I was thinking about this thread from a couple years ago started by @deb922. Considering the times we are in, it’s almost scary to even buy online. What made me think of the thread are the posts by influencers trying to get you to buy stuff. I keep thinking “give it up, honey”.
Personally, who wants to buy clothing when we can’t even go out and wear it? Also, I don’t want to have to touch packages at the door.
Obviously we can’t go into stores right now. How has your purchasing changed?
I’ve given up ordering any online clothes. Can’t wear them right now and don’t care. I did order a skincare product I ran out of. I don’t plan on going into drugstores or and buying non-prescription items like makeup, magazines, etc.
My Visa is going to be so low the next few months. What about you?
Same. I worry about packaging, I worry about preserving my resources for things less frivolous than cute clothes, and I worry if I ordered them if they would ever arrive. I do miss my online retail therapy.
I rarely put on my face these days - maybe once a week. Though, I must say I feel better about myself when I do.
My credit card balance gets paid in full automatically as of a certain date each month. There is usually a lag period so that even though the balance as of that date is paid (so that I never pay any interest) there are already new charges. However, After that next date, my balance will be zero.
Funny, I was just thinking about that thread. We are really only buying basic supplies (toiletries, paper goods, etc.) and food (some of it via take out - supporting local restaurants). With less driving, fewer gas station visits also. I don’t think many people will be making non-essential purchases at this time. We aren’t.
Most businesses I frequent are small, women or family owned, and most have offered the option of buying gift cards online. Because our income is steady and secure, we are in the extremely fortunate position of not having to cut back. So I don’t expect to save money in the short term.
Also, our local food bank needs help from those who can afford it.
I admit it - I just used my bday gift card at Athleta.
They had shorts I already owned for $15 instead of over 50, (2 kinds), and I ordered a new shirt and a sports bra. This is the first shopping I’ve done since the quarantine kind of life.
I really want to order a bunch of curtains for my freshly painted house, but since I don’t know what the status of various retailers will be when this is over, I am not.
My H sells on eBay and still is getting respectable sales.
I’ve ordered a bit on Amazon. I just let a package sit for 24 hours or more before tackling it.
I expect my credit cards to be lower. But also to avoid big box stores I’m shopping at smaller grocery stores with less people who might be a bit more expensive. Or buying products that are more expensive because the expensive brand is all that’s available.
I’ve been trying to support local businesses like our coffee shop down the street and a deli down the street a couple times a week to keep them afloat. Bought some gardening plants from a local garden co-op - more expensive than where I’d usually go but want to support them as well.
So yeah, spending less but also while it’s good on the surface for my checking account it’s not good for the local or national economy. So hard to really celebrate it.
I hate to admit it, but I have been reluctant to buy gift cards from small businesses at this time, because it is impossible to know if they will come back. I suppose I could and just have the expectation they will be “gifts,” because if they don’t come back, that is what they will have been.
^right … You need to be in a comfortable enough financial position to consider it a donation.
So many small businesses I shopped, online and brick & mortar, didn’t survive 2008. This still negatively impacts me. Some things I would like to be able to purchase just aren’t available any more.
Income steady here, too. I prefer online shopping anyway. I’ve bought a few things from indie stores that I want to support. They all deliver, and like @abasket we let the package sit.
I just received an email from Walgreen’s this morning saying that we can go to their pharmacy drive up window and ask for whatever else we want, like shampoo or make up, they will go get it and hand it to us through the window.
I did just buy a bunch from Macy’s on Sunday. They were having an almost desparation sale. I spent $80 on what would have been around $230 without sales and coupons. Not that I would spend full price there anyway, this was just a bigger savings than usual. My son just moved into his first apartment in February and is living in a bare bones apartment without a lot of stuff, so I ordered things for him and had it delivered there.
I bought a cashmere dress from Nordstrom. Right after they shut down the stores and announced a nice sale. It was delivered 2 days ago, and I am wearing it today. I let the package sit on the porch for 2 days. Per epidemiologists, this virus ? does not last long on cardboard or any surfaces that can wick away moisture (makes perfect sense to me), and the plastic the dress was in was last touched by a human more than a week ago. So, I have no fears. ?
Bummed that RealReal is closed until the end of April.
I figure that the chance of infection from packages is minimal so I’ve been doing my part to help the economy lol!
I think it’s safer than going to the store where not only do you have workers but the public also.
My delivery people are wearing gloves and I suspect the sorters and packagers are also. So risk to me is minimal. And it’s impossible to me to be completely cross contamination free.
I’ve ordered a few things from Home Depot instead of going into the store. Ordered from a Amazon also, but tried not to overwhelm them and picked no rush shipping.
The other stuff I’ve bought are things that never go on sale, another pair of black leggings. A new pair of Birkenstock’s.
I have to buy some. I lost weight and down about a size or two. My pants are sliding down past my butt. I can buy but I have no idea yet how to hem it.
I’ve done a ton of online shopping. I lost a bunch of weight this winter so pretty much had to empty my entire closet and am starting over. There have been some really good discounts. One of my favorite stores is promoting a try-it-on-at-home event with a discount and longer return window.
@BunsenBurner I don’t think The Real Real is closed til April. I check it every day and have noticed that some items are showing an April ship date, but I think those are items that are physically in their stores which I’m sure are closed. There are a lot of things on my wish list that are available now. And I got a notice yesterday that a handbag I consigned just sold.
Thanks @GRITS80 ! That’s probably it. The stuff I want is not projected to ship until the end of April. There are no new additions to their inventory either (understandable).
I splurged and got this pretty top at the end of February and the only ones who will see it either live here or are my students who might see me wear it in a teaching video, but even then, I’m in a little box at the lower right part of the screen. No one is going to see it! lol I agree, not feeling a reason to clothes shop or buy things we don’t need online. I have bought a bunch of things since early January when I watched the situation in China and felt pretty sure it was going to end up coming here (not quite this soon, but felt pretty sure by mid-January this was not a good situation). So, our credit card bill has been higher the past few months. But we are stocked up on staples we always eat for months to come. We have health issues so call me a hoarder if you like but my doctor felt it was a good idea for me. Right now I’m actually trying to do the opposite and order things less frequently so that hopefully I’m not causing someone to go out more than needed to help slow the spread.
Funny, I was just thinking about the February Freeze thread too.
I’ve never spent so little. Groceries and a couple household things from Amazon. Ulta had a 1/2 off sale on a few items each day for 21 days this month and there was a concealer I’ve been thinking of trying so that just came in the mail today. That was the big splurge. Although, since I’m not wearing any make up these days, who knows when I’ll get to try it.
We have ordered dinner out a couple of times to try to help local restaurants and we’ll likely donate a one or two local nonprofits.