talking of the unlikely pair, lol at this being exactly what we were saying! I don’t understand how AS isn’t mortified that she’s very clearly privileged and refuses to say about about it, in the era of learning to do better?!
I unfollowed Alex a while ago but occasionally read this thread - after seeing these recent stories from Africa I was reminded straight away of a certain someone and glad to see I wasn’t alone.talking of the unlikely pair, lol at this being exactly what we were saying! I don’t understand how AS isn’t mortified that she’s very clearly privileged and refuses to say about about it, in the era of learning to do better?!
Isn’t it weird this is such a thing for them? It’s defs a novelty to them, it’s funny cos as a poor kid I felt so much shame around that sort of stuff and knew it would be picked on if anyone else dare knew, now it’s a badge of honour for a socially conscious MC mama. Which leads me to my next point - did anyone else feel uncomfortable at her glee in spotting those charity shop finds? I know we all need to consume less / use the secondary market more but I feel like charity shops should be left for people who genuinely need cheap bits, it’s the age old argument over Depop resellers pushing charity shop prices up blah blah blah but just felt uncomfortable that a low income child won’t have access to these nice bits because someone on a 30% LTV #gifted mortgage came in and swooped them all upssssh but will always broadcast DIY and car boot finds
Yeah, TBH the only time I’ve felt uncomfortable with it (rather than mildly amused) is when a wealthy friend bought a big bundle of used baby clothes for v cheap (£20 or so) and then posted it on Insta. I am almost certain the kid will end up being privately educated, and whilst I absolutely support buying second hand, I couldn’t help but feel she wasn’t the target market for that particular service.Isn’t it weird this is such a thing for them? It’s defs a novelty to them, it’s funny cos as a poor kid I felt so much shame around that sort of stuff and knew it would be picked on if anyone else dare knew, now it’s a badge of honour for a socially conscious MC mama. Which leads me to my next point - did anyone else feel uncomfortable at her glee in spotting those charity shop finds? I know we all need to consume less / use the secondary market more but I feel like charity shops should be left for people who genuinely need cheap bits, it’s the age old argument over Depop resellers pushing charity shop prices up blah blah blah but just felt uncomfortable that a low income child won’t have access to these nice bits because someone on a 30% LTV #gifted mortgage came in and swooped them all up
Agree, and I appreciate it’s such a nuanced discussion and tbh there is no universal consensus on what is best for LI families or the planet, but it just feels in bad taste? Like we’re comfortable through our income (not gifted wealth!) and I do buy a lot of second hand kids clothes, but through eBay/more recently vinted and I’m not hoovering up the cheapest of cheap bits away from mums who need it, it is selected brands/vintage stuff, so personally don’t feel bad for this, and mitigate that by donating *everything* to the baby bank after. She could argue she’s encouraging people to buy second hand but idk how sincere that is as she’s also pushing hyper consumption ??Yeah, TBH the only time I’ve felt uncomfortable with it (rather than mildly amused) is when a wealthy friend bought a big bundle of used baby clothes for v cheap (£20 or so) and then posted it on Insta. I am almost certain the kid will end up being privately educated, and whilst I absolutely support buying second hand, I couldn’t help but feel she wasn’t the target market for that particular service.
When it’s decorative bits for around the house I see no harm, and I get the thrill of a genuine bargain (especially when you don’t have a mandatory side dish of shame for needing it). But it is a hobby and not a strategy for financial security.
I’ve never been truly poor but I’d imagine that when you are worried about money for basics, you might have limited time/patience for this kind of thing.
Yeah, agreed. In the case of Alex (and similar accounts) my problem is this is not a one-off mistake broadcast to a small group of friends, but her entire MO and how she makes a living.Agree, and I appreciate it’s such a nuanced discussion and tbh there is no universal consensus on what is best for LI families or the planet, but it just feels in bad taste? Like we’re comfortable through our income (not gifted wealth!) and I do buy a lot of second hand kids clothes, but through eBay/more recently vinted and I’m not hoovering up the cheapest of cheap bits away from mums who need it, it is selected brands/vintage stuff, so personally don’t feel bad for this, and mitigate that by donating *everything* to the baby bank after. She could argue she’s encouraging people to buy second hand but idk how sincere that is as she’s also pushing hyper consumption ??
Sorry I did say I acknowledge there’s no universal truth with this, agree anything that doesn’t help stimulate production of new goods is a good thing, it just doesn’t feel 100% right for me personally, and that’s okay cos everyone has diff experiences/lines!I don't know how I feel about not buying from charity shops if you're not skint. There is so much stuff in charity shops, surely it's best to buy second hand regardless of your income?
Yes we should all try and buy second hand if we can. It's a very old fashioned view that charity shops are for "poor people" and is very stigmatising . Charity shops are businesses and as such areI don't know how I feel about not buying from charity shops if you're not skint. There is so much stuff in charity shops, surely it's best to buy second hand regardless of your income?
I agree! Especially as all the ones near me are full to the brim at the moment and are crying out for people to shop there. I get furniture, kitchenware, accessories, coats and board games especially at charity shops.Yes we should all try and buy second hand if we can. It's a very old fashioned view that charity shops are for "poor people" and is very stigmatising . Charity shops are businesses and as such are
priced pretty competitively.
Just to clarify - having grown up poor & our family *needing* to buy toys and clothes from charity shops stigmatising isn’t at all my intention and sorry if I’ve upset anyone who felt like that - I just think it’s important to keep decent stock in for families in that situation now (and with 1/4 children growing up in poverty, there’s a lot of them!), rather than comfortable people gleefully raiding them for bargains, *especially* for kids bits, homeware and even clothes feel less icky. I get they’re a business endeavour trying to raise money for charities but they’re also a useful resource for low income families, a reasonable balance needs to be struck IMOYes we should all try and buy second hand if we can. It's a very old fashioned view that charity shops are for "poor people" and is very stigmatising . Charity shops are businesses and as such are
priced pretty competitively.
I think there is such a surplus of everything right now that there are more than enough kids clothes to go around. I’d assume when you were growing up fast fashion wasn’t at the level it is now. I have to say I have zero issue with Alex shopping in a charity shop, as an influencer I think it’s setting a good example for others.Just to clarify - having grown up poor & our family *needing* to buy toys and clothes from charity shops stigmatising isn’t at all my intention and sorry if I’ve upset anyone who felt like that - I just think it’s important to keep decent stock in for families in that situation now (and with 1/4 children growing up in poverty, there’s a lot of them!), rather than comfortable people gleefully raiding them for bargains, *especially* for kids bits, homeware and even clothes feel less icky. I get they’re a business endeavour trying to raise money for charities but they’re also a useful resource for low income families, a reasonable balance needs to be struck IMO
I feel the same about people taking free kids bits from Facebook no buy pages and that recently caused a ruckus locally so can fully imagine I’m in the minority with this view
I can see where you’re coming from but in a lot of areas charity shops have changed so much in the last 20 or so years. Charities rely hugely on their shops to get as much money as they can from donations to fund their vital work. I’ve volunteered in one on and off for about 8 years and the quality of donations we get is astonishing. But there’s no way we would get this high end, good quality, looked after stuff if we then priced it all at 10p a pop. Unfortunately the goal isn’t to provide cheap stuff for struggling families, it’s to generate income for the charity as a whole.Just to clarify - having grown up poor & our family *needing* to buy toys and clothes from charity shops stigmatising isn’t at all my intention and sorry if I’ve upset anyone who felt like that - I just think it’s important to keep decent stock in for families in that situation now (and with 1/4 children growing up in poverty, there’s a lot of them!), rather than comfortable people gleefully raiding them for bargains, *especially* for kids bits, homeware and even clothes feel less icky. I get they’re a business endeavour trying to raise money for charities but they’re also a useful resource for low income families, a reasonable balance needs to be struck IMO
I feel the same about people taking free kids bits from Facebook no buy pages and that recently caused a ruckus locally so can fully imagine I’m in the minority with this view