Simple Shopping

 Shopping 

“We used to build civilizations.  Now we build shopping malls.” 

~Bill Bryson 

Even the Amish, who for most of us are fine examples of simple and self-sufficient living, have to visit the shops. Even with a better growing climate than the one I (and I suspect most of you) am used to, it is almost impossible to produce either the variety of foods you want to eat or be able to ensure supplies all the year round. Sometimes you just can’t produce all the food that even the simplest of families need to use. Accepting that you do need to shop, where do you do it?  At the local farmers market?  In the small independent store?  At the supermarket? Unless you are in possession of a very good income, the cost of what you buy will have an effect on where and how you shop. It may be that you can support the local retailers and provide their business with the support they need, but if you cannot afford to use them for all your needs, then chances are you will need to shop at a supermarket, either regularly or at least occasionally. I’m not suggesting for one moment that you shouldn’t do all you can to support good local traders where you can, I’m just pointing out that if you have a large number of people to look after on a restricted budget, then looking after your family will become a priority. 

Next comes the problem of how to shop ethically while using the supermarket; this can be addressed easily if you have some choice.  However, if you live in a rural community it becomes more difficult. The following points may help. 

• Avoid supermarkets and other stores that make contributions to political parties, or other causes that you are opposed to
• Stick to your own code of ethics when shopping, be it organic, vegetarian, vegan, free range, fair-trade, kosher or whatever you have decided.  Only buy from such choices and hold fast to it
• Avoid products of those manufacturers with a poor record of environmental care, treatment of workers, exploitation, or those who contribute to causes you despise
• Avoid products that have been shipped around the world when a perfectly good alternative is available from closer to home
• Avoid all products that are over-packaged or packed in a way that makes recycling impossible
• When it comes to fresh produce, choose loose (usually cheaper) produce over that which is pre-packed
• Do not buy goods that are exported from countries whose governments promote ideas that are an affront to human decency; leave them to rot on the shelves! 
• As far as possible, research that the products you buy are ethically sourced and that you are not contributing to the suffering of other people, animals or environments, just to get the goods you want

Looking at this list, you will instantly spot that it is not always the cheapest product that will find its way into your shopping basket and it could well be that some products just stay on the shelf. That is good because all chain retail outlets spend vast amounts of money on researching what customers want, and if enough of us reject the unethical items they will eventually be replaced. If products or procedures in stores are presenting an issue for you, then get busy writing letters and emails to challenge them; if you say nothing, then nothing will be done. 

Farmers Markets 

Farmers markets are sometimes the best option for buying fresh produce at a reasonable cost and may provide an alternative to supermarket produce. It will depend very much on where you live as whether or not you have access to a quality farmers market.  Provision can often be poor in the heart of the countryside or in inner cities, but if you can find markets where towns border onto country areas, they will often be thriving. Don’t assume that all you find in a farmers' market has been grown by the person selling it to you and don’t assume that the goods are all organic; you need to ask questions. If you are not close to a farmers' market, you may have access to a fruit and vegetable box delivery service. These are generally marked up as organic and, as long as you make your needs known, can be an excellent source of supply. 

Buying Online 

Again, in an ideal world, all of us would be shopping in the high street of our local town, keeping family businesses afloat, but how many of us can afford to do this for all our needs? Shopping online can provide you with access to those unusual things that are hard to find locally and in turn, ensure that many people can find a livelihood as online sellers. If you live far out of town then you may well need to use online suppliers to provide you with specialist ingredients and products that you just can’t source from closer to home. The environmental benefits of finding something online instead of travelling from town to town looking for it should not be ignored, and nor should the saving of time.  Don’t forget that one needs to shop ethically online just as much as when one walks into a shop; don’t be afraid to ask questions about any ethical issues before you make your purchase.  

Coupons, Offers and Deals 

Making ends meet is a problem for many of us, so the occasional offer to get things at a lower price is worth noting. However, it is easy to get carried away and to spend too much time hunting for offers and then overspend as a result. Self-restraint and common sense are needed; I follow these guidelines. 

• Only use coupons for products that you would normally buy anyway; don’t be tempted to buy something that you don’t need
• Never buy more fresh produce than you can use or have time to process
• Don’t let deals, coupons or offers lure you away from those ethical guidelines that your family live by
• Never stock up on things that you have not got the storage space for
• Never get into debt to take advantage of a deal; if you haven’t got the cash you have to let it go! 
• If you are opposed to gambling, then consider carefully whether entering some competition or other by buying a product is not compromising your position. 

Buying in Bulk 

If you have enough room and safe storage, then you can buy food in bulk. Shopping around will help you find much cheaper food, especially with dry goods like flour, oils, and lentils. Buying in this way does have its drawbacks, in that the food may not be used up before it spoils – wasting food is never acceptable for the consumer who is trying to live simply or environmentally carefully. You might find that if you live close to others who have similar needs and you get along well, you can buy food in bulk and split it. This might even develop into a full co-operative where you buy in bulk, split and sell to friends and neighbours in a way that covers costs but does not make a profit. You need to think carefully before embarking on this kind of action, and it is best to start with just a few items.  For instance, if you can find ten families who all make their own bread, then buying direct from the flour mill will bring down the cost of your home-produced loaves.  

(C) Ray Lovegrove 2016 2022