Comments on: Putting shopping in the shade http://www.allconsuming.org.uk/uncategorized/putting-shopping-in-the-shade/ An all-consuming site for an all-consuming book Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:17:31 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8 hourly 1 By: Alex Bell http://www.allconsuming.org.uk/uncategorized/putting-shopping-in-the-shade/comment-page-1/#comment-29 Alex Bell Thu, 16 Jul 2009 10:21:51 +0000 http://www.allconsuming.org.uk/?p=54#comment-29 What makes you think it IS the urge to splurge? I am always buying things that I need to replace the stuff that it broken, but I can tell you that the hassle of doing so and the handing over of the loot leave me completely cold. I certainly don't feel guilty about it. On a garden theme, one of our plastic chaises longues broke a couple of days ago. Now I have to buy a replacement. I was perfectly happy with the one I had. My urge to splurge on a chaise longue is zero. The other one's about to go too, so now I will need two. Dammit. What makes you think it IS the urge to splurge? I am always buying things that I need to replace the stuff that it broken, but I can tell you that the hassle of doing so and the handing over of the loot leave me completely cold. I certainly don’t feel guilty about it.

On a garden theme, one of our plastic chaises longues broke a couple of days ago. Now I have to buy a replacement. I was perfectly happy with the one I had. My urge to splurge on a chaise longue is zero. The other one’s about to go too, so now I will need two. Dammit.

]]> By: editor http://www.allconsuming.org.uk/uncategorized/putting-shopping-in-the-shade/comment-page-1/#comment-24 editor Wed, 01 Jul 2009 16:19:19 +0000 http://www.allconsuming.org.uk/?p=54#comment-24 It wont be easy Judith. A change of culture never is. But we have to ask the questions and start chipping away. In the case of our consuming habit it is a case of I will if you will. Only a critical mass will help deliver something different. But we are not alone. 25% of those aged 29-50 have made the decsion to downsize by 40% of their income. That is with no mainstream political leadership. It wont be easy Judith. A change of culture never is. But we have to ask the questions and start chipping away. In the case of our consuming habit it is a case of I will if you will. Only a critical mass will help deliver something different. But we are not alone. 25% of those aged 29-50 have made the decsion to downsize by 40% of their income. That is with no mainstream political leadership.

]]> By: Judith Wardle http://www.allconsuming.org.uk/uncategorized/putting-shopping-in-the-shade/comment-page-1/#comment-14 Judith Wardle Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:45:02 +0000 http://www.allconsuming.org.uk/?p=54#comment-14 So you bought something you didn't really need: but presumably it wasn't particularly expensive and at least now you stop and think before buying something. I have just finished reading your book (bought at the Compass conference) and have a couple of preliminary comments. I know lots of people who would always think carefully about buying anything non-essential, think about the impact on the environment of their actions etc. Some are in my age group, the ones that grew up with austerity in the 40s/50s and had parents who called hire purchase the "never-never" so only used it for basics like washing machines. But others are younger and in the voluntary sector or caring professions. So there are a lot of us about -- I've no idea what percentage. But what worries me is how we can change the habits of other people: I presume your comment that your sister wants to go on shopping was part jocular, but if you really mean you can't persuade her to think differently, I sympathise: I am treading carefully around my own relatives, but feel guilty that I can't persuade them to change. So you bought something you didn’t really need: but presumably it wasn’t particularly expensive and at least now you stop and think before buying something. I have just finished reading your book (bought at the Compass conference) and have a couple of preliminary comments.
I know lots of people who would always think carefully about buying anything non-essential, think about the impact on the environment of their actions etc. Some are in my age group, the ones that grew up with austerity in the 40s/50s and had parents who called hire purchase the “never-never” so only used it for basics like washing machines. But others are younger and in the voluntary sector or caring professions. So there are a lot of us about — I’ve no idea what percentage. But what worries me is how we can change the habits of other people: I presume your comment that your sister wants to go on shopping was part jocular, but if you really mean you can’t persuade her to think differently, I sympathise: I am treading carefully around my own relatives, but feel guilty that I can’t persuade them to change.

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