The ethics of thrifty

[dagmomma]

Very interesting thread. I try to not buy as much and truly get what I want so I do not have to spend the money to replace something cheap. I save as much as I can and use as much as I can use something like hand me downs and diapers.

As for food well I think that is a different topic but we live in an area that has nothing healthy so we are looking to move to a more eco conscience area

[Hands&Fire Pottery]

I try to buy second hand when I am not buying food.

[frugalmomof2]

I agree with you. I didn't have guilt but wasn't liking what we were supporting so now we are buying organic and natural and just eating less. I havent tackled USA made clothing yet. I need to work on sewing some clothing for the kids, that would be the right way to be thrifty while still supporting the causes and businesses we beleive in.

[LittleClaraLove]

I can't afford to have ethical conflicts at this point in our lives.

[TalkinBoutMyGirl]

Nope. At this point I do what I have to do to survive and I generally don't have a problem buying stuff that was made abroad. I would buy a diaper made in China but never the cheapo China diapers (alva, charlie banana, etc, etc). I'd choose a cheaper alternative even if it wasn't as easy as a pocket.

[bluecandi]

I have a very hard time buying from China since they are such attrocious human rights violators. :/

[redsonja]

Just wanted to say that I'm a redsonja too!!!

I shop the heck out of my politics *when I can afford it*. That is the problem. If I can afford to buy the way I want politically/environmentally, then I will, but if there's a need that can't be met that way then I'll buy any way I can. Honestly, it's getting to the point that I am not buying things because I don't want to support corrupt businesses. However, 2 weeks ago I bought some patio furniture and it came from China, and I'm still harboring some guilt over that one.

[moonlightblonde]

I don't feel guilty but we also don't buy a lot. I would rather spend a bit more on quality.

I use mostly flats and covers for diapers. For kids clothing we usually do used when we can find it but a lot of times things are just as cheap or the same price NEW.

[jackkant]

It depends; I buy a lot of clothing used, and I don't look at where it's made. For larger, more expensive things, I don't have a lot of preference, because then small differences in percentage of savings can become significant. For HBA type items, I don't generally have much preference, because other than buying from a small-time business, it's made overseas; I like to buy from Unilever more than I do from P&G, but ultimately, they're both giant corporations.

For produce, except for bananas, I only buy from the USA, preferably as local as possible; this means 4-6 months out of the year, I don't buy bellpeppers, strawberries, peaches or necterines, grapes, and so on. We eat the heck outta 'em when they are in season, though. Other foods, I usually buy whatever's cheap, unless there's little difference; if it's just a few cents to buy King Arthur flour, then I do that (though my local grocer has stopped carrying the brand ).

[Robin]

Like several others here, I try to buy everything I can used, and also buy less things in general. It makes me feel like we are going against the consumerist mainstream, helping out local people by buying used, and keeping our house less cluttered.