Prepping for Brexit thread

unrecordings

Primrose wrote: »

I don,t know what sort of Economics is taught in schools these days, if any, but I'm puzzled why more of the population and the powers that be dont seem to grasp this fact and promote this concept. The reality is we need more financial entrepreneurs to set up businesses here and kickstart a new manufacturing revolution in an economic climate which allows them and their employees to thrive.

In terms of manufacturing we've shot ourselves in the foot as we can't produce the raw materials anymore.

In terms of entrepreneurial activity, there seems to be a drive towards turnover rather than profit. For the former that makes financial loss an acceptable outcome, usually to the cost of the workforce who put their heart & soul into a venture only to fall foul of the exit strategy that was the true purpose of the venture in the first place

DigForVictory

I am in some disgrace with my family for doing a Costco run without planning where the results will go.
Oops.
They seem to think I may apologise. Hm.

lessonlearned

Primrose wrote: »

Agree. We used to be a massive manufacturing nation but now it seems we major in invisible commodities like technology and finance and seem to have lost our way.

I would be only too happy to buy British manufactured goods, support British workers whose tax contributions would be helping to fund the NHS, schools, the police etc but whenever I need to purchase a new piece of domestic equipment, where does it come from? China, Korea, India or the EU. Remember that old "Buy British's campaign? We need to reinvent it.

A popular economic argument is that labour is cheaper abroad which makes items cheaper to purchase here but whilst i know people like cheaper products there is a hidden unrealised cost and that is that we are indirectly funding other countries' health services, police and schools in the process. By buying British made goods, we are indirectly funding our own schools, hospitals and other through taxation. .

I don,t know what sort of Economics is taught in schools these days, if any, but I'm puzzled why more of the population and the powers that be dont seem to grasp this fact and promote this concept. The reality is we need more financial entrepreneurs to set up businesses here and kickstart a new manufacturing revolution in an economic climate which allows them and their employees to thrive.

I don't want to be forced to buy a fridge from Korea or a smart phone from China. I'd rather Joe Bloggs and his family from Sunderland or Birmingham or wherever benefitted from my purchases. Charity begins at home in my view, and that includes supporting your own country's economy whenever you can.

:T:T:T

Excellent post......

I have been saying this for years. We can't buy British if we tried.

Hopefully the pendulum will finally swing back.

gfplux

Primrose wrote: »

Agree. We used to be a massive manufacturing nation but now it seems we major in invisible commodities like technology and finance and seem to have lost our way.

I would be only too happy to buy British manufactured goods, support British workers whose tax contributions would be helping to fund the NHS, schools, the police etc but whenever I need to purchase a new piece of domestic equipment, where does it come from? China, Korea, India or the EU. Remember that old "Buy British's campaign? We need to reinvent it.

A popular economic argument is that labour is cheaper abroad which makes items cheaper to purchase here but whilst i know people like cheaper products there is a hidden unrealised cost and that is that we are indirectly funding other countries' health services, police and schools in the process. By buying British made goods, we are indirectly funding our own schools, hospitals and other through taxation. .

I don,t know what sort of Economics is taught in schools these days, if any, but I'm puzzled why more of the population and the powers that be dont seem to grasp this fact and promote this concept. The reality is we need more financial entrepreneurs to set up businesses here and kickstart a new manufacturing revolution in an economic climate which allows them and their employees to thrive.

I don't want to be forced to buy a fridge from Korea or a smart phone from China. I'd rather Joe Bloggs and his family from Sunderland or Birmingham or wherever benefitted from my purchases. Charity begins at home in my view, and that includes supporting your own country's economy whenever you can.

To reverse this trend would be almost impossible and no politician will try, but in my opinion what is so damaging to the Country is short termism (if that is a word).
Many of today’s problems require a long and detailed fix taking place over many years.
We reward our politicians for short term plans (idle promises?) and never punish them when the short term plan (promise) disappears in smoke.
Why would any politician offer long term plans, 10 or 20 years when they could be voted out of office in less than five years.

Back to prepping.
We should not be lulled into thinking things will turn out OK.
In my opinion now we have our stock we should make sure we don’t eat into it (see what I did there)
This will run and run and a good backup store may be required at some time in the next couple of years or months if not in the next few days.
Keep on prepping.

unrecordings

gfplux wrote: »

To reverse this trend would be almost impossible and no politician will try, but in my opinion what is so damaging to the Country is short termism (if that is a word).
Many of today’s problems require a long and detailed fix taking place over many years.
We reward our politicians for short term plans (idle promises?) and never punish them when the short term plan (promise) disappears in smoke.
Why would any politician offer long term plans, 10 or 20 years when they could be voted out of office in less than five years.

Here's a random thought, not sure where it fits in, but might serve to illustrate something:

I just got a little guitar brochure in the post from a large well respected German distributor. They're the biggest in Europe now as far as D2C (direct to customer) sales go. Germany is a huge market. The UK company they bought to access the UK market was the biggest here for a time, but fell foul of that 'bricks & mortar' malaise that has beset so many retailers (the UK company started out as a little music shop sometime in the late 70's/early 80's probably.

Anyway, these guitars. I could buy a genuine 100% US made Gibson or Fender for something like £2k, a Fender 100% made in Mexico is circa £500, a J&D Fender copy 100% made in China is a mere £80. Translate that to pretty much any consumer goods or manufacturing sector...

unrecordings

gfplux wrote: »

Why would any politician offer long term plans, 10 or 20 years when they could be voted out of office in less than five years.

HS2, Brexit, Crossrail PFI1, PFI2. The trend seems to be announce big infrastructure, gain the kudos & votes and leave the next poor sap to figure it out. Like a multi-billion Pound game of pass the parcel

(boy, am I in a pessimistic mood today)

euronorris

It is possible to buy some things British, but it isn't cheap or easy.


Some years ago now, I won an armchair in a competition. A French Connection one with DFS. It's lovely. I still have it. About 7 years old. Really big, nice and comfy. No signs of serious wear yet either (aside from needing to replace a zip on the seat cushion).


100% British made. https://www.dfs.co.uk/flint/fln1chfn3#ampViewer


But had I bought it out of pocket, it would have set me back £750!!! For one chair. That's just outside the range of affordability for many people. And I certainly wouldn't have paid out of pocket for it.


And I get it. A good chair, that is British made, is going to cost more. But I can also understand why many people opt for cheaper options. And I think that's where a lot of the problem lies.


Big businesses drove consumerism, and that drove turnover of items that didn't need replacing. Redecorating often. Changing our clothing style frequently etc etc. They've done a very good job of making people believe that they need to do that, and the only way for many people to keep up with that is to buy cheap.


I'm guilty of it too. Less so now. Especially with bigger items, and decorating etc. But I still went to the Sainsburys toy sale yesterday and picked up a few bits for DD for Xmas. Though, I have now learnt to go with a set list of things I want, and knowing beforehand the cheapest price of it elsewhere. And sticking to it. Her Xmas gifts are now all sorted (I bought some other bits in January sales and hid them away).


But, you know, I could've bought fewer items, that are British made instead. It honestly didn't occur to me at the time. Something to bear in mind for the future.


I fear we may have a big expense on the horizon. Our corner sofa is one that DH originally bought from Ikea when he first moved out. That was over 20 years ago now. When we moved to our current home, we bought a new fabric cover for it, to give it a face lift, but the springs and padding etc are definitely on their way out. lol. It's very creaky now! lol


Can you get the springs etc redone?

[Deleted User]

We only ever buy second hand, it's rare that we buy anything from anywhere brand new with the exception of freezers, TVs and the like and for me shoes as I take a size 8 and precious few of that size ever turn up in charity shops. The winter I shall be wearing an M&S warm padded jacket with a hood that I got for £1 because it was in need of a good wash and has come up perfect, a Target Dry caped stockmans coat which cost me £5, several warm tunic tops and jumpers that have cost me no more than £2 each and in most cases £1 so my winter wardrobe has probably come in at less than £20 and it's all hardly worn and respectable and I don't mind someone else had it before me. Shoes however are very expensive so DD1 and I who both have large feet (she's a 9) wait for the Hotter shoes sales or the offer they have for buy two pairs and get one pair free and whoever of us needs the extra pair gets it and we pay half on the paid for ones, it works well. If we need furniture (which isn't often) we try BHF, Emmaus or YMCA all of whom have furniture outlets close enough to drive to and that has found us oak furniture at small prices.

Farway

euronorris wrote: »

I fear we may have a big expense on the horizon. Our corner sofa is one that DH originally bought from Ikea when he first moved out. That was over 20 years ago now. When we moved to our current home, we bought a new fabric cover for it, to give it a face lift, but the springs and padding etc are definitely on their way out. lol. It's very creaky now! lol


Can you get the springs etc redone?

Yes, search for re upholster. We had an old solid wood suite recovered & re sprung. It was not cheap, buying new but flimsy would've been cheaper

Blue_Doggy

Regarding buying British, have you seen this website?

https://www.stillmadeinbritain.co.uk/

It’s so easy to buy foreign made goods by mistake, especially when familiar brands no longer make their products in the UK.