231 sats \ 3 replies \ @zuspotirko 2 Aug 2022 \ on: Cast-iron cookware. What else can you expect to purchase once... bitcoin
To answer your question: I'm a big fan of returning to traditional materials instead of cheap plastic. Better quality, usually better pay for employees, most of the time better for the environment in the long run and last a lifetime.
E.g:
- Comb or hairpin from horn is so much better than crap plastic.
- We bought a meat grinder from solid stainless steel. So much better than the hard plastic one before and it will probably outlive my children
- Bed sheets from linnen or bathrobe from silk (not polyesther) is worth it too imo but cheap cotton bed sheets also last forever so this one does not interest you so much probably.
- In general, I put the words "stainless steel" or "wood" behind so many of my amazon searches
- In european catholic families it is tradition to gift gold crucifix necklaces in first communion and confirmation that one recieved in their own. I recieved some and gifted some already. Unfortunately, many didn't survive WW2 but in general these things last several lifetimes.
- Well maintained land lasts several lifetimes. If you compost and treat it well, your descendants will have fertile soil to be proud of ;)
I am convinced that your 12/24 words of saved money could outlive you.
Generally speaking I agree with you. But your post also brings to mind a couple plastic items I've had for years that I think are pretty great:
- Legos: these are just an engineering marvel, and fun, of course
- Plastic camping mallet: simple, solid, lightweight so great for travel
Plastic definitely has its practical applications, we've just taken it too far.
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I'm hanging onto a bunch of Legos from when I was a kid for future children. They're low tech and high entertainment value. Legos are a big reason I'm as creative as I am today, and they're way too expensive to replace nowadays.
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This.
I do believe that our current, broken monetary system which encourages spending for spending's sake as a perpetual requirement to prop up the increasingly debt fuelled economy has shifted our time horizon to focus on the short term and contributes to both the creation and purchasing of cheap, poor quality goods manufactured with sub-par materials with little to no consideration for their longevity and the long-term impact of such on the environment.
It doesn't necessarily mean that plastic is a bad product, it has just become greatly misused. Single use plastic packaging is a great example. Its so cheap to produce now compared to alternatives because the manufacturing process has become streamlined under the conditions of a short-term profit prioritising capitalistic economy.
Cliché to say - but Bitcoin helps fix this.