Do you spend more on products that are congruent with your beliefs?

[sakigt]

I always tell myself that if you want change spend your money where it counts.

I prefer to do environmentally friendly things, but Im a bit of a hypocrite on some things like driving a relatively inefficient car. Also, I dont agree with the cruel treatment of animals used for our food but since I dont notice a difference on the store shelves I just buy whats available.

The only exception to this are eggs. I buy the free-range, no antibiotics, and non steroid kind. I use about a dozen eggs every three weeks and the package costs $3 as opposed to $1 for the normal kind.

It seems like you can never ALWAYS do the right thing, but every little bit helps, right?

Anything you splurge on similarly? Religious, ethical or otherwise?

[tinapbeana]

environmental convictions and personal beliefs are big motivators for me and DH (more me than him, though). that's why we are 8 months with no wal-mart (have only been to target/kmart maybe 3-4 times in the past year, too).

my list includes:
organic, fair trade coffee (still costs less than starbucks bagged coffee and tastes infinitely better!)

free-range hormone/antibiotic free eggs (when we eat eggs, which is once in a blue moon). sakigt, do you have Publix grocery stores in your area? they offer a storebrand egg for less than $2 a dozen

free-range hormone/antibiotic free milk from a local dairy. it just tastes better, plus it supports local business!

organic only for pasta, canned tomato products, and canned beans. ditto for salad greens.

my natural goods store sells grass-fed antibiotic free beef from a local rancher that is absolutely amazing but costs too much in such a small quantity, so i don't usually buy it. when we have a large freezer, though, my mom and i are going to buy half a cow from the rancher and split it between us.

my soap, shampoo, lotion, lip balm are of the organic/petroleum free/laureth and laurate free/not tested on animals variety, usually because they are also less likely to irritate my skin or contain an ingredient i'm allergic too.

i even have a pair of yoga pants and 2 tops made from organic cotton. i got them a year ago on clearance, at SAM'S CLUB of all places!

[mom-from-missouri]

I won't buy wine or beer. If what I am cooking calls for it, I leave it out. I also won't support the tobacco industry either, or the gambling casinos. I've turned down dinners with friends at the casinos. Some of it is religious objection, some of it is because I have know people killed by tobacco, or drunk drivers, or ruined their family life from abusing them. I was once married to a drinker and heavy gambler and it ruined my first marriage. (how I became frugal to begin with-couldn't count on his income).
I also wont buy Ford vehicles, because of a friends accident in one, which the auto failed and cost her life. In court Ford denied responsibility, but later paid the family anyway-then later Ford had to issue recalls for the same problem. I don't know that it was Ford that ticked me off, or the attorneys attitude that represented Ford. They were down right rude to the family, acted like it was the familes fault. But, as a result, they have lost my business forever.

[sakigt]

Publix is about the only normal grocery store I can find ANY kind of eggs that are free roaming (the diet part is important too, but cramped cages and no beaks are my issue).

I wonder if there is a local dairy in my area as well. Does yours provide lower fat options?

[tinapbeana]

Originally Posted by sakigt

Publix is about the only normal grocery store I can find ANY kind of eggs that are free roaming (the diet part is important too, but cramped cages and no beaks are my issue).

I wonder if there is a local dairy in my area as well. Does yours provide lower fat options?

they do have lower fat options, but we drink whole milk since low fat means high sugar, high fat means low sugar. at any rate, they do offer a variety of milks (including chocolate!!!), but even better is that they produce cheese and butter too. even chicken and eggs ifyou go to their farm rather than buying from the health food store. the place is called "Happy Cow" http://www.happycowcreamery.com/

one of the links they have is for RealMilk.com which has a listing of places around the country where you can get milk products from local dairies http://www.realmilk.com/where1.html

[pearlieq]

I buy free range eggs and meat and Organic Valley milk because I belive we have a responsibility to treat animals humanely. It's costly, and sometimes I'm tempted not to, but then I think about conditions on factory farms and realize decent treatment is worth an extra $2 a pound to me.

I don't usually seek out organics for plant-based foods.

[edited to better reflect what I mean]

[tinapbeana]

Originally Posted by pearlieq

I buy free range eggs and meat and Organic Valley milk because I belive we have a responsibility to treat animals humanely. It's costly, and sometimes I'm tempted not to, but then I think about conditions on factory farms and realize decency is worth an extra $2 a pound.

I don't usually seek out organics for plant-based foods.

i try to buy free range/humane meat, eggs, and dairy b/c of my animal welfare and environmental beliefs. all very lovey-dovey sort of thing. however, i try to buy organic/fair trade plant-based items b/c i feel it's better for the environment and also i feel it's better for me (fewer chemicals, pesticides, and residual waxes for me to contend with). half altruistic, half selfish i suppose.

actually, since buying both types of goods makes me feel i'm doing a good deed, i suppose they're both selfish in they're own little way. kinda like the belief that all charity and volunteerism has its roots in selfishness since it makes the giver/volunteer feel good (who's gonna volunteer to do something that makes them feel like a bad person?).

[sakigt]

Actually I may go snooping around a Fresh Market we have here as see if I can find any milk there.

Now to keep my roomate out of it!

[PauletteGoddard]

I don't use the word "splurge." I use the word "invest." But yes, like many earlier commenters I am about the free-range eggs, the organic or at least non bovine growth hormone milk, and the steroid-free beef, wild-caught fish, free-range poultry. I am really not into cancer, and thanks to the decades-long denial of the tobacco industry that it was doing anything other than giving its customers what they wanted ("yes please! we like arsenic, cyanide and shellac in our tobacco! more! don't ever stop!"), I can't trust that industries won't put toxins or carcinogens in their products to make them tastier or keep them looking fresher or reduce their processing costs.

Consuming organic and natural foods is a good way for the unenfranchised (think immigrant laborers who do buy organic because they know how food is treated, people who can't vote, people who don't have $2000 to throw at their favourite politician at fundraisers) to make their opinions count.

Nina Planck in her Real Food Web site wrote an article about how the poor can even afford organic food.

[TBH]

What a great thread, sakigt.

I buy organic, especially animal products, but I'm pretty inconsistent about it.

I will pay more for books if necessary in order to support my local neighborhood bookstore rather than a big chain. I used to be fanatical about only shopping in independent bookstores, but now I buy so much online that I end up occasionally buying from Amazon etc.

In general, I'll pay more if I can swing it if it means supporting a local neighborhood business rather than a big corporate chain. I live in a big city but my neighborhood is very close-knit so it's likely that I'm supporting someone I actually know personally if I buy local.

I also assume that my socially responsible investing practices may mean lower returns, and I'm okay with that within reason.

[Gruntina]

My past few years working for a world wide corporate Inc company, seeing many online tutoring for all age schools at a very low fee when intact the tutoring service is based in India, Most food imported from out of country (I live near one of the main ports so very noticeable here) Budget cuts in our education and down cut of fire stations due to community not having much money, foreigners buying most of the expensive homes here...

I have to wonder what is going on to our country since business are doing things in the best interest of the business but soon we will have nothing to show for in US. I am doing a 360 change in selections to try to buy things that are American made and American manages which is a huge challenge at this point. This change also derived from our soldiers being out of our country. My heart goes out to them. Why did they join the military to begin with if we neglect America products?

I also feel more advocate is needed to get our companies to do better quality products and develop a better education system for our children as USA is pretty behind on the educational level.

Its ironic we go to third world countries to teach and educate (although very noble cause) and seem not to have as much effort into our own land.

I recently bought a Ford... first time... My fiancé is a Ford technician and he is able to observe the vehicle before purchase and he also knows which model is more dependable over the others. It’s so strange since I am usually a Toyota fan. We made sure it was made in the US and not Mexico (you can tell by VIN number) But I do understand the concern for quality is needed for safety reason and we should strive to reach that goal.

I go to a local organic food stores as well. This is just the beginning for me.

[cschin4]

I rarely go to or rent movies. Many Hollywood actors now shoot off their mouths about political causes and I find that a big turnoff. I really don't want to know or care what they believe and somehow it spoils the illusion when they are playing a character.
I also think Hollywood puts alot of unnecessary swearing, violence, sex, etc into movies where it doesn't need to be. I understand that in some movies it fits in with the plot. But, most movies it is just gratuitous nonsense. And, I don't say the "F" word in every other sentence, nobody I know talks that way, so I really don't care to hear it or spend my money on it.

[Gruntina]

Originally Posted by cschin4

I rarely go to or rent movies. Many Hollywood actors now shoot off their mouths about political causes and I find that a big turnoff. I really don't want to know or care what they believe and somehow it spoils the illusion when they are playing a character.
I also think Hollywood puts alot of unnecessary swearing, violence, sex, etc into movies where it doesn't need to be. I understand that in some movies it fits in with the plot. But, most movies it is just gratuitous nonsense. And, I don't say the "F" word in every other sentence, nobody I know talks that way, so I really don't care to hear it or spend my money on it.

I hear ya there! My fiance and I been choosing docmentary films and Discovery series from Net flex because we are tired of the excessive filth and superficial from regular films. PG rated is not what it used to be.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by mom-from-missouri

I also won't support the tobacco industry

This is so very difficult to do. Look at this list:
http://altria.com/about_altria/1_2_3_1_kraftfoodsna.asp
If you use any of these products, you are supporting Phillip Morris, one of the world's largest tobacco companies.

Personally, I'll admit I'm not much of a social activist. When we shop, our criteria include price, value, quality, convenience, taste and health. We honestly don't concern ourselves with where something is made, who made it, how much they were paid, etc. In our global economy, I think it has become increasingly difficult to really be sure what's what or where something is actually from or where the proceeds are actually going. As the link above illustrates, do you really stop and think when buying a box of Ritz crackers, Boca burgers or Grey Poupon mustard, that your money is ending up in the hands of a tobacco giant?

We donate to charities and causes that we feel strongly about, but that really doesn't influence our shopping on a day to day basis.

[JanH]

It is also hard to separate things in companies that make portions of products. We once got a job offer from a company that made paper--cigarette paper and Bible pages. Thought that might be an interesting dilemna for many. We honestly don't know the whole picture with any company anymore. I would love to embrace the local farmers if the farmer's market wasn't at the crack of dawn on saturday and sold out by the time I'm up and about. Having been raised by a farmer, I totally understand, but I am also lazy about getting there. We used to have a grocery that had signs that told where each item of produce came from and we used to buy USA as much as possible. Some out of country car manufacturers have built big plants in the south that employ a lot of people. Does that make them made in USA or still a foreign car? I get so confused! I try to buy organic since I was raised that way and whole grain. I will pay for fresh produce rather than canned most of the time. I feel that buying quality food improves your health so that it balances out. But it could just be the farmer kid in me and there is no difference in food quality. I do try to keep away from hormones, though. Especially after the breast cyst situation last year. I read that it could be the hormones in the food and I'm trying that to see if the tests come back differently this year.

[Gruntina]

Originally Posted by JanH

Some out of country car manufacturers have built big plants in the south that employ a lot of people. Does that make them made in USA or still a foreign car? I get so confused!

I agree this is very confusing... I think I am more concern with skills and workforces being taught in American more than "American" products. I would hate to see us leave all the work in other countries that we don't grow in our work skills. Computers technologies have really streamlined so much paperwork’s and finances that it needs less headcounts to do these jobs. I just hope we are ahead of the game in business so other countries can not so easily take over if something was to happen.

I could be wrong but was thinking that if we purchase or work for something that helps our community, we would be "feeding" our resources rather than feeding the resources outside of the community and therefore depend on them.

But other countries are making it more cheaper in the financial aspect that this makes it a tough challenge.

[cschin4]

I also go out of my way to buy stuff at Walmart. I think all the Walmart bashing is ridiculous.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by cschin4

I think all the Walmart bashing is ridiculous.

I agree with you. I think Wal-Mart does the same things that dozens of other businesses do. We just hear about it more because Wal-Mart is so big.

[lrjohnson]

Originally Posted by disneysteve

I think Wal-Mart does the same things that dozens of other businesses do. We just hear about it more because Wal-Mart is so big.

Just an aside, some folks who choose to never go to Walmart also avoid other big chains.

I am trying to expand using my wallet as a method of social change. It's one thing I'm thinking of spending more on post challenge. I'd like to look more at who makes my clothes. Buying used helps, but I'd like to buy to buy my new with an eye to making sure the people who made the clothes got a decent wage with decent working conditions. I don't know yet who those manufacturers would be.

I do specifically choose to not go to certain stores for certain reasons; either joining a boycott or my own mini-boycott. Lots of us on SA have very different views; no real need for me to say why, or what businesses, just saying I do try to align spending with belief.

[shengmei]

I try to enjoy my material possessions. I only buy products that I can be proud of if I was seen with them. I would not buy something I would be ashamed of if I was found out. I would never buy something that is counterfeited or made with slave labor. For example, I hate those fake designer bags manufactured in China. Every week a Chinese worker dies from exhaustion manufacturing those bags.

Strangely enough though, even though I am an avid environmentalist, I would never buy something that claims to be GMO-free. As a plant geneticist, I actually wholeheartedly believe that GMOs are the more ethical choice.