And what do you do with your spending power?

[warmonger]

I'm wondering if anyone is as crazy as me when it comes to directing where my hard earned cash goes.

My household is fortunate enough to have an income level that puts us into the top 0.1% of humanity (according to some survey that was around CFC some time back) That means we have a rather large amount of discrectionary spending to do.

And I try very hard to only purchase goods and services from companies and countries of whom I approve.

For example, since June 1989, I very rarely, knowingly, buy anything built in or supplied by China. I think it is crazy to send my money to an authoritarian, one- party communist state that has no respect for human rights. Most of my electronics are from Japan if they are expensive or Taiwan or Malaysia if they are not. Cheap clothing would be from India (the world's largest democracy) rather than China.

As it is impossible to find out where my car's fuel is sourced from, since September 2001 I have drasticaly reduced my use of oil based products. I used to drive circa 50,000 kms per year; now I'm down to about 12,000. Again, I see no sense in sending cash to corrupt regimes so that they can finance mayhem.

Likewise since March 2003, I have tried to limit purchasing anything stamped "Made in the USA" (Civ4 was a notable exception) because I don't support countries attacking other countries.

My purchasing power is the only way I can show my disapproval. Is anybody else here as crazy as me.

 

[El_Machinae]

Proper use of purchasing power is probably our greatest strength. It's possible to spend money that will lead to long-term waste, and it's possible to spend money that will lead to long-term progress.

I find that roughly 30% of my income goes into investments/savings - but only a portion of my investments are devoted to pro-technology companies. I try to spend most of my living expenses on goods that are economically, environmentally, or morally superior. Money given to taxes are spent by the democratic government, so it's not efficiently used. But Canada ain't so bad.

 

[Pyrite]

I use most of the money I make to start paying for college. The rest of my income goes towards local health food stores, and my freindly neighborhood drug grower/synthesizer. Yum!

 

[The Last Conformist]

Spending power? I'm a student.

 

[skadistic]

I try to bye made in the US and UK (suits and Fred Perry)only. But at times I bye from Pakistan because lets face it they have some realy good textiles. For electronics I buy mostly Japanese. I do my best to stay away from China. It gets harder and harder to buy from only select nations.

 

[ChrTh]

I buy whatever I feel like. Considering I work for a company that exists solely to import and distribute furniture made in China by a Chinese company, it'd be silly of me to do otherwise.

 

[Sidhe]

I work and study and to be frank a deal of my disposable income goes on courses, bank charges and luxuries such as games and beer and novels, I am not buying clothes atm or flashy items. I lashed out on an expensive computer but I never for a moment contemplated where it came from, price is more of a factor when your spending is on a knife edge. I have six months to save up for my next course, there's no way I'm considering the political implications of purchase, I don't have that luxury, if I get a better job through my courses, then I will begin to consider who and where I buy from.

 

[Archbob]

Under my pillow.

 

[Cheezy the Wiz]

I put most of it in my savings account, and with the rest support my local commerical enterprises

 

[JerichoHill]

I have an insanely high savings rate (about 30% of my income).

Most of it is in assets that cannot be taxed anymore.

The rest is spent on food/clothing/shelther, and the occasional night out with the girl.

 

[warpus]

I send my money to overseas Al-Qaeda bank accounts.

*hides*

 

[Elrohir]

Spending power? I'm a student.

Ditto.


Warmonger, could you explain to me the rational behind boycotting US goods? I can understand boycotting Chinese goods - much of them are financed, directly or indirectly by the government - but most American companies are not. By not buying American goods, you're punishing private companies, which may or may not endorse the War in Iraq, for the actions of the government.

Anyway, that's your call.

 

[luiz]

Since I still live with my parents and they pay for pretty much all of my expenses, virtually all of my salary goes to investments (I started working 4 months ago only).

 

[Narz]

I buy quality food and organic cotton shorts, pants and t-shirts. I buy organic meats for my cats (it's not as expensive as you'd think because they eat the bones too). I will search for a long tme if I want to buy an electronic gadget (like an MP3 player) to get the best price. I rarely buy electronic gadgets anyway, in the last year I only bought an air purifier ($39), my MP3 player/recorder ($169) and my new laptop ($469). I buy other stuff I need at thrift stores. I aim to pay virtually no tax on anything ever (food = tax free, internet = tax free, thrift stores often = tax free).

By the way warmonger, got any projects I can help you with? If you let me work for you and direct your spending power my way you are doing good for all humanity.

 

[warmonger]

Warmonger, could you explain to me the rational behind boycotting US goods? I can understand boycotting Chinese goods - much of them are financed, directly or indirectly by the government - but most American companies are not. By not buying American goods, you're punishing private companies, which may or may not endorse the War in Iraq, for the actions of the government.

Simple really - US companies pay tax mostly in the US (unless they have an off- shore tax arrangement but that's a different story). US taxes go to a Government that spends it on things I don't approve of. So they're not going to do it with my nickels and dimes.

Does anyone else think of the political ramifications of their purchases or am I the only crazy? I've been doing this for almost thirty years - since getting my first real job - in one way or another.

 

[Elta]

Warmonger ...could you help me out finding that thread with the poll in it?

 

[Elrohir]

Simple really - US companies pay tax mostly in the US (unless they have an off- shore tax arrangement but that's a different story). US taxes go to a Government that spends it on things I don't approve of. So they're not going to do it with my nickels and dimes.

Does anyone else think of the political ramifications of their purchases or am I the only crazy? I've been doing this for almost thirty years - since getting my first real job - in one way or another.

Warmonger, pretty much every government is going to have some policies, or do something that you don't agree with. I think trying to find one person who agrees with you completely on everything is a lost cause, looking for a government definitely is.

No, I see your point, even if I don't agree with how you continue it. I certainly wouldn't buy something made in China if there is an alternative, because I dislike the government policies of China. But then, most of the things that are manufactured in China are done so under government contract, or government control, so that would be a direct statement against the Chinese government, rather than indirect, as you are doing against the USG.

 

[Yeeek]

Saving to move somewhere else. Hopefully in Portugal.

 

[Evil Tyrant]

I use my spending power to buy stuff. But I don't have much spending power, so I can't really afford to care about whether or not the stuff I buy is made in China. And I probably still wouldn't care even if I could afford it.

 

[Moss]

I believe the expression is...

"Broke ass college student."