Consumerism and Waste

by Yvonne
(Lincolnshire)

I want to talk to and hear from other like minded people
I am not into Consumerism and waste and hate to see this once beautiful country of ours falling to bits.
Maybe I'm daft or nieve or truly missing something wonderful But can someone please explain the Fascination people have with shopping?
I call them the Shopping Sheep
Cannot believe however much I see it how much Tat people buy
Also how much food do people buy it astounds me
We are a family of 4 (5 technically but 1 left home)
1 Veggie at home
Spend approx £50 a week on food
£5/10 a wk on toiletries/cleaning products
Do go to Bargain corner & pick up goods near or on their sell by date
If don't want to use them that night freeze them
We eat balanced/nutritious meals every night
Take sandwiches to work for lunch & fruit
Drink tap water cannot believe the price if bottled water

Are people mad
Buy a lot of unbranded products and try a lot of basics products from our local Sainsburys
Most are quite good
Try all sorts of different recipes & concoctions
Some work/some don't
Try & eat 5 a day
The price of veg/fruit horrendous
I buy the special offers of the week
Basic veg & stuff getting sold off cheap
Also go to veg markets & the Deep Discounters as find they are cheaper

Would like frugal tips & recipes
Also are the people on here into fashion/buying clothes?
I like to dress neatly & be clean but give me a pair of jeans/tshirt/fleece/jumper I'm fine
Birkenstocks for summer/walking shoes for winter
Decent anorak/gloves/hat for winter
What do you wear and buy?
Also what do you do to save the pennies?
We use low energy bulbs/use washer/bread maker on economy 7 tariff
Share bathwater/have a veg patch/dye my own hair/walk if possible
I just wish peoples attitudes would change and they would realize what's important and see the big picture.
Also wish Supermarkets would take more responsibility Stop giving away free bags & what's with All the packaging???
Has anyone seen the Thousands of £££s of food thrown out each week by the major supermarkets
It's disgraceful there are people starving & I bet there is not a jot wrong with well over half of it
BUT DOES ANYONE CARE????
I DO

Comment from Kate site owner
Hi Yvonne, this sounds like a bit of a rant BUT I totally agree with everything you say. If there is one thing that absolutely drives me crazy though, is watching people fill up the free plastic bags at the supermarket with one or two items before reaching for another bag Grrrr.
DO YOU?