To Buy or Not To Buy
No, I’m not talking about the market dip.
There are lots of articles floating around about products you may want to stockpile (apparently, toilet paper is a lesser concern in this scenario) as the tariffs, specifically the high tariffs leveled against China, kick in.
If you’re feeling the weight of being a consumer in a hyper capitalist world that’s because you’re supposed to feel this way. Or, we’ve been rewired to feel this way.
Apple really wants you to upgrade your iPhone. Is it about tariffs? Not really.
If you need a phone, you can get a deal on BackMarket.
I keep hearing about the rising price of cheap goods that might affect Shein and Temu hauls… as if this is a bad thing. American addiction to cheap goods, to fast fashion, is a known problem. This is not the hill to die on.
It’s April, so I really hope you are not in an economic situation where you already need to start buying Christmas gifts for children. If not, then you can wait a bit until the tariff situation settles to start buying toys. There are other ways to acquire toys, not from China, too.
If you need bedding, try a discount retailer.
If you need furniture, there is always IKEA. But I’d encourage checking out your local consignment shop. Ditto if you need a lamp.
While China is a major U.S. trading partner, we do have other options.
Watch how quickly we find workarounds and are reminded that in spite of Trump’s America First isolationist absurdism, we live in a global economy— meaning, despite giving good reason to piss off our allies, there are other countries we can turn to.
This is a terrific time to make a list differentiating wants from needs.
Too often, we think we need something that is really just a want— a desire to have the latest and greatest. The new tech, the trendy fashion that will not last a full season and we’ll be embarrassed to have embraced a year later, a Dyson.
Let’s make a pact to avoid excessive prepping.
Trump will likely make another “deal” soon and the whole landscape will shift again leading to more uncertainty and confusion. Don’t let his manipulative antics drive your behaviors.
Good advice, Mark!
Trump and his cohort have already long affected what I am able to buy by shutting down all the discount places I relied on, like Daedalus Books, Steinmart, et all, of blessed memory, and assuring that I will have to scramble to get clothes in petite sizes for myself. The only place, for the most part, where I can afford to buy them now is consignment stores, like ThredUp. And the prices are rising.