topic Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy? in Community Chat

How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

Mindy D — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 21:56:50 GMT

If everything we buy only lasts for a short while due to shoddy quality; how are we going to prosper here in the future? How can people get ahead if they have to keep paying for things they have already paid for?

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

Alison Wonderland — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 22:08:31 GMT

I haven't really run into this issue. Replacing broken items hasn't been something I've been scrambling to do in an endless loop and it hasn't really kept me from getting ahead. My car needs more maintenance now, but it's almost 10 years old.

More people are kept from getting ahead because of student loans, medical debt, stagnant wages, increased housing costs, or spending above their means. None of the economists I follow or whose books I've read have mentioned people not being able to get ahead because they keep paying to replace things.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

sidsmom — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 22:11:40 GMT

Use it up

wear it out

make it do

or do without.

I believe a lot of people have no idea what this means.

And yes, it doesn't get past me I'm expressing this thought

on a shopping channel forum.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

Q4u — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 22:12:51 GMT

A very interesting book published (I think) in the 60's called "The Waste Makers" by Vance Packard about planned obsolescence. Unfortunately it isn't our prosperous future the manufacturers are concerned with, but theirs.....

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

reiki604 — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 22:28:13 GMT

@Q4u wrote:
A very interesting book published (I think) in the 60's called "The Waste Makers" by Vance Packard about planned obsolescence. Unfortunately it isn't our prosperous future the manufacturers are concerned with, but theirs.....

Exactly! We are seeing a shrinking middle class and the focus is on maintaining or increasing the wealth of the wealthiest among us. Yes, I am very pleased with my stocks and have prospered after harsh losses during Bush's recession, but I learned from it. Both my financial advisers are positioning me for a recession or correction in the market and are reconfiguring my investments. Planned obsolescence has been in effect since the rise of the middle class because they could afford to replace with 'better' replacements. Not so much anymore, perhaps the impetus for the rise of minimalism in the younger generations.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

Kachina624 — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 22:29:48 GMT

There are other aspects of our future that worry me.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

Mindy D — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 22:40:53 GMT

@Alison Wonderland wrote:
I haven't really run into this issue. Replacing broken items hasn't been something I've been scrambling to do in an endless loop and it hasn't really kept me from getting ahead. My car needs more maintenance now, but it's almost 10 years old.

More people are kept from getting ahead because of student loans, medical debt, stagnant wages, increased housing costs, or spending above their means. None of the economists I follow or whose books I've read have mentioned people not being able to get ahead because they keep paying to replace things.

The lack of people discussing this is the reason I’m bringing it up. Just one example, last night I was looking at floor fans online. I have a great Holmes fun that is 14 years old and it stopped working on one of the speeds. I thought I’d order a new one since mine had been so reliable and works great. I checked reviews for Holmes fans on a few web sites and reviewers were complaining that their fans only last from a few months to a year. I checked other brands and found the same problem with those fans. It’s as if everything bought has such a short life expectancy that items are expected to not last anymore. When things keep breaking the replacement costs will add up. That’s not a good thing. It’s throwing money away.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

pigletsmom — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 22:40:42 GMT

Well things used to last a long time but of course they were also super expensive. I had a microwave for 25 years but I remember how expensive that thing was back then. Of course a lot of people went without stuff because of cost too. Not sure there's any inbetween options.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

Anonymous032819 — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 23:45:26 GMT

It's great if one can afford to buy top of the line, top quality product but also keep in mind, that not everyone can.

Prices keep going up, but wages for the most part, have stayed stagnant.

One buys what they can afford.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

Mindy D — Mon, 16 Dec 2019 23:54:51 GMT

@Anonymous032819 wrote:
It's great if one can afford to buy top of the line, top quality product but also keep in mind, that not everyone can.

Prices keep going up, but wages for the most part, have stayed stagnant.

One buys what they can afford.

There’s rarely a top quality product anymore. Price doesn’t indicate quality anymore either. Very expensive things just fall apart or are made obsolete very quickly.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

Carmie — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:02:28 GMT

Some things Americans will replace not because there is anything wrong with it, they just want new and updated.

Items like cars, electronics and appliances as well as clothing that is outdated the following year.

How many people replace their car every 2-3 years or get a new KitchenAid mixer because they want a different color? Smart watches and phones are expensive and as soon as a new one comes out, lines snake around the building in order to be the first to get one.

We have become a disposable society. Many people have disposable income. They spend it as fast as they make it and if they need or want something ASAP, they borrow money to pay for it.

Instead of looking at the total cost of items, they look at the monthly payments. There is no way this will lead to getting ahead.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

sidsmom — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:06:21 GMT

@Mindy D wrote:
@Anonymous032819 wrote:
It's great if one can afford to buy top of the line, top quality product but also keep in mind, that not everyone can.

Prices keep going up, but wages for the most part, have stayed stagnant.

One buys what they can afford.
There’s rarely a top quality product anymore. Price doesn’t indicate quality anymore either. Very expensive things just fall apart or are made obsolete very quickly.

Or calculate 'Price Per Use'.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

fthunt — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:14:53 GMT

@Carmie You said it so well. Money issues often are because "johnny's" WANTS the newest .....Smartphone.......new ear buds......whatever. Not because his old one no longer works. You're right = just another monthly payment - what's the problem with that?

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

pigletsmom — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:36:43 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
Some things Americans will replace not because there is anything wrong with it, they just want new and updated.

Items like cars, electronics and appliances as well as clothing that is outdated the following year.

How many people replace their car every 2-3 years or get a new KitchenAid mixer because they want a different color? Smart watches and phones are expensive and as soon as a new one comes out, lines snake around the building in order to be the first to get one.

We have become a disposable society. Many people have disposable income. They spend it as fast as they make it and if they need or want something ASAP, they borrow money to pay for it.

Instead of looking at the total cost of items, they look at the monthly payments. There is no way this will lead to getting ahead.

@Carmie Definitely a disposable society but also a credit based one. I'm only 50 but I remember a time when you went without if you didn't have cash. A store with lay-a-way was the best thing ever.I remember my friends and I thinking we were so adult when we first used it.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

pigletsmom — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 00:40:32 GMT

Oh and when it comes to wages slowing down you can also parlty blame that on more people in the work force. Once almost all women decided to work you didn't have to pay as much to find help. Wages go up when you're trying to recruit workers. I'll leave it at that.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

QueenDanceALot — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 01:02:55 GMT

Things aren't made to last anymore, repair people are a dying breed and we live in a culture where people want NEW.

The most problematic thing, to my mind, is how we're littering the Earth with all of our discarded junk.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 07:43:10 GMT

@Q4u wrote:
A very interesting book published (I think) in the 60's called "The Waste Makers" by Vance Packard about planned obsolescence. Unfortunately it isn't our prosperous future the manufacturers are concerned with, but theirs.....

@Q4u

Wow! I was thinking about Vance Packard the other day .... and your post here prompted me to look up his writings. He's written several books, and the one that really impressed me was The Hidden Persuaders. I may have to read it again .... just because.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

Tinkrbl44 — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 07:41:47 GMT

@pigletsmom wrote:
Well things used to last a long time but of course they were also super expensive. I had a microwave for 25 years but I remember how expensive that thing was back then. Of course a lot of people went without stuff because of cost too. Not sure there's any inbetween options.

@pigletsmom

The very first printer I bought many years ago was a Hewlett Packard printer and it cost $800 .... and I still have it, it works fine, but only with the computer with the parallel cabels ... I think that's what they're called. It still prints great.

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

ID2 — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 10:42:48 GMT

Once items go back to being made in the US, then they'll last longer. Just like our old appliances, they'd last forever! I've already replaced my washer, dryer and dishwasher and its all been within 5 years!

Re: How can US citizens see a prosperous future if we have to keep replacing everything we buy?

AngelPuppy1 — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 11:20:12 GMT

I think back when a lot of our parents were young and trying to keep a household going, there were not so many choices regarding appliances, and major purchases. Things were for the most part built to last a much longer time. And many things were repaired instead of just tossed and replaced. I remember for instance our t.v.s had all kinds of tubes in them and then a repair person came and replaced tubes, etc. Things like washers, dryers, stoves, refrigerators were kept forever practically and repaired.

Also, for the most part, when our family needed something major, money was saved for a long time and then cash paid -- nothing charged.

Regarding furniture, nothing new was purchased until the existing pieces wore out. Frugality was just a way of life --- as money was at a premium.

I think today a lot of times its not about what we need, but what we want, or think we need!

There are, of course, higher end products to be had at a much higher price point and then the cheaper priced items. Not all higher priced items last the longest.