Trading/bartering or buying second hand for Xmas this year- some thoughts

[Mother Of Four]

There are a ton of differing opinions about the economy right now, so I'll just state some facts from the area we live in. Jobs are still scarce, mostly part time. Things are overpriced, and getting harder to justify spending money on.

Even though logicly we all know that we have to spend to fix the situation, it's now gotten bad enough that many CAN'T spend to fix it. They have to have the money for heat, water, food, electric.

I'm very proud of my kids, they've realized that living in a communal sort of way helps all of us. My 20 year old and his fiance are living here, as will my soon to graduate 18 year old. Both young men have jobs, and give roughly half their paycheck to funding the household.

In our society we have many things we think we need, but really don't. For instance, cellular phones/digital cable/extra car etc.

In two weeks I'm shutting off our cell phones, not because it's gotten desperate but because that money can go elsewhere. We can easily go back to leaving notes, calling from a friends, making rock solid plans- instead of the instant gratification of talking to someone "Right now"

Digital cable? Why not a home made antenna for 15 bucks? Sturdier and better reception than a store bought one.

As far as Christmas, I made a descision that I'm now very glad I did. I'm already usually pretty frugal with getting things, and typically not alot of "fluff". We are trading/bartering and buying second hand for things we need instead of the newest latest shiney thing that may come down the pike. And guess what...not a single complaint or groan from my family.

The kids are behind me 110 percent, they look around and see the kids they know with an ipod- but they need new shoes instead. They go visit and theres a big screen tv, but hardly any food in the house.

A kiddo gets a new puppy, but the family can't afford the vet.

It seems that common sense has taken a flying leap into a void, I understand fully that peoples jobs depend on commerce of some sort. Businesses are in business providing services or items. However, with the undercurrent of quiet desperation that many higher ups are trying to hide, it's time to pull back and focus on what's important. Bartering/Trading and buying second hand won't help the businesses, that's true. But it WILL help keep landfills down, it will also allow the passage of items or money for what the items are worth to those involved instead of what a survey of the buying public says the people will pay.

Just curious here, I would really like to know what people think of this.

BTW: I love CL and Freecycle :)

[Tippy]

1. K&R....how's that for an answer?

I don't see anything in our future in the way of change,,,Ive had two of our grown sons living withus for a long time...if I had more room I'd have more here....But if push comes to shove we will make room somehow...Bartering and trading works...helping each other out is important..I wish we had other choices but as long as greed rules...nothing will change..

[2Design]

2. I go to yard sales every saturday morning for the last two years

I won't buy electonics at yard sales although I did a get a antenna (powered) that I now use on the TV without cable.
I buy all electronics at costco because of their return policy. If it is not right, I can return within 90 days. Other stuff there is no time limit.

Used stuff for others, my SIL used to throw out what I bought after I left. Wasted money. Nice stuff. But it had other people's germs.

I buy flowers on sale at Michaels to spruce up my home and it feels like a florist. I used those flowers in my garden too. I have the best yard on the street because it is always colorful and i don't waste water on plants

I use http://www.virginmobileusa.com/ and pay as I go. They do have a $25 a month plan I might consider at some time when I upgrade phone but for now this is the way it will be.

[pipi_k]

6. Hah....I wonder if people like your SIL ever realize...

that some of that "new" stuff might actually contain as many "germs" as the used stuff.

If she's ever bought a "new" article of clothing, for example...there are people out there who buy something, pin the tag where it can't be seen, wear it once (to a wedding, etc) then return it to the store claiming it didn't fit.

Packages...how many people have manhandled boxes and things in the stores and rubbed their hands and fingers all over the outside....hands that may have just changed a dirty diaper or wiped a snotty nose...

Someone else comes along a few seconds later and picks up the same box...gets an itchy nose or eye, and rubs with the same finger that has just come into contact with someone else's cold virus or fecal bacteria.

Anyway, I hope you have stopped wasting time and money on trying to please this SIL. Next time just give her a card with a notice inside saying you've donated money in her name to a charity. :)

[Catshrink]

3. Similar here

I'm baking and that's it. Coworkers like my biscotti and they make a nice thank you for their help in helping me do my job. And it doesn't guilt them in to thinking they need to riciprocate.

Guilt is what fuels hysterical Christmas shopping. I have to give my kids X, Y, Z or I'm not a good parent. I have to give my spouse an overpriced piece of jewelry or I'm not worthy. The ads show happy families enthralled by their gifts - so yeah, let's all go out and buy happiness.

Then there's this:

[librechik]

4. yes indeed, My preferred practice even in good times--one proviso

I don't like everyone being driven and propagandized and/or persuaded and forced to buy consumer items
at all, as determined by a corrupt market-based society. Let alone during one season of madness, spending and debt while the rest of the year we struggle.

Mothers and others are made to feel quite desperate to satisfy these vulgar desires of their TV programmed offspring. The whole thing cheapens us as a nation, and the same greedy corporations which enslave us are eager to change the whole world over to this model. And the fact that they use and exploit the teachings of Christ to make the whole machine work is sad beyond words.

[InvisibleTouch]

5. I'm a big fan of secondhand items.

It just seems stupid to pay full price for something that people are selling much cheaper. Maybe it won't be totally shiny and new; maybe it won't last as long as a brand-new item (then again maybe it will; plenty of new appliances conk out too after a perioid of intentional planned obsolescence), but it'll be functional. The only thing you really want to watch for is energy efficiency, which isn't always discernible with a secondhand item.

Thrift store and garage sale clothing can look very much like new. The only thing I'm wary of these days is bedding, because of all the bedbug issues that have been in the news lately.

And to keep the flow going, I try to offer items on FreeCycle whenever possible.

This is a year-round mindset for me, not just for the holidays, but I know there are great secondhand finds to be made that can make excellent gifts.