are doing deliveries. A good way to support small local UK based businesses? Our farmers market is closed but they put up a list of stallholders doing deliveries and mail order.

I want to order a case of wine

I ordered DS(11) some sheet music to work on, as recommended by his music teacher. Music is his “thing” and he is sirbdibg a lot of time practicing to absorb all the changes going on. It’s coming from an independent music publisher and will fit through the letterbox.

I’ve had this dilemma. I like the idea of keeping companies in business but I don’t want to risk virus spread (obv) and I am hoping that no junior staff member has been coerced into working when they’d rather be safe at home, albeit with 20% less cash.

In the end I did buy some summer clothes online. If the Prime Minister had told us to stop doing that kind of thing last Monday, I wouldn’t have ordered them, but he didn’t refer to nonessential online shopping.

Seriously, if its keeping delivery drivers in work, they're keeping safe by not coming up to you for a signature etc and it's stuff that will keep us sane, it wouldn't even cross my mind not to order stuff...

This week we have ordered...

Flooring for spare room, now all laid.
Stuff I can use for jewellery making, teaching myself a new skill.
Craft stuff for the kids
Banners etc for 2 upcoming birthdays, because I want to make them special for them.
Bike for DS
Rabbit hutch for DD (both birthday present, sans bunny for now unfortunately)
Cross stitch fabric and threads for me, as if I don't keep my hands busy I will just drink. All. The. Time.
New glasses for me because I'm watching TV and getting headaches because I lost my last pair.
Essential oils for anxiety, for my friend as a present
I think you will probably find people on mumsnet who are having a competitive 'how awful is my lockdown' competition, but honestly, I'm having a shit time in my relationship right now, I'd got to the point of leaving my husband before this all happened and now I can't... So anything I can order to make the time pass is getting ordered!

I’m torn. On one hand I think it’s good to keep spending to support local businesses and support the economy even if only a little.

On the other - it’s creating a demand for people to still go to a workplace and be near to others therefore increasing their risk of catching / spreading it, as well as my own risk for receiving a delivery. Up to now I’ve not