Community Chat

[wilma]

@Skyegirl21 

Yes, I’ve ordered a few clothing items. They just shipped. They aren’t essential right now since I am at home, but if they fit, and I like them, I’m sure I’ll wear them eventually. We are both retired so we are not seeing a decrease in our income. We are helping financially those who aren’t working right now due to the pandemic. 

[tansy]

I am kind of a mix.  I won't order anything unnecessary from Amazon right now because I know the workers there are stressed to the max.  I have made small purchases from a few online stores that I normally do business with, mainly in hopes they will manage to stay afloat.  

I also want to cut down on discretionary spending just in case. 

[suzyQ3]

Pretty much just essentials. And if there are any non-essentials, I have no problem with delayed shipping. As someone posted, Amazon is rightly triaging deliveries.

[Pearlee]

@JasoninBoston. First of all, not everyone invests in the stock market. Second it's statements like your "I really can't imagine that..." which come across as being judgemental of, and looking down upon, decisions that differ from what you decided is best for yourself.

[jeanlake]

Hubs trusts I'm a wise consumer and knows I buy off season for great sales. So, I ordered a few non-essentials to boost my wardrobe and I'll retire / donate items from my closet I no longer wear. When something new goes in the closet -- something comes out. Routine for me when seasons change. We are holding back on big ticket expenses. Updates in our finished basement and replacing our deck. Big picture - that's income that could have helped working families, but sadly, now is not the time. We've also let go of a couple of vacation trips we were looking forward to, but again, now is not the time. I feel badly about everyone affected during this unfortunate season. Many have been hit so hard with financials and health. And we aren't seeing an end to this season any time soon. Trusting for better days ahead.          

[Laura14]

@World Traveler made me do it. 

[TheMemphisVette]

keep buying and consuming at your normal comfort level

our economy needs it!

our workers need it!

our suppliers need it!

our manufactures need it!

we all benefit!

[chickenbutt]

I guess, to be 100%, I kind of agree with the husband.   It would be nice if most of the work for these folks, who are already stretched beyond, was about essential items like food, soap/paper/cleaning, sundries, etc.

I can see a couple other things like wanting things that give people something else to do, such as books to read, movies, music.    But if those things make it more difficult for them to delivery necessities to others I would want to let those things go.

It's a little bit of a tough call, I suppose.   Not much has changed for me and I'm home 99% of the time anyway, so I don't have a full perception of what it's like for people who are used to being at their jobs, or out and about doing things they want and need to do.  In the decades when I worked, nothing like this happened. 

The worst we ever had to deal with, back when we had good winters, was a major storm that made it better for more people to stay home.   I remember one time, I think it was the late 80s, we had such a storm where even the casinos closed.  I never thought I would even see that happen!

I felt a little badly that I had to go out this week to get the smog certificate for my vehicle in order to be able to renew my auto registration.  Fortunately, at least, that only involved going to the gas station to do that, and then going home and processing the registration renewal online.  I love that we can do this.  The smog cert info for a given vehicle goes right into the DMV system so it's instantaneously recognized when you go to process your renewal.   I wonder what happens for things like drivers licenses having to be renewed.  I imagine many states will loosen a bit up on something like that.

So many things need to change for now, so I try to think of all those involved and other people along the way.  The world doesn't revolve around me and I think that is an important thing to remember.  If I'm inconvenienced by some things, and I have been, I feel I need to move past that and just do my best to be a good citizen.   I'm kind of always that way, but it's even more important right now.   

[Porcelain]

As an Amazon Prime member, they've been offering me $3 credit for digital items if I select slower shipping windows. Making myself a nice little pile of credits from that to spend on video rentals and Kindle ebooks.

For example, I ordered a 80 count box of compostable coffee-K-cups and will order more if I like them. Not hurting for coffee pods at the moment, but if I can do this to cut down on grocery items that would otherwise need to have delivered from the store, that seems wise right now. Plus I got the $3 credit and it will be here on Tuesday. Another "Variety Healthy Snack" pack of 40 items arrived yesterday, even though I chose slower shipping with the credit.

I'm adapting what I eat and buy to account for fewer grocery trips/deliveries. It's all temporary, but we might discover cool new efficiencies along the way.

[Kachina624]

It does the country no good to have retail businesses go belly up.  Insofar as we're able, I think we should continue to support them.  UPS seem to have plenty of time for deliveries.