Who else is shopping this holiday season with their conscience?

[2bfree]

My husband and I are planning a more simple holiday this year we are buying less and are planning on shopping at small family owned businesses and places that mirror our own value system. Who else is doing this this year? Any good ideas on catalogs and companies that would be in line with this way of thinking? No more Walmart and will be looking for places that pay their employees a living wage.

[Lovecrafty]

1. I'm with you! I'm not pumping ANY money into the US economy this year!

I have been ordering all my Christmas gifts from overseas companies online and will not be spending any money..NOT ONE DIME...in an American store...unless they are owned by Democrats, of course. If only I could but milk and groceries overseas!!!

[PDittie]

2. No one's getting presents this year from us

I'll be making some charitable donations. No Xmas cards either.

[proudbluestater]

3. Not buying much, not in the mood

Friday, November 26th is BUY NOTHING DAY. See link below:

http://www.adbusters.org/metas/eco/bnd/

List of top retail store campaign contributors:

http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/contrib.asp?Ind=N03

Hint: WalMart OUT, Costco IN!

My television just died, requiring replacement. I told my kids that is our present to each other. I bought it from a local, hometown store rather than a big box store. Free delivery, they hooked up all my other stuff like satellite dish and dvd player.

I am really not in the mood for Christmas this year. My hopes were dashed after the election and all there is to look forward to is more war, more innocents dying and the loss of our civil liberties in this country.

[Zorra]

4. Please Check Out The DU Economic Activism Forum:

Lots of ideas there and we need more input:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=255

[smirkymonkey]

5. I am - no gifts...

except for the nieces and nephews, and then I will buy from Museum stores.

[CatBoreal]

9. I'm buying....

...a fish farm in Africa (owned and operated by four families) from World Vision in my parents name. My mothere is always complaining that the world is an awful place, I figure she can give up her Christmas present to make it a little nicer.

Cam

[cpamomfromtexas]

6. SOME IDEAS FOR SHOPPING WITH A CONSCIENCE

I'm new here at DU, but have some things I've been doing for several years.

Well, at least since 9/11, when I figured out real quick the airlines would come after their employees and declare they were going bankrupt! You know only in America does it cost more to go to a dinner and a movie than fly across the country, go figure!

Enough of my digression- here goes! FORGIVE MY TYPING IN CAPS!

1. LOOK AT THE LABEL, IF IT'S MADE IN CHINA DON'T BUY IT- WE NEED JOBS HERE and Walmart is the 13th largest country (oh I forgot, they're not a country!) doing business with China- Funny, I seem to remember years ago those "made in America signs in Walmart"!

2. BUY IT USED- THAT'S RIGHT- FROM ANOTHER AMERICAN, I SHOP THE SMALL BUSINESSES OR INDIVIDUALS ON EBAY. WHY? BECAUSE THE MONEY GOES DIRECTLY TO AN INDIVIDUAL OR SUPPORTS A SMALL BUSINESS and DOESN'T GET FUNNELED THROUGH A BIG CORPORATION THAT'S OUTSOURCED AND PAYING MILLION DOLLAR SALARIES AND STOCK OPTIONS TO MANAGEMENT.

3. WRITE A LETTER to any companies that are cutting benefits OR DO NOT PROVIDE GENEROUS HEALTH BENEFITS AND RETIREMENT TO THEIR AMERICAN EMPLOYEES and tell them WHY YOU WILL NOT SPEND A DIME WITH THEM. REMEMBER- IF OTHERS ARE NOT PAID FAIRLY, IT'S NOT LONG TILL IT'S COMING YOUR WAY! IF THEIR COMPANY DUMPS THEIR RETIREMENT, YOUR COMPANY WILL TOO.

REMEMBER, MOST CEO'S DON'T SURROUND THEMSELVES WITH BRILLIANT PEOPLE, ONLY YES PEOPLE. THESE TYPES DON'T BELIEVE IN WIN-WIN, ONLY "WE WIN" "YOU LOSE" AND AS LONG AS MY "SERP" (SENIOR EXECUTIVE RETIREMENT PLAN) IS SAFE AFTER I BANKRUPT THIS BABY, I DON'T GIVE A SHIT!

4. ONLY SHOP AT NON-CHAIN STORES!


5. IF THERE ARE ANY DU'ERS OUT THERE INTERESTED IN STARTING UP A DEM BOYCOTT SITE THAT WOULD MAKE IT EASY FOR PEOPLE TO CHECK UP ON THE ETHICS, POLITICS, ETC OF COMPANIES THEY DO BUSINESS WITH AND YOU HAVE THE PROGRAMMING, MARKETING, LEGAL SKILLS TO HELP, CONTACT ME WITH A PRIVATE MESSAGE.

THE FASTEST WAY TO CHANGE OUR COUNTRY IS TO DO IT IN AN ORGANIZED MONETARY FASHION.

[newyawker99]

19. Hi cpamomfromtexas!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[the other rick]

7. Hear! Hear!

The Wife and I work hard to buy from local farmers and local, preferably family-owned, stores. It can be tough sometimes with 2 Targets and two WalMarts within 5 miles of us and you gotta' go 3 miles past them to get stuff and its late and you're tired.

Worthwile, tho'. Local coffee shop is family run and pays a living wage (!!) so we go there.

The holidays might be harder (we just moved to a new city and don't know all the local businesses) but we'll try!

[hatrack]

8. Zip on presents- we're making some donations & hosting dinner

Otherwise, nada.

[2bfree]

10. Wow!

Thanks for the links guys. I feel really good about doing this.

[Willy Lee]

11. Everyone we know is getting coffee this year.

Just like they do every year. I guess we're supporting our own business...

[Randypiper]

12. I won't be spending a cent for Christmas

Lost my job on Monday.

[prayin4rain]

13. Uh-oh ...my condolences :(

[morningglory]

14. Home made and antique shop stuff. At least it is made in USA.

[Dem Agog]

15. Most folks are getting photographs from me...

I'm a photographer so I'm framing either prints I've made this year for people, or portraits of them or their pets.

[prairierose]

16. I have been doing this for years.

I will not shop in the evil walmart ever again. I either make presents for friends and family or I buy from the local thrift store that is NOT the salvation army. This all started because I was poor but now I feel it is also important for other reasons.

[nadinbrzezinski]

17. same here

This is part of the civil disobedience we all must do

Now not only Walmart has to go but also Starbucks, (their predatory practices are similar)

Now other ideas

GET OUT OF DEBT and STAY OUT OF DEBT... be thrifty, live within your means

Yes they count on this debt to fuel the economy, and if you must (and you should) keep ONE credit card for emergenciles, local bank, NOT MBNA

Cosco is a good place to shop, they are traded lower than Walmart or Sams Club but guess what, they take care of their workers.

You have mostly the idea already on how to do this

Oh and this year, I am not even doing the chrstmas cards, will do the old fashioned long letter...

To all true patriots, this is what we need to do

[naturalselection]

18. We are making holiday baskets

with homemade food from our garden and I am brewing up a batch of Xmas beer! So much more simple and allows for my family to spend some quality time together.

Oh ya, Happy Holidays to DU and all of you!

New DU member today!

[newyawker99]

20. Hi naturalselection!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: