"Buy Nothing" Groups Gain Popularity(wsj.com)
wsj.com
"Buy Nothing" Groups Gain Popularity
https://www.wsj.com/articles/an-antidote-to-inflation-buy-nothing-groups-gain-popularity-11637231402
33 comments
I wish there was better data on products. The companies know the quality of the parts and level of returns. Maybe we should have some of thia data. At least give some information on grade of cotton in clothes.
I was thinking of a breakdown tax. Variable tax based on breakdown rates or product longevity.
This is clever, any resources you'd recommend that describe this in detail? Or is this more in the "that'd be neat" stage?
The latter.
That would be cool.
Another option would be just forcing long warranties (like 20 years) on most non-consumable products.
Another option would be just forcing long warranties (like 20 years) on most non-consumable products.
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We bought cheapest dishwasher we could find for our rental (as a tenants). Cost $400 (280 USD) to buy and something like $350 to install (1-2 hours of labour to lay new piping).
It had some weird failures already, but lasted over a year already. Willing to bet it's going to last few years and there's just no way 5x more expensive Bosch is going to outlast it.
It had some weird failures already, but lasted over a year already. Willing to bet it's going to last few years and there's just no way 5x more expensive Bosch is going to outlast it.
Take the time to buy quality appliances, you get what you pay for. I bought Viking appliances 15 years ago. They've been so durable I've moved them to new houses twice without issue.
Of the four or five people I've know with Viking appliances, every one to a person has had them serviced to fix what broke far more regularly than any kitchen appliance I've ever owned. One person that inherited them in the house they bought flat-out said they were over-priced, finicky junk they'd never directly buy themselves.
So I'd buy Viking if it lasted longer (because I'm tired of buying disposable appliances, too), but the anecdotal data I've collected says it won't.
So I'd buy Viking if it lasted longer (because I'm tired of buying disposable appliances, too), but the anecdotal data I've collected says it won't.
Good to know, I'll have to check out other brands before buying again, was just about to outfit another kitchen with them. Possible I was just very lucky with mine. Any recommendations?
I wish I had recommendations. I just know that the folks I've talked to with Viking appliances (and to some extent, SubZero) didn't do much to impress me with tales of reliability. I am far from the first to complain that there's no real middle-ground. It used to be "good, better, and best", and that was exactly the schtick Sears used. Now it's more like "disposable, and over-priced-and-not-much-more-reliable". "Better" (old Kenmore and the like) just up and disappeared, and the high-end (in the case of appliances, anyway) looks to be a pretty face plastered on the same disposable internals, it's just easier to get parts.
I'm frankly moving in the other direction. I used to be very minimalist, but as I grow older, I have a good idea of what is worth my money. I also have more money, and I don't move around as much so I don't need to travel light.
Say what you will, but life is much better with comfortable boots, sharp knives, soft bed sheets, a robot vacuum and a big monitor. I take forever to make a purchase decision, but when I do, I rarely regret it.
Say what you will, but life is much better with comfortable boots, sharp knives, soft bed sheets, a robot vacuum and a big monitor. I take forever to make a purchase decision, but when I do, I rarely regret it.
Yep. I was a minimalist living in a van for some years trying to live like a church mouse. It was painful and stressful. Ultimately, I gave up and went the opposite way: Japanese bidet, designer shirts, bamboo viscose sheets, bed made from rebar, robot mop, 5 kW subwoofer, and 75" monitor.
It's a Tragedy of the Commons world out there and there's no reward or advantage for individual suffering or deprivation.
I'll consider a Model 3 though, but I'm still partial to my vintage ICE camper.
It's a Tragedy of the Commons world out there and there's no reward or advantage for individual suffering or deprivation.
I'll consider a Model 3 though, but I'm still partial to my vintage ICE camper.
Putting the onus on the people while the government continues with these ridiculous trillion dollar packages that no one wants...
It's the South Park episode all over again, no we're not going to play with squirrels, and no the inflation doesn't just involve Chinese crap. Food and heating prices are inflated as well (banning drilling and pipe lines doesn't help gas prices either)
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> it would be nice if the US government didn't spend trillions
I agree. Military and otherwise. I'm against endless wars and funneling money through defense contractors as well as universal programs and funneling money through administrators.
It's the South Park episode all over again, no we're not going to play with squirrels, and no the inflation doesn't just involve Chinese crap. Food and heating prices are inflated as well (banning drilling and pipe lines doesn't help gas prices either)
- edit -
> it would be nice if the US government didn't spend trillions
I agree. Military and otherwise. I'm against endless wars and funneling money through defense contractors as well as universal programs and funneling money through administrators.
Just because you personally (or even everyone you personally know) don't want something doesn't mean that no one wants it. It's popular for a reason.
That's nowhere near what the point of my comment was.
People wouldn't have to be living like cavemen to combat inflation if politicians weren't spending trillions.
And no it's not popular, it's a puff piece from the WSJ that tries to put the onus on citizens not the politicians.
People wouldn't have to be living like cavemen to combat inflation if politicians weren't spending trillions.
And no it's not popular, it's a puff piece from the WSJ that tries to put the onus on citizens not the politicians.
It pays really well to shift blame, I wonder is someone somewhere has an excel spreadsheet with the ROI for propaganda expenses. Like Greta pointing the finger to western countries while ignoring the biggest polluters and the countries that mostly contribute to plastic in the oceans.
You're right, it would be nice if the US government didn't spend trillions on the military.
I think I've always been in this group. As a kid I wanted some toys (Lego), later computer components, but I never felt I had a shortage of them, and nowadays other peoples hand-me-downs serve me perfectly fine. I fix/update much around the house myself and although I occasionally buy something new (height adjustable desk last year), I don't really derive enjoyment out of the consumption process. Rather understanding myself and my environment and adjusting them based on new insights (which I can often do with few and existing materials) is what is fun for me.
My wife is obsessed with these groups. We lived in a nice neighborhood and people would give away nice stuff all of the time. But in most places since then it's either a community of hoarders enabling each other or spaces for grifters to grift.
Really nice used stuff is so cheap and easy to get ahold of locally thanks to Marketplace or Craigslist. If it's not worth at least $20 it's not something that will last you a while anyway.
Really nice used stuff is so cheap and easy to get ahold of locally thanks to Marketplace or Craigslist. If it's not worth at least $20 it's not something that will last you a while anyway.
A flaw in modern economics is that we should buy more expand the economy. But for environment we should buy less.
GDP growth doesn't care about whether spending is on durable or consumable goods. If anything, falling aggregate spending on durable goods is probably hampering our GDP overall.
A lot of this consumer preference - people just want new things more often than they want things that last. And social media has probably accelerated the half-life decay of trends to chase.
A lot of this consumer preference - people just want new things more often than they want things that last. And social media has probably accelerated the half-life decay of trends to chase.
Yeast cells generate alcohol waste until the concentration is so high they stop growing. But an individual microorganism can’t do anything but metabolize as fast as it can.
instead of buying a shitty microwave every year, buy 1 good one that will last. You'll kitchen will look nicer and you'll be helping the environment
You can never tell what will last, though.
15 years ago I bought a cheap microwave (not the cheapest, but the second cheapest IIRC). I probably use it about 15 times a week. The plastic film over the buttons is flaking off, but it still works just as well as it ever did.
I have bought "name brand" appliances that have failed in months.
15 years ago I bought a cheap microwave (not the cheapest, but the second cheapest IIRC). I probably use it about 15 times a week. The plastic film over the buttons is flaking off, but it still works just as well as it ever did.
I have bought "name brand" appliances that have failed in months.
I accumulate these items because they just won't die. They tend to have one thing in common: they are simple, practical and versatile.
A good example is every last minute purchase I made at decathlon. Every time I buy something there just for this one trip, I end up wearing it every day for years. They're practical clothes that suit every activity.
Same with my Bluetooth speaker and my mini projector. They do a single job well, and interface with other things that do a single job well.
I basically try to buy into the hardware equivalent of the unix philosophy.
A good example is every last minute purchase I made at decathlon. Every time I buy something there just for this one trip, I end up wearing it every day for years. They're practical clothes that suit every activity.
Same with my Bluetooth speaker and my mini projector. They do a single job well, and interface with other things that do a single job well.
I basically try to buy into the hardware equivalent of the unix philosophy.
"Buy it right, or buy it twice"
You don't need to buy more. You need to spend more. There is a big difference between both.
And you can spend more while buying less and help the environment.
And you can spend more while buying less and help the environment.
I can see that. You can spend more on services without buying more.
Examples I could use -
A dog walker for an extra round of exercise to my dog; a personal trainer, physical therapist of some kind or nutricionist, just to keep tabs on my health even if not "necessary" (as in, not in response to a problem or medical request); a tutor for a tour and introduction to a hobby that I always thought was interesting (sculpting plasticine figurines) but really never knew where to start, etc.
I guess it can be argued that a few hours of any of these would do the average person much better than "upgrading" a perfectly functional appliance or dinner table
Examples I could use -
A dog walker for an extra round of exercise to my dog; a personal trainer, physical therapist of some kind or nutricionist, just to keep tabs on my health even if not "necessary" (as in, not in response to a problem or medical request); a tutor for a tour and introduction to a hobby that I always thought was interesting (sculpting plasticine figurines) but really never knew where to start, etc.
I guess it can be argued that a few hours of any of these would do the average person much better than "upgrading" a perfectly functional appliance or dinner table
The only thing really worth buying as a middle class person is property. But for many it's so out of reach that I suspect they fall into a kind of despair and instead just spend on what brings them momentary happiness, like new gadgets.
We are moving towards a world where everything is just rented. Even the stuff you've bought.