Gransnet forums

Chat

How principled are you?

(95 Posts)
Sago Sun 09-Jul-23 11:52:36

I used to be so principled, I boycotted Tesco for 20+ years due to their sending all their profits out to the BVI and the detrimental effect they had on the local economy.
I would not purchase Nestle products as they were promoting formula milk in third world countries and so it goes on.

This morning to my fury I read that Jeremy Hunt was refused a Monzo account because of his politics.
I immediately went to my account to transfer all the funds to another account, I then remembered our trip across Spain next month and the reason I opened the account in the first place!

I’m sorry Jeremy but if I’m still angry in September I will close it then😬.

Saggi Mon 10-Jul-23 19:10:03

If you get principled about third world countries and cheap clothes and baby milk and apples and beans and how everything was oh so much better in the past ….which it Defo wasn’t you’d never eat and go naked!

B9exchange Mon 10-Jul-23 19:04:05

In some ways I am principled, I won't use WhatsApp or any other Meta product because I loathe Mark Zuckerberg and everything he stands for, but it does make life difficult, I am seen as a pain by other group members. As a family we use Signal instead, but I can't expect everyone to change.

I buy free range eggs, and check where meat comes from, but I don't hesitate to fly to visit family. And electric cars are far too expensive for us. Nor would I get a heat pump, we are not expecting to be around long enough for it to pay for itself!

taurusmmukpp Mon 10-Jul-23 19:03:30

I was only 10 years old when the SA boycott was on and I felt sorry for the local workers and so carried on buying their apples. I obviously didn’t understand the politics at the time.

Shizam Mon 10-Jul-23 18:46:46

I refused to have Sky TV in the house in protest at Murdoch. Still haven’t got it. Not sure Murdoch cares, though 😳

Norah Mon 10-Jul-23 18:42:58

Amazon is fine for those who would have to otherwise drive about as we would.

Another example, Birkenstock £223.80 delivered.

Norah Mon 10-Jul-23 18:26:36

M0nica

There is no need to buy from Amazon, although there site does make a good directory, especially for books. Everything they sell can be bought elsewhere.

I buy books from Waterstones, having first checked the bibliographic details on Amazon, and almst everything else can be bought, either direct from the supplier or on ebay and similar sites.

I find it convenient, use the car less. I needed Rose Harissa, ordered yesterday, will arrive tomorrow. Sorted for £4.50 ebay was £13.87.

We don't use ebay, but opinions vary as to selling sites.

M0nica Mon 10-Jul-23 18:08:55

There is no need to buy from Amazon, although there site does make a good directory, especially for books. Everything they sell can be bought elsewhere.

I buy books from Waterstones, having first checked the bibliographic details on Amazon, and almst everything else can be bought, either direct from the supplier or on ebay and similar sites.

jocork Mon 10-Jul-23 17:55:56

I've avoided Nestle products for the same reason as the OP and avoid Barclays because of their investments. I also avoided a local store as I knew that the owner's son was working there while claiming benefits. I did consider dropping them in it but didn't want the drama as his wife was a colleague, though we didn't get on anyway. In the end he joined the police force which makes me very suspicious about the honesty of our boys in blue! Not surprised at all by some recent revelations though there are good police officers clearly there are plenty bad apples too!
I try to be principled but I guess if we boycotted every dodgy business we would have nowhere to buy things or to get services. We can only try to work out who we trust as best we can.

Gundy Mon 10-Jul-23 17:25:45

I boycotted my city’s largest department store chain (Boston Store) for 30 yrs when they messed with me over a credit transaction once - closed the account and never stepped into their stores (all over the city) all those years, till….

….my second favorite (nationwide) chain - Marshall Field’s - where I moved my shopping to, got bought out by Macy’s!!! Of all things.

I mourned the closing of iconic Field’s and every time I saw Macy’s red star logo - all I could think of was ā€œyou communists!ā€ Hah

Now shopping Von Maur!
USA Gundy

Callistemon21 Mon 10-Jul-23 17:05:10

Interesting!

Callistemon21 Mon 10-Jul-23 17:04:58

Interest, thank you.

I try to buy British bacon.

Many "British" products are made in China now.

Milest0ne Mon 10-Jul-23 17:00:25

Reading Witzend's post, There is a Danish company setting up a bacon factory in Lancashire using imported Danish pork when a lot of British pig farmers are going out of business. The company is intending to sell the bacon as British. Sneaky.
I try to avoid buying anything made in China. Very difficult.

Nan0 Mon 10-Jul-23 16:49:10

Excellent, Me too

Skye17 Mon 10-Jul-23 16:23:30

I am fairly principled.

- I did boycott South African produce
- I don’t buy factory farmed meat or farmed fish, and only buy free range eggs
- I avoid palm oil
- No NestlƩ products
- No pesticides
- I don’t give money to medical charities that fund research on animals
- I have stopped giving money to Amnesty International because they now promote abortion
- I haven’t flown since the mid-1990s
- I mainly buy eco-friendly cleaning products. I’m hot on recycling too

However, I do use Amazon blush I don’t like the way they treat their staff, but they are just so useful.

As a temp secretary, I once refused to do some work that involved a battery chicken farm. The manager where I was working was very nice about it. Perhaps I reminded him of his daughter smile

Nanatoone Mon 10-Jul-23 16:21:12

I’m similar to most here and tries not to buy from A….. but lockdown changed everything for me in relation to that. I feel bad that I don’t go to the shops much but can’t complain when they close because my business has gone elsewhere. Two sides to every coin I guess. By the way, saying that you would willingly assassinate our prime minister is very low as far as I’m concerned. A terrible thing to say.

Danma Mon 10-Jul-23 15:46:18

Oh I’m very principled šŸ˜‡

It’s just that I don’t always act on them šŸ™„šŸ˜‰šŸ˜Š

LovesBach Mon 10-Jul-23 15:42:25

I won't fly again, a nod to my GC's future, but feel a hypocrite because we run two cars. (We do need them because of the dearth of transport in the area) I buy food from Waitrose because of their animal welfare policy, and try hard to recycle and not buy new. There must be many areas where we both fall down badly, but we consider the things we do, and attempt to do the right thing.

grandMattie Mon 10-Jul-23 15:11:58

Oh, yes. And Nestle products too.
Nothing from Amazon…

grandMattie Mon 10-Jul-23 15:11:03

Yes, I am principled.
Sadly, I can’t change my bank because I get DH’s pension from it; he was their employee before it got taken over….
I try very hard to buy local or British foodstuffs that we can produce - apples, strawberries, etc.
I will not buy French wine (or apples, rarely cheese) as they are so vindictive towards us.
I try to get clothes ethically produced if I can afford them, but in any case buy very few.

sazz1 Mon 10-Jul-23 15:01:52

I won't buy anything from Beneton (new or second hand) as I didn't like their adverts years ago. Don't know if they are even still around

Redhead56 Mon 10-Jul-23 14:47:58

I am very stubborn this makes me stick to my principles about issues. A lot of which have already been mentioned by other posters.

Metra Mon 10-Jul-23 14:44:29

I try to be principled but am far from perfect. I haven't flown since I became aware of the environmental impact 12 years ago. I have downsized to a 7 year old city car (can't afford electric) and use it as little as possible, have become vegetarian, try to buy locally produced food (but often fail), have converted a small lawn to wildflowers, put several shrubs and small trees in my garden together with a pond. You will gather that I am terrified of the effects of climate change on future generations world wide and am trying to 'do my bit'. And no, I am not 'holier than thou' and normally keep my opinions to myself.
By the way Nigel Farage had his account closed because he didn't have enough money in it, not because of his politics.

Damdee Mon 10-Jul-23 14:22:06

I still never buy Nestle products for the same reason as the op.

Willjac123 Mon 10-Jul-23 14:00:00

Me, too, shinamae.
Refuse to buy any more Heinz products as they're the king of the greedy, profiteering food manufacturers

M0nica Mon 10-Jul-23 13:22:35

I am another who is principled over farm animal meat issues. I only buy Pasture for life beef, and if possible, lamb. This means organic plus. The same for chicken. When I eat out, even sandwiches, I eat vegetarian or fish, not meat.

Amazon, only books for my Kindle, and that rarely, otherwise I do not use it for anything. I have just taken my first flight in about 10 years - and that was only Gatwick to Inverness and back.

I am another who has no time for demonstration groups like Extinction Rebellion etc. I have far more respect for a cousin with profound religious beliefs, who has used his lifetime savings to heavily insulate his house, install a large area of solar panels on his house, fit a heat pump to heat his house and sell his car in order to reduce his carbon foot[rint to as low a figure as possible.