Why Not To Buy Local!

Gringoboy said:
...
In spite of the fact that I'm a slave to gizmos,gadgets and shiny things I have radically changed my attitude to ditching things.
Click to expand...

In that sense I've always felt a little bit at home here. I was never one to buy the latest greatest shiny new thing. I always preferred recent-years was-the-greatest thing used for a fraction of the cost. I never realized how the surplus of credit in the US created this huge market for new things, and the resultant throw-away culture for slightly used things. Here in Argentina, the demand for used stuff is much greater, and thus the prices much higher. Though I miss the garage sales and second hand stores, I do now see my general junk-addiction in a more balanced light. Though I'm still a gadget and tool freak, at least I'm a little more clear now that it's probably not the meaning of life to die with the most toys.
 
Well where I disagree is that instead of making things accessible to people of all budgets, the economic model here makes everything inaccessible to most people! I've seen several families using seating torn out of the back of old cars cos they can't even afford a sofa!!!! Why should people have to live with such undignities. Even middle-class people rummage around bins here.
In other countries, you can be on a super-stretched budget and still live a good life. You can afford to buy your child a toy at Christmas and birthdays....and why shouldn't you??
 
I have to moan about one more example of crap quality here....if you have ever bought honey in a squeezy bottle from the chino, you'll have experienced this. The plastic is such rubbish that by the time you've used only a third of the honey, the damn bottle has split and it all has to be thrown away. Aaaagh! And they keep making it and people keep buying it.
 
Farenheit said:
Well where I disagree is that instead of making things accessible to people of all budgets, the economic model here makes everything inaccessible to most people! I've seen several families using seating torn out of the back of old cars cos they can't even afford a sofa!!!! Why should people have to live with such undignities. Even middle-class people rummage around bins here.
In other countries, you can be on a super-stretched budget and still live a good life. You can afford to buy your child a toy at Christmas and birthdays....and why shouldn't you??
Click to expand...

Hang on, middle class people rummage around bins! What ?
 
Farenheit said:
...
I've seen several families using seating torn out of the back of old cars cos they can't even afford a sofa!!!! Why should people have to live with such undignities.
...
Click to expand...

This comment really had me laughing, because my favorite chair in the house, the envy of all, is (drum roll please) a glider-rocker I welded together myself. The base is out of steel tubing, supporting - that's right, you guessed it - a bucket seat from a car!! Car seats tend to be very ergonomically designed don't you think? And of course it also boasts a swivel platform to hold my laptop. If you can't beat 'em, join 'em!!
 
Well I am not ashamed to admit that my husband and I are trash rummagers. Our kids' favourite toy right now is some gigantic polystyrene blocks that are really protective packaging thrown out by the company across the road. We collect old computer parts from the street too.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top