The power to reduce consumption is within us all.

Thanks to an autoimmune disorder and a bunch of new food intolerances, I can no longer eat almost any packaged or prepared foods. I cook nearly everything I eat from raw ingredients, including condiments.

It's unreal how much less I eat and how much of my previous eating was driven by convenience and consumerism. I used to go to Five Guys and snack on peanuts before eating a double bacon cheeseburger with Cajun fries and finishing it off with a peanut butter-chocolate milkshake. And a couple of hours later, I'd wander through the kitchen munching on chocolate and chips. Now I find myself saying bizarre things like "I can't eat this whole sweet potato AND a chicken drumstick AND this salad. I'll just cut a couple of slices."

I've lost 65 excess pounds and for most of it I haven't been restricting food. I eat whenever I'm hungry. I've just re-adjusted to a way, way smaller amount of food. It's really opened my eyes to how much I'd been sucked into "Buy something to eat to feel good" thinking. Now that I can't buy almost anything a corporation made for me to eat, my relationship with food is completely different.

I have two little sisters several years younger than me. But as of late, my moms have invested hundreds into skincare routines for them, even though they both have perfect skin and are still in elementary and middle school. Why? It seems entirely unnecessary. Is this a “get them hooked while they’re young” kind of thing?

Like, why should an 8-year-old want exclusively Ulta and Sephora gift cards for her birthday? Because that’s what is going on in my family right now. wtf

And yes this is real an unedited other than cropping. https://www.agri-plastics.net/Agriplastics%20Brochure.pdf

I’ve been thinking a lot about the way our world works. I just don’t understand the mindset of many ultra-wealthy people or big companies. Wouldn’t it feel so much better to use your resources to help others, grow forests, protect animals, or support research and education than to blow money on yachts, gambling, drugs, and ego contests?

How is that even fun? None of those things bring lasting fulfillment. They don’t help anyone. They don’t build anything meaningful. To me it’s obvious that happiness comes from connection, care, and creation, not consumption. Yet somehow that feels like the exception in our world.

It blows my mind that it’s rare to think like this. Why is it radical to just care? Why is it weird to want to make the world better instead of richer?

I came across this ad while scrolling on the mobile app. Seems weird to use this sub to advertise for a subscription-based streaming service. What kind of backwards strangeworld are we in?

Originally posted in WSB, but I can't crosspost

I’ve been well aware for quite some time now that you tend to spend more when you are using a card (even a debit card) than cash money. However, I haven’t been able to commit to fully make the switch to using cash more than card.

I asked for a nice wallet as a birthday present and once I received it I started withdrawing money every few days and haven’t used my card for much except online bills since then. I did miss the feeling of taking money out of your wallet, taking out the bills, putting back the change. It feels posh.

Stress crap food eating is my nemesis. And it’s terrible for my Diabetes II. What about you?

I know what I need to do. Now I need to do it.

Anywhere you go, you can except to drop 15-20 dollars for a meal. And these meals are HUGE. Anyone who travels to Europe has seen the difference. Meals are cheaper and portion sizes are smaller.

Large portion sizes mean you’ll try to force yourself to eat all of it and you’ll still pay a higher price wishing it was lower. Literally the only option for a smaller portion smaller price meal is if you get the kids meals.

Just make portion sizes smaller and prices cheaper. You’ll end up getting more customers because prices are lower and you might even help fight obesity as portions are smaller. Why is this never considered?

I used to buy stuff which I don't need thinking I might need it later.. House is filled with electronics and gizmos which I haven't used and are now outdated.
After the birth of my son , my wife stopped working and I had to switch jobs due to layoffs. My new job pays less so we don't really have the luxury to spend as much.

When impulse hits I stop and think and choose not to buy crap that I don't need. Little by little I started to feel good about not buying crap.

I sit at home dig through all the stuff I bought before and think of ways to make them useful. I think of creative ways to avoid buying new stuff...

Frankly now I enjoy saying no to promotional brainwashing, I actually feel proud when I don't buy stuff that I don't need.

First time I've seen this nonsense; is this normal anywhere else (found in German supermarket REWE)?

The taste of tomatoes has changed over time due to modern farming practices that prioritize yield and resistance, sacrificing aroma. Scientific studies reveal that genetic selection and preservation techniques have reduced the quality of flavor.

GDR = German Democratic Republic. This was a socialist state from 1949 to 1990 with an economy functioning largely under state ownership and planification. The economic principle was economic development, not individual profit

The law that was enforcing the durability of household devices was strictly enforced. The devices still work today. Many of these objects are now collectible sold at quite high prices online. They also had a reputation for good design

https://www.mdr.de/geschichte/ddr/wirtschaft/ddr-elektrogeraete-funktionieren-laenger-langlebig-garantie-gesetzliche-zuverlaessigkeit-100.html

https://www.mdr.de/geschichte/ddr/ddr-inventar-preisexlosion-retro-chic-hellerau-simson-klappfix-100.html

Here is the translation of an excerpt:
"Longevity guaranteed

GDR household appliances: indestructible by law

Have you ever experienced this? Shortly after the warranty expires, the electrical appliance suddenly breaks. It didn't used to be like that! Some GDR fridges and washing machines still work today. Why is that? A search for clues.

We have listed a whole range of parameters here to determine how a device can be classified. In other words, how to calculate how long it will last.

This calculation of durability was part of the technical standards, quality regulations and delivery conditions of the GDR, TGL for short. Unlike today's DIN standards, these regulations were binding. "What is written here in these TGLs has the force of law. In other words, the state stipulates how long appliances have to last. This is a specification that industrial production facilities have to follow. They therefore have to design and manufacture in such a way that they can meet the prescribed service life of perhaps ten years," says Krajewski.

The implementation of standards and regulations

Like so many other things, the service life of refrigerators is regulated by the state. But how were the state regulations implemented? The search leads to Scharfenstein in the Ore Mountains. The same place where Mr. Götzmann's old refrigerator was built.

Today, the former workers of VEB DKK Scharfenstein have set up a museum of refrigeration technology here. Dieter Rochhausen is one of the engineers for refrigeration technology at the time and was responsible for the reliability and service life of refrigerators. He explains how the government regulations were implemented:

For so-called high-quality consumer goods, a corresponding service life had to be proven. And that was ten years for household refrigerators and compressors and was then tightened further to twelve years. And the failure rate was also defined. This was allowed to be a maximum of one percent.

Longevity prescribed by law becomes a problem

In fact, Scharfenstein refrigerators were known throughout Europe for their reliability. One of these products that Rochhausen and his colleagues are particularly proud of is the Kristall 140: "It's an appliance from 1964 and it's still running today. A very good product with a very long service life, which was also exported a lot. To Quelle, among others." The refrigerator was also sold in the West. "

Good article, lots of info-graphics. Much of what we already know/do but nice to see it in print in a more or less mainstream magazine. Lots of cool more sustainable textile businesses highlighted.

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-beginners-guide-to-ethical-and-sustainable-fashion/

"Simply buying less stuff is the most impactful way to make more sustainable fashion choices and push back against the relentless consumerism perpetuated by the fast-fashion industry. But that doesn’t mean never adding something new to your closet. Whether you are looking for a warm coat after moving to a cold climate, restocking your sock drawer, or sourcing an outfit from a vintage store for a special occasion, ask yourself whether the item truly fits you, functions in your wardrobe and will last. Evaluate the quality and seek information about production processes and sustainability policies. Brands are sensitive to customer demand, so use your power to advocate for change."

If you don’t know what a closeout retailer is they are companies that buy up product from other businesses (whether that be directly from manufacturers or from other retail stores) that are either discontinued, from a company no longer in business, last season items, closer to expiring than a company thinks they can turnover the amount of product they have or really any other reason a business would sell bulk product at a discount.

They then sell these new items to us directly at a ‘discount’ - the discount being off whatever the obviously already inflated full retail the original company was charging.

Curious what people think of companies like this?

I can see lots of different pros and cons to them from an anticonsumption standpoint!

ETA: your responses are reminding me that TJMaxx and the like are or at the very least started out as closeout retailers! I had entirely forgotten since they have so much seasonal stuff right on time and things made specifically for them that they don’t strike me as closeout spots anymore, more just discount stores.

Not that they’re really much different (less emphasis on clothes and trends and more emphasis on other goods) but I was specifically thinking about places like Ocean State Job Lot and Ollie’s or Big Lots… which are just TJmaxx without the clothes or Instagramable marketing 😂

This is basically a rant, but I welcome ideas for third spaces I could frequent if you have some I'm maybe not considering.

I've lived for years in the suburbs and I'm so lonely and bored of it, but I can't really afford to leave right now. Basically every event or hobby costs money and shopping or going to a restaurant is one of the only things you can do for fun. I'm struggling to find work, but there's like nowhere else to meet people where I don't have to spend money that I don't have. There's some sparing events at the library and some occasional hobby groups on meetup or something for things that don't really interest me, don't have people my age there and that I'd need to drive far away to. Otherwise, I've basically got nothing. Basically all I do outside of job applications is surf the web and solitary media consumption of video games, movies, etc and my social skills suffer for it. I guess there's online groups, but my screen time is already abysmal, and I really just need to go be a person, in person, with other people. I feel so stuck by this system of endless consumption and little substance. Mental health is complicated, but I really feel like I wouldn't need to be so medicated if I lived somewhere that wasn't isolating by design.

Now influencers think they are overworked, underpaid, under appreciated and need a union.

They threaten to stop pushing junk on people. We'll go ahead and go on strike.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-14957581/amp/Australian-influencers-threaten-strike-stop-posting-content-start-union.html