@wtg said in Economic blackout:
A short term boycott sends a signal to a company that some part of the population wants it to change. If they get the message, doesn't it make sense to send dollars their way? And if they don't adjust their policies, well then the boycott does become permanent. I've had several companies on my "do not buy" list for years, even decades, because we're on different sides of the fence when it comes to issues that are important to me.
And...I'm sure I take for granted how easy it is to get things because of where I live and I don't want to minimize the challenge for people who live in remote areas who don't have ready access, but as an aging boomer I've been going through a lifetime of stuff that I thought I really had to have and now I'm having to get rid of. I'm a shopper and deal finder at heart, but I wished I had asked myself the question of whether my life would really be much different if I didn't buy X. I would have saved myself money then and effort now to get rid of stuff I no longer use. For every purchase I consider making now, I ask myself where I think it will be in a year. In use? Or on its way to the charity shop? I think I end up nixing purchases more than 90 percent of the time. My 15 year old sheets are faded, but hey, I don't see them when I'm asleep anyway. 😀
There is nothing they can do now to win back my business. Nothing. They took a suicide pill when they backed Trump, after Jan 6, after his felony convictions. They dont get another dime from me, ever.
I am not a shopper unless it is for things I actually need. I would rather spend my money on experiences, gifts, better health and safety for me and my loved ones, or a luxurious item that will bring me joy every single day. I don't need kitchen counter appliances, a bigger tv, more books (I use the library), etc. As someone who lived through her own personal Great Depression in my 20s, then lived in a Forest Service cabin without running water or electricity and accessible only on foot, I consider most of what people buy to be a waste of money. My clutter is old letters, sentimental souvenirs and ticket stubs, financial records, 40 years worth of reporting notes for stories.... Tons of stuff going into the fireplace.
We are purging and decluttering on an ongoing basis, in hopes of creating more agility in moving, and it is Mr. Pique who has bought two and three and four of everything (flashlights, headlamps, socket wrenches, tow straps, and don't get me started on how many tape measures we have). It drives me crazy. Usually his excuse is that he couldn't find the item in our very extensive tool collection. (Because he is disorganized.) Anyone interested in tools, come to our moving sale!
If I buy sheets it's because the old ones are only good for cleaning rags. If I buy a new comforter it's because the old one was so battered it didn't keep anyone warm any more. My clothes barely fill half a small closet. Thats not to say I don't buy luxurious things--I think it's a false economy to buy things that are cheaply made, or that you don't deeply enjoy, or that won't last. So I try to buy only the best, and save my money for purchases that provide maximum pleasure--like a grand piano. 😉
But I may sell that, too, depending on how nimble we need to be.
Most of my money now goes to hay, stall bedding, horse supplements, hoof trimming tools, riding lessons, veterinarians, gas and repairs for the truck... My own version of budget dementia, as we would be so much better off financially without animals. But they are what fill my life with joy. Priorities!
