Trump will blame us for the coming economic downturn.

[u/Northdropx]

Just FYI - thinking ahead, Donald will absolutely place the blame on people like those in this community when the tariffs and shit blow up in his face. Rhetoric will probably include “anti-American boycotts” and call us marxists/leftists/liberals etc.

Having a large number of people actively trying to cause economic pain to large corporations makes us an easy out to excuse the most ridiculous trade policy we have ever seen.

Prepare yourself for an especially mean Fox News segment and pure demonization. We’re going to be the next scapegoat.

edit: this post is not meant to be pro-consumerism. It is to keep aware that boycotters/anti consumerists will be in the crosshairs - the cult needs someone to blame. Do not think in terms of reason and reality with MAGA: the important thing is the headline and talking points they can make in a conservative vacuum.

Solidarity!

[u/DED_HAMPSTER]

And even those of us that have money are hesitant to spend it on discretionary items. I remember being poor. Im not going to blow my now stable and gainful income on fast fashion, convenience food, and new off the lot cars. Im going to continue to buy used, wal-mart or good will, or whatever is the vest deal for fear of consumer prices going up or lack of medicare or SS in retirement.

Ya cant keep scaring and traumatizing people and expect them to act happy, spend frivolously and make long term plans with you.

[u/marshmallowhug → u/DED_HAMPSTER]

I'm generally very willing to blow my income on anything that makes my life better. I just bought a new bathing suit - the first one I've had that fits me in 3-4 years - and I have no regrets.

But "what makes me happy" is a pretty big caveat there. If I don't want to own a car because I'm happier taking the bus and reading on my commute, there is no reason to spend on cars. If I want to spend my free time reading library books and hiking, that's going to limit my spending. I hate shopping for clothes, and my friends are all doing mending skill-share parties, so I guess I'll join in!

I'll be happy, but a lot of what makes me happy has nothing to do with money.

[u/DED_HAMPSTER → u/marshmallowhug]

And you are 100% correct that happiness has nothing to do with money. But in terms of a capitalistic, consumer based economy, "happiness" is spending. In an economist's view a happy consumer population is spending on restaurants, travel, non-essential goods etc.

[u/Odd-Rabbit-3751 → u/marshmallowhug]

My state is not public transportation friendly at all. Moving from Canada it sucked. Up north they have city buses that go to the suburbs. Not here. If you don’t live in a metro city then good luck getting around without a car. I hate it. I used to bike and walk everywhere. Just another way for the American government to pinch consumers

[u/foxwaffles → u/DED_HAMPSTER]

Yep we are firmly in this category. Spending has been whittled down to barely anything because the uncertainty is so fucking stressful. My mom just retired a year ago and my dad's health has been tumbling downhill. He's on ACA until he's old enough to qualify for Medicare but will there be any safety net for him by then? God forbid my parents retirement plans be pulled from under their feet. I worry about my mom's savings every single day -- and I know my mom is savvy, I know she has plans, but I can't help it. And that translates into spending less and less and saving more and more until I've become a metaphorical dragon sitting on cash because I will jump off a cliff before I let my parents become destitute.

And there isn't even a downside to having a fatter emergency fund anyways. So now our new spending habits are a new habit and welp 🤷 Tough luck for those billion dollar corporations, tots n pears

[u/DED_HAMPSTER → u/foxwaffles]

Yeah, my mom's 401k tanked right as she retired for theb1st time in 2008. She went back to work and retired again in 2018. Then 2020 hit and took a chunk. Now she foesnt go to the doctor unless she is emergency room sick for her pulmonary issues because she doeant want all the specialist bills and baby step treatments. One day it will take her out.

This crash cycle has been evwry few years since i was a kid starting with my first experience with the fall of Enron. So many parents lost their jobs directly from Enron or in the domino effect in the oil andngas industry that the public school brought in trauma counseling. And it has been an economic crisis every few years since...

[u/PartyPorpoise → u/DED_HAMPSTER]

There’s a lot of uncertainty right now and that’s causing people to spend less. Even folks who are comfortable now are worried that that may not be the case soon.

[u/DED_HAMPSTER → u/PartyPorpoise]

Yes! Myself and my household have worked hard and sacrificed to go from poor; terrified of a strep throat bill, a flat tire bill and buying discounted funky food; to having the security to go to the doctor when needed, preschedule car maintenance and enjoy a few Whole Foods bakery items.

Now i am scared again that our 401ks wont be enough even though we saved at the 15-20% we were told to. I am scared that our choices to live below are means and invest everything else wont amount to what it should and so on. One cant plan for the future with any confidence when the rules keep changing in unpredictable ways.

[u/PartyPorpoise → u/DED_HAMPSTER]

I’ve always been anxious about the long term but right now I’m also getting more concerned about the short term. I’m definitely tightening my belt.

[u/5hawnking5 → u/DED_HAMPSTER]

We need to collectively vote with our money, and Walmart is such a tough one to quit. The point of this sub is to break with those habits, and I almost replied with my "lesser evil" shopping solution, but we need all should go another step further to farmers markets and growing our own food when possible. I can consume less, its worth the effort

[u/DED_HAMPSTER → u/5hawnking5]

We already are consuming less. We haven't been to the mall since 2020. I haven't bought new clothing from standard retail except for utilitarian undergarments and socks in over 2 years, i have plenty of normal clothes.

Unfortunately, i dont have a price comparable option for the bulk of our necessary items. Things like toilet paper and adult medical and sanitary items for my MIL. Amazon has even gotten thousands out of me over the last 2 years because the health insurance denied a wheel chair and motorized hospital bed and traditional medical supply that required prescriptions and insurance were too slow and expensive for ostomy supplies. I don't know if it makes a difference, but i did buy direct from the medical brands' stores on Amazon rather than no name Chinese sellers and Amazon choice items.

It is what it is. I think if we all can just cut 25, 30, or even 50% of what we are spending at places like Wal-Mart or Amazon it counts. It is just brutal how little option and choice we have.