Moral obligation to spend

M

Mexboroseasider

Well-known member
I suppose like, many others, one noticeable effect of the past few months is that I’ve been spending much less on meals and nights out (quite easy really when everywhere is closed). I’m also of the generation when we were told it was morally virtuous not to run up debt and spend money we didn’t have; to save up for a rainy day like that industrious squirrel that collected nuts all summer versus the cricket that spent all its time singing and having fun - and then came the winter!!!!

Anyway I only ask because there seems to be a growing theme and message being pumped out that it’s our patriotic duty as consumers to get out and SPEND!!! And save the economy.

Is that right? Or was everything I was told as a kid BS?
 
We ate out 3 times last week in places that had re-opened that we wanted to support. Twice we sat outside and the other place has always been pretty well spaced (lots of little rooms with just a couple of tables at most in each) so didn't feel uncomfortable. There are certain places we will struggle to feel comfortable in so probably won't visit.

I do feel a responsibility to support some of the good, independent businesses but not the chains and multi-nationals.
 
Saw a headline recently that said household savings in the EU are at record highs due to people not having had anything to spend their money on.

If businesses can alter their premises to comply with social distance then they could have a decent number of customers.

Easier done in warmer climates but maybe those outdoor heaters will save the day in the colder months.
 
Yep I was always told to save and I'm definitely a saver. The last recession was caused by bad debt and as a country we had too much personal debt. It appears that's what actually keeps this country going. Get in debt, keep on grafting till you drop.
 
I posted a few weeks back that I'd made a decision to stop using Amazon for a while. So far I've stuck to it. Nothing against Amazon but I'm trying support smaller independent retailers, local if possible, even if it costs a bit more. I'm still ordering things online but I'm being careful who I order from, and avoiding the bigger chains and multi nationals. But whenever I can I'm actually forcing myself to go out to a shop and buy. I know it's a drop in the ocean but every little bit helps.
 
RUSTY_2_STANDS said:
I posted a few weeks back that I'd made a decision to stop using Amazon for a while. So far I've stuck to it. Nothing against Amazon but I'm trying support smaller independent retailers, local if possible, even if it costs a bit more. I'm still ordering things online but I'm being careful who I order from, and avoiding the bigger chains and multi nationals. But whenever I can I'm actually forcing myself to go out to a shop and buy. I know it's a drop in the ocean but every little bit helps.
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Good on yer Rusty. I'm with you on the Amazon thing.
 
Had a few fish and chip meals,one from pisces in Fleetwood and one today from Wheelans in Lytham,I wont be going back,they were terrible and the service abysmal. Mrs wanted a notriannis on way back today,only small or large available,went for a large in cone and flake. Cone was stale and flake too,another off the list in future. Is everyone selling out of date stuff,thank god I dont go in pubs.
 
I think a lot of people have taken the 3 month mortgage break to help out during this testing period. A lot of furloughed households will have seen a drop in wages but a mortgage break along with no restaurants, pubs, big nights out or holidays would suggest that more people than ever will have extra cash to spend.

I was made redundant in April so have had to be very careful but my food shopping bill has tripled!
 
todayistheday said:
Had a few fish and chip meals,one from pisces in Fleetwood and one today from Wheelans in Lytham,I wont be going back,they were terrible and the service abysmal. Mrs wanted a notriannis on way back today,only small or large available,went for a large in cone and flake. Cone was stale and flake too,another off the list in future. Is everyone selling out of date stuff,thank god I dont go in pubs.
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Pisces is normally good, food and service.
 
If spending your money boosts the economy and saves jobs then you wont have to spend on extra tax to support the unemployed.
 
As I understand it, what is being proposed here presents people with a moral obligation to consume.

It only has a limited impact - by redistributing wealth - if not accompanied by a corresponding rise in investment.

People shouldn't be under any illusions. It is a highly unorthodox way of stimulating economic activity to counter a fall off in more orthodox examples. Think sticking plaster and gaping wound, and your expectations of its value won't be too high.
 
basilrobbie said:
As I understand it, what is being proposed here presents people with a moral obligation to consume.

It only has a limited impact - by redistributing wealth - if not accompanied by a corresponding rise in investment.

People shouldn't be under any illusions. It is a highly unorthodox way of stimulating economic activity to counter a fall off in more orthodox examples. Think sticking plaster and gaping wound, and your expectations of its value won't be too high.
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Well; yes; but...

There is an argument that our economy has been based largely on consumer spending for quite some time.

So if the sticking plaster had worked for a number of years.....?
 
Can't see the belated decision to make masks compulsory in shops is going to help the planned economic rival

It will put many off and drive more traffic to amazon et al
 
Mexboroseasider said:
Well; yes; but...

There is an argument that our economy has been based largely on consumer spending for quite some time.

So if the sticking plaster had worked for a number of years.....?
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Has it worked? We have a low-skilled, low productivity economy that has suffered from decades of under-investment.
 
basilrobbie said:
Has it worked? We have a low-skilled, low productivity economy that has suffered from decades of under-investment.
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Well it’s worked in the sense that it’s allowed your lot to secure an 80 seat majority.

So we can have more of the policies that don’t work... odd situation eh?
 
basilrobbie said:
Has it worked? We have a low-skilled, low productivity economy that has suffered from decades of under-investment.
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Are you on ** drugs? Probably your worst post ever. We do not have a low skilled economy. The economy is propped up by highly skilled employees - thousands in financial type roles, thousands in high end engineering roles, thousands in the IT industry, thousands of skilled roles in Europes largest employer the NHS etc etc etc

Obviously we have low skilled work as well like cleaners, shop workers, lawyers, and civil servants but every economy type alwsys needs someone to do the crappy jobs
 
Ragnarok said:
Are you on ** drugs? Probably your worst post ever. We do not have a low skilled economy. The economy is propped up by highly skilled employees - thousands in financial type roles, thousands in high end engineering roles, thousands in the IT industry, thousands of skilled roles in Europes largest employer the NHS etc etc etc

Obviously we have low skilled work as well like cleaners, shop workers, lawyers, and civil servants but every economy type alwsys needs someone to do the crappy jobs
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We have the lowest skills level of any of the major European nations. ONS data is the source.

Over 2 million on zero hours contracts for starters.
 
There is no obligation moral or otherwise. Nobody has a gun to anyone’s head. Spend if you want don’t if you don’t want to!
 
Wizaard said:
We have the lowest skills level of any of the major European nations. ONS data is the source.

Over 2 million on zero hours contracts for starters.
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I think you should tell it to the man who thinks we are headed for a watery Armageddon. 😀
 
Ragnarok said:
Are you on ** drugs? Probably your worst post ever. We do not have a low skilled economy. The economy is propped up by highly skilled employees - thousands in financial type roles, thousands in high end engineering roles, thousands in the IT industry, thousands of skilled roles in Europes largest employer the NHS etc etc etc

Obviously we have low skilled work as well like cleaners, shop workers, lawyers, and civil servants but every economy type alwsys needs someone to do the crappy jobs
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More nonsense. Uk productivity has virtually flatlined in the last 10 years.
 
Ragnarok said:
I didn't mention productivity, I mentioned skills
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Skills have no inherent economic value unless you use them to create something. And we have had a real problem with that for decades now.

As for your thousands of high-skilled workers in the NHS - I agree. It's just a pity that so many of them are from India, South Africa, Canada etc.....
 
Yes. 100%. Our economy needs a lot of retail spending. Thanks to the Chinese this virus is with us for a long time so get out there and spend spend spend. Just avoid buying Chinese goods like me. Nothing wrong with a nice Chinese meal though !
 
Splashed out last night on 9 pieces of KFC for £6 on Talbot Rd.🙂
It was very good, don't use the crappy one in Cleveleys chicken always overcooked and chips lukewarm.
 
Mexboroseasider said:
I suppose like, many others, one noticeable effect of the past few months is that I’ve been spending much less on meals and nights out (quite easy really when everywhere is closed). I’m also of the generation when we were told it was morally virtuous not to run up debt and spend money we didn’t have; to save up for a rainy day like that industrious squirrel that collected nuts all summer versus the cricket that spent all its time singing and having fun - and then came the winter!!!!

Anyway I only ask because there seems to be a growing theme and message being pumped out that it’s our patriotic duty as consumers to get out and SPEND!!! And save the economy.

Is that right? Or was everything I was told as a kid BS?
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Mex, you have a moral obligation to come up to Poulton and spend some money on pints for your mates.
 
The dining out offer coincides with a weekend in London for me mid August so will be nice to eat out at half the cost 👍
 
TwelveAngryMen said:
Can't see the belated decision to make masks compulsory in shops is going to help the planned economic rival

It will put many off and drive more traffic to amazon et al
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Just to play devil's advocate - it might make equally make people more confident to go out. Talking to my sister t'other night and she said "I hate going out in my mask and when other people aren't wearing them, what's the point?" - she'd switched to doing home delivery as when she goes to town (Stranraer, poor soul) she felt really anxious cos hardly anyone wearing masks.

She was wishing everyone wore one then she wouldn't feel 'weird' or awkward about it.

Whereas I don't care at all what anyone thinks but I've always had that streak. My Membranes face mask is rather dashing. Also you can see less of me so that helps.

I might spout on on here but my sister is probably the most apolitical being known to humanity. Probably as a result of listening to me lol. She's a good barometer of 'public opinion' as opposed to 'weird people on internet forums who have agendas and that!'
 
Lala said:
The dining out offer coincides with a weekend in London for me mid August so will be nice to eat out at half the cost 👍
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Just remember it is a maximum of £10 per head discount* Lala before you book for dinner at the Savoy.

* plus 15% reduction in vat (if that is passed on to the customer)
 
Tangerinenick said:
Yes. 100%. Our economy needs a lot of retail spending. Thanks to the Chinese this virus is with us for a long time so get out there and spend spend spend. Just avoid buying Chinese goods like me. Nothing wrong with a nice Chinese meal though !
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I didn't know you're a Chinese good Nick. In that case, I'm leaving you on the shelf, sonny!
 
td53 said:
Just to play devil's advocate - it might make equally make people more confident to go out. Talking to my sister t'other night and she said "I hate going out in my mask and when other people aren't wearing them, what's the point?" - she'd switched to doing home delivery as when she goes to town (Stranraer, poor soul) she felt really anxious cos hardly anyone wearing masks.

She was wishing everyone wore one then she wouldn't feel 'weird' or awkward about it.

Whereas I don't care at all what anyone thinks but I've always had that streak. My Membranes face mask is rather dashing. Also you can see less of me so that helps.

I might spout on on here but my sister is probably the most apolitical being known to humanity. Probably as a result of listening to me lol. She's a good barometer of 'public opinion' as opposed to 'weird people on internet forums who have agendas and that!'
[/QUOTE
I ticked off Stranraer's ground back in August 1992. I thought you were about say that your sister was anxious because there was nobody else there!
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66, she lives in the middle of nowhere. She goes on about Stranraer like it's New York...
 
Mexboroseasider said:
Hmmm. Let me check my moral compass.

Nope; it’s definitely pointing in a southerly direction.
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A definite right wing display of 'me first' whilst ignoring the needs of the deserving majority. You southerners should consider your moral duty and spend more time in the rest of the country.
 
bollieboy said:
Just remember it is a maximum of £10 per head discount* Lala before you book for dinner at the Savoy.

* plus 15% reduction in vat (if that is passed on to the customer)
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I’ve booked a small Italian near Fleet Street which I’d booked anyway, so really I’ll save 20 quid on 2 which I will probably end up spending towards an open bus tour which I wasn’t going to do, so a different business is benefiting from me instead of the dining venue, but that’s how this thing will roll with the knock on effect I guess.
 
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