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Today was my last day to buy anything from China. I'm planning a baby shower for my girlfriend and I wanted to get a few things, like invitations and a few items for the party. Glad I did, everything was "Made In China." That shopping trip is making me realize that maybe I didn't pick a difficult New Years Resolution, maybe I made an impossible resolution.
I have a sudden urge to go shopping and stock up on items from China, but that would defeat the purpose of this experiment, I will just have to see how I do over the next 52 weeks.
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Saturday, December 27, 2008
Can I live in America without China?
I would love to try not buying anything from China for a year, heck I would love to buy only Made In America but I don't think that is possible, there is simply not enough items made here. I know that my husband will not participate and I will buy my daughter toys, it wouldn't be practical, but maybe I could just not buy Chinese stuff for me.
As I look at my married man's lingerie and I check the labels, Ed Hardy shirt - Made In USA, Juicy pants - Made In Glamorous USA (awesome! 2 out of 3 so far) and my Australian Uggs, well that's a no brainer, right? They must be made in Australia - I check the label and there it was...... Made In China.
I'm not happy about my boots but it's my own fault for assuming where they were made, I'm not going to check all the labels in my closet, if I'm going to remove them what's the point? Maybe now I'll check the labels even if I think I know where they are made.
Okay, so here is my plan, try to buy American made products when possible even if it has Chinese parts. (If it's assembled here at least Americans are employed) If I can't find it with Made In USA then I will buy it from any other country but China. And let's see how long I can make it, the family in the book went a full year and that is what my goal will be.
But what if I need a new cell phone? A new DVD player? Does any other country make those things?
As I look at my married man's lingerie and I check the labels, Ed Hardy shirt - Made In USA, Juicy pants - Made In Glamorous USA (awesome! 2 out of 3 so far) and my Australian Uggs, well that's a no brainer, right? They must be made in Australia - I check the label and there it was...... Made In China.
I'm not happy about my boots but it's my own fault for assuming where they were made, I'm not going to check all the labels in my closet, if I'm going to remove them what's the point? Maybe now I'll check the labels even if I think I know where they are made.
Okay, so here is my plan, try to buy American made products when possible even if it has Chinese parts. (If it's assembled here at least Americans are employed) If I can't find it with Made In USA then I will buy it from any other country but China. And let's see how long I can make it, the family in the book went a full year and that is what my goal will be.
But what if I need a new cell phone? A new DVD player? Does any other country make those things?
Finshed the book
I finished the book this afternoon and it was what I expected, a big challenge for the family. But could I live without Made In China?
In the book, Sara, did not buy anything new from China but anything currently in the home could stay, Chinese made gifts were accepted and for the most items long as it was assembled in the US with Chinese parts were okay- as a last resort. That doesn't seem too hard, right?
Could I really not buy anything from China for a year?Do I have that type of discipline?
In the book, Sara, did not buy anything new from China but anything currently in the home could stay, Chinese made gifts were accepted and for the most items long as it was assembled in the US with Chinese parts were okay- as a last resort. That doesn't seem too hard, right?
Could I really not buy anything from China for a year?Do I have that type of discipline?
What have I done?
Oh my, what have I done? I asked my mom for the book "A Year Without 'Made In China'" for Christmas and to be honest I am worried about reading it, what if this book inspires me not buy anything from China? How could we live in America without China? I have a one year old with lots of new plastic toys and I don't want to see the label, I know where they are from.
As long as I can remember I have always checked the label of items hoping for Made In The USA but most of the time I am disappointed or maybe that is why I get so excited when something is American made, because it seems so rare.
With the economy falling, American factories closings, thousands of unemployed, our bank accounts depleting, our retirement fund now empty, I can't help but wonder what if, just maybe, if more things were made in the USA would it be different? China is growing, their market is fine, and in my opinion they will as long as they have Americans depending on them.
Please know that I'm not against China and this has nothing to do with the trade markets - I don't even understand how that all works - I want to see as I read my new book if I could do the same as Sara Bongiorni and her family or not? Only time will tell.............
As long as I can remember I have always checked the label of items hoping for Made In The USA but most of the time I am disappointed or maybe that is why I get so excited when something is American made, because it seems so rare.
With the economy falling, American factories closings, thousands of unemployed, our bank accounts depleting, our retirement fund now empty, I can't help but wonder what if, just maybe, if more things were made in the USA would it be different? China is growing, their market is fine, and in my opinion they will as long as they have Americans depending on them.
Please know that I'm not against China and this has nothing to do with the trade markets - I don't even understand how that all works - I want to see as I read my new book if I could do the same as Sara Bongiorni and her family or not? Only time will tell.............
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