[RcouF1uZ4gsC]

One thing I have found, is that buying stuff that is supposed to last for life, ends up making the possessions own me, instead of me own the possessions.

Especially with kids, when I have disposable objects, I don't have to worry if they trash it, or get it dirty. I don't have to worry about losing it(I can order a replacement on Amazon that will be here in 2 days). With long-lasting products that are for life, I find I worry about cleaning them, organizing them, and protecting them.

Maybe to total cost of ownership is less for the more durable product, but you only have to lose it once or damage it once for the savings to go away.

[desine]

With no disrespect (especially with children, I know their destructive tendencies well enough), this sounds like a shunning of responsibility, and irks me. Our cheap, disposable consumer goods are ending up in landfills, our plastic waste has permeated every square inch of the earth, and we continue to justify these destructive habits.

If you need something, you should care for it, you should maintain it, and you should commit to a certain level of care. Not caring about your possessions and seeing them as disposable validates the business models of shelling out crap quality products and the further destruction of our environment.

[imiric]

I was about to post a similar comment, but you summed it up nicely.

The landfill reality and the pollution they cause, especially from e-waste, is devastating: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/burning-truth-...

[bigmattystyles]

We should charge the disposal cost upfront at the point of purchase. I know it’s political suicide but it would solve quite a few issues.

[mavhc]

Tax everything the amount it costs to clean up the pollution it causes, from electricity to food. 2 side effects: people will make things that produce less pollution, and people will make cleaning up pollution cheaper

[fwipsy]

Maybe not so far-fetched. CA charges an ewaste recycling fee already when you purchase certain items.

[threatofrain]

Also if we more carefully priced externalities, this strategy of buying cheap might not be so cheap.

[lupinglade]

On the other hand, crappy knock-off products aren't going to be the right tool for most jobs and will fail when you need them most. The trick to not being owned by your possessions is to only own what you really, truly need.

Further, buying low-quality throw-away type products ends up supporting the greedy, lazy low-quality manufacturers. We all end up with only junk for choice.

And as @desine already commented: all this junk ends up in the landfills, oceans, etc.

[RcouF1uZ4gsC]

Depends what you use them for.

> The trick to not being owned by your things is to only own what you really, truly need.

I don't think that is quite right. Let's say you need a button down shirt for work. So you only buy 5, custom tailored shirts out of high quality materials. You have bought a minimal amount, and you really do need those shirts.

When you are eating, are you not worried about getting ketchup on your shirt. If kids come up to you, are you not worried about them getting your shirt dirty. Are you worried that your washer and dryer are being too harsh for your shirts.

If on the other hand, you just get a bunch of ok shirts on Amazon or WalMart. You just throw them in the washer and dryer without thinking about it. You eat and play with your kids, knowing if your shirt gets dirty, stained, or ripped, it is not a big deal, you will just get another one.

I think the true key to not having your possessions own you is easy replacability. If you can easily replace them, then you can use them without worrying about them.

[lupinglade]

Shirts are more of a disposable product, they normally don't last very long. So the difference between the cheap knock off and proper quality isn't that significant. Although you probably don't want to be wearing the cheapest alibaba shirt to an important business meeting.

[m463]

yeah, there should be some products where "buy it for life" might be... just don't buy one.

Do you really need a cast iron frying pan? They seem to be over-represented in this category because they don't break. But iron in your diet is not that good for you if you're male because it accumulates.

Another thing to be wary of is "buy this best stuff" lists are easy money, people will curate your lists for you, then you just link to amazon and hoarding behavior does the rest.

[alexpetralia]

Reminds me of: "The things you own end up owning you."

[christiansakai]

I think this is just a mindset issue. Which is non issue.

[fnord77]

perhaps we all have too many possessions.