I havet bought anything but groceries since Trump took office.
this post was submitted on 01 May 2025
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Money is incredibly tight and will be for the foreseeable future. I got a car the day after Trump announced tariffs because I knew the one I had was starting to fail. I wanted a reliable vehicle before they became completely unaffordable. Now I have like no money for fun stuff, but that's whatever. Just focusing on surviving now.
Been planning on it, but shit just got complicated as I'm switching jobs, and I'll probably have to provide a vehicle if I want a healthy amount of hours. But I'm also NOT going to buy and modify a car before I'm through probation, that's madness.
So basically I may or may not get screwed by the vehicle tariffs, we'll see.
Other than that, I'm kind of playing it by ear. I'm already not a huge spender, but I eat well. I decided a long time ago that that's the last expense I'll cut, I love food too much. I'll get rid of everything else before I go back to living on ramen.
That philosophy is about to become unsustainable. I already know I'm going to have a give up lifting weights soon, so I don't get as hungry, I just don't know when.
Beans n rice! Healthy, cheap alternative.
Well, lucky for you, most packaged ramen is imported.
I'm cutting back on unnecessary purchases and trying to save more. My job is iffy right now, so on top of the economy I have to worry about that.
We go to a big warehouse store for our basic supplies, so I'm just trying to stay stocked up on essentials. Might buy some n95 masks just in case of a new plague.
I've recently come into the mindset that buying stuff doesn't make me happy anyway. If it's something I need, like an oil change, or bike tire, sure I'll pay for it. But things that I WANT have kind of gone to the wayside. Not because I can't afford it, but because I'm no happier with more stuff.
Also, fuck these shitty companies squeezing every last dime out of us. I'll shop at the thrift store for clothes and buy stuff used on craigslist/ebay if I need it.
The vast majority of my furniture is solid hard wood. It was purchased from a Habitat for Humanity restore or my grandmothers.
The other week I got a huge china cabinet for $35 that I put in the basement for a pantry. If I bought something new like it today. It would be over $1500 or $2000 easy.
Buying used things is also good for the environment. Totally functional and useful things are being thrown into the landfill all the time. Someone could have used those things.
Every time I think about buying something used, I remember the time I had bed bugs (not from buying used stuff; a neighbour was infested) and I drop the idea immediately. My brain doesn't care that I've never seen a bed bug in a thrift store, I just won't take the risk. Can't take the risk. Too traumatised.
You need to trick your subconscious mind into believing the things are new. Maybe ask a friend to put used things in a box and drop it off in front of your door.
Not a bad thought, but I'm either too smart or too stupid to fool myself like that. I'm not sure which.
I got a whole set of dishes, silverware, and matching cookware from a resale shop like 10 years ago for $15 and everything still functions perfectly well. It’s crazy what people give away.
You know you're really in trouble when your silverware stops functioning
lol try the silverware at the dollar store sometime! Or the frying pan
I've been this way for awhile. Except for food. I spend too much on food.
I work retail for a major corporate entity, I'm always broke anyhow.
These posts are always wild to read as someone already in poverty mode. Are the rest of you out there, like, spending your money? That feels wrong.
things are going to get more expensive so the impulse to stock up at current prices seems reasonable. Ofc if you don’t have the money you don’t have the money though.
Nah, but I'm buying an inexpensive house with some land. After that we'll have to see
Fair, I did the same.
You can't eat guns.
But you can raid your neighbors shelter with guns. You can also hunt others. Guns present all sorts of novel opportunities in the wasteland.
Let's team up to hunt the most dangerous game. I totally will not double–cross and murder you. Pinkie swear.
I expect you to double-cross me, that's half the fun!
Buddy I hope we don't live close.
Not with that attitude
I'm planning that by the end of the Atlantic Storm Season is over to literally be in my boat sailing away. Beans rice fish bananas & plantains are my life now because cheap cheap cheap. Recently took a job at a boatyard to learn, network, used parts, reduced prices. So far shaving between $500-$1000 month of prices, so bravo me.
Then head to Central or South America to make major purchases like solar, controllers, tech, CE ... etc. Tariff stuff. Mexico and Panama seem to have decent trade agreements with China.
And I'll reflag in Panama too.
That sounds amazing, fair winds!
Yup, if it's not food, rent, or essential utilities, I'm not buying it. I had several things I was saving up for this year, but nope.
What little spare I have I'm donating instead to my local food bank. Part of why I haven't been very active in the record/cd collection forums lately, I just don't see the opportunity right now.
Right on. That’s admirable you’re also making a priority to donate. I’ve also switched to purchasing as many of my groceries as possible from a local farm coop or road stalls so hopefully less of my money makes it to shitty people.
About the only thing the tariffs have done for me is put the final step in the slowly-building boycott of all goods from the USA that I started off in the 1990s. I now have only one product that has an American component in it (my phone uses Android) and once that stops being useful I will have successfully de-Americanized my life.
I already did a month or two ago, I knew he was going to ruin it. Everything he touches dies.
Short answer is yes, long answer is I'm conflicted... I've already decided to get everything that could be affected by tariffs back in November/December... but things changed, I already have job & stuff lined up out of the US, and I might not ever coming back. On one hand I really want to make some splurges on experiences (restaurants, concerts, things to do), but on the other hand I really need all the money I have, and I don't have a salary at the moment...
We replaced our old, crummy laptops a couple months ago in preparation. I bought some new underwear. And tomorrow (day after?) we're going to go stock up on cans of tomatoes, rice, and sugar. And vitamins. We have a lot of stuff laid away but I want to really be sure...
The only thing I'm not prepared for is... and I know a lot of people haven't thought of it... My medication. I take generic medication. Most of our generics are either imported, or rely on ingredients that are imported. We're going to be looking at some really, really bad news in the next few months on that alone. I recommend anyone reading this, if you haven't already laid away stuff like ibuprofen, aspirin... Might be smart.
I got car parts at rockauto, stocked up on razors and underwear, got my tech up to date, and splurged on a couple other things. The only shopping I'll be doing the next few years is thrift and garage sales. If you don't know about goodwill outlet: you pay by the pound.
Im pretty anti subscriptions but ive changed from free platforms to paid just to avoid giving money to American businesses.
Its weird how the effects of one policy ripple through the world. Nowadays im catching myself hesitanting when buying any foreign product.
I am not even European and I nuked a bunch of subscriptions (netflix, aws, slack, VPNs, Prefect, ...) and went self hosting + reputable vps providers in Europe. Rooting fo you guys.
I've been selling off unused items in order to take away even more from retailers.
Wdym?
Sell some of your unused belongings to people, so the money stays within the community instead of that person buying from a chain store. They lost a sale.
Sirdubdee has wares if you have coin
I see. Thanks for that clarification.
We did ours in December and January so we were sure to miss tariffs, rebates ending, and things like that. Shouldn't have any expected major purchases for at least a couple years.
I really wanted a new car, but I guess I'm instead going to look into some fixes on my little guy.
Yeah, I don't see how I have any other option.
Managed to pick up some pre-tariff drone parts
Inb4 trump announces a nationwide no drone zone.
(There's zero check on that power btw, its completely under the purview of the president)
Fuck