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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😬.

Norah Mon 10-Jul-23 13:16:42

Chardy ^I've had both a bank and a building society 'interrogate' me about money on more than a couple of occasions over the years. When they apologise I say the same thing, that I'm grateful they're protecting my money.
More recently, I assume there are money laundering protections to be observed.^

Happens often. I do money for my husband's business. I think the bank is attempting to keep husband's business safe - that's us happy.

HousePlantQueen Mon 10-Jul-23 12:31:38

I like to think I have principles which guide my behaviour; like others I do not buy any Dutch or Danish dairy products, we are vegetarian, use eco cleaning and laundry products, no pesticides in the garden. I boycotted Tesco for years too, and BHS as I loathed Phillip Green. No Nestle products, nothing with palm oil. But; we do fly, sometimes twice a year, and I use Amazon because they are very convenient and efficient.

It is very hard to balance

Oreo Mon 10-Jul-23 12:25:05

Witzend

Not enough to avoid Amazon altogether. Or flying.

I never buy any Danish, Dutch or German pork or bacon - it’s mostly factory farmed - U.K. raised higher-welfare only, which usually means M&S or Waitrose. Not that we eat much of either.
Free range eggs and chicken only.
But we eat a lot less meat than we used to.

I never buy Danish butter (Lurpak) - factory farming again. Or any other but U.K. origin - I like to support our own farmers.

I try to buy seasonal, U.K. grown fruit and veg as far as poss - obviously not e.g. citrus or bananas, and we only ever buy strawberries when they’re in season here - but the season is quite long nowadays. But I will confess to the odd pack of e.g. imported mange tout or sugar snap peas.

About the same for me too.
I buy British whenever I can and try and avoid anything made in China.

paddyann54 Mon 10-Jul-23 12:12:17

I've boycotted lots of things over the years ,the longest and still ongoing is all produce from Israel ,It just wont cross my doorstep.I march with a pro Palestine group and we have a number of Jewish members who march with us ...so we are NOT anti semitic , JUST.anti Israeli policy and pro Palestine rights to live in homes they've been in for centuries without the fear of being evicted so illegal Jewish homes can be built on the land.

Where business was concerned we did do jobs for people or even causes we didn't agree with..but with 16 people/families employed who needed paying every month sometimes there was not a lot of choice .We were in business 45 years sometimes principles certainly went out the window in favour of wages

biglouis Mon 10-Jul-23 11:38:29

I was once interrogated in transferring a measly 1000 euros to a German bank to pay for some auction goods. This was a few years back while we were still in the EU. They sent me a string of questions I had to answer, plus I had to supply a copy of the auction house invoice.

Chocolatelovinggran Mon 10-Jul-23 11:38:16

Witzend - well done your bank

Witzend Mon 10-Jul-23 11:29:35

Harris, personally I’d appreciate a bank’s care in this respect. Dh recently had ‘the third degree’ from our bank, when he wanted to transfer a substantial loan to close friends, who were in dire need of a short term bridging loan (moving house).

The bank evidently thought dh was being targeted by scammers. They won’t have noticed that the money was repaid fairly quickly, but it was.

maytime2 Mon 10-Jul-23 08:51:31

I boycotted Tesco for many years because of the way they tied up the sale of the town centre site to prevent any other supermarket from opening in my town. They were opening a new store on the outskirts of town. It did create difficulties, but I was not prepared to give them my custom. Nowadays with so many other supermarkets,Asda/ Aldi/Lidl/Morrisons it does'nt seem so important.

Thorntrees Mon 10-Jul-23 08:51:27

Like others we try as far as possible. Buy British foodstuffs when possible.
We don’t fly and don’t often use the car which is electric( but not sure how ethical that is) .
We do use Amazon as don’t go shopping since covid as we are CEV.
We recycle what we can and compost food waste.
Many years ago we all had to give up sugar as Dad objected on principle to its processing(can’t remember why now)
All we can do is our best and every little helps.

absent Mon 10-Jul-23 08:38:34

I try.

Chocolatelovinggran Mon 10-Jul-23 08:21:19

I share the ambivalence of many posters here. I am a vegetarian and careful about what I purchase - eco friendly washing up liquid etc, and don't shop with Amazon. However, I do get on a plane fairly regularly ( friends and family abroad and holidays) and when I discovered that a much loved and discontinued product was still available on er... A##### I asked a daughter to order it for me on her account. Mea Culpa.

Chardy Sun 09-Jul-23 22:14:08

Harris27

I used to bank with Halifax and one day I went in to withdraw some money. It was just to tide us over from our savings to our other bank account whilst hubby changed jobs. I was interrogated and made to feel awkward when asked why I was moving my money and what it was for? I immediately with drew all my money the next day and opened a new savings account with a different building society.

I've had both a bank and a building society 'interrogate' me about money on more than a couple of occasions over the years. When they apologise I say the same thing, that I'm grateful they're protecting my money.
More recently, I assume there are money laundering protections to be observed.

Harris27 Sun 09-Jul-23 21:54:02

I used to bank with Halifax and one day I went in to withdraw some money. It was just to tide us over from our savings to our other bank account whilst hubby changed jobs. I was interrogated and made to feel awkward when asked why I was moving my money and what it was for? I immediately with drew all my money the next day and opened a new savings account with a different building society.

Shinamae Sun 09-Jul-23 21:47:22

The only thing I really boycott now is Heinz products after their ridiculously greedy price rises
My friend, however, is much more principled than I am. She will not shop in Boots or on Amazon….

Norah Sun 09-Jul-23 21:41:37

maddyone I’m quite principled about the things that matter to me. I didn’t buy anything from South Africa for years because of apartheid. I only ever buy free range eggs. I only buy British meat because of our better welfare standards. I recycle whatever I can and I try not to waste food, or anything else really.

However I fly reasonably often including to New Zealand to visit our daughter. I’ve ordered a new car and it’s a petrol car. I would never join a Just Stop Oil group.

So swings and roundabouts I suppose.

I could write the same, even as vegans we buy animal products for the people who are always round eating! We're careful to foods purchased - local, sustainable, organic, ethically raised. And no waste.

We prefer to go to Europe through the tunnel, eco friendly - no ferry boat emissions. However, apart from Europe, we obviously fly. We check for full flights, as possible, all we can do as frequent air travelers.

We order from Amazon quite often, but I suppose that keeps our cars off the roads and us buying fewer unnecessary items.

Swings and roundabouts. Best we can do, I suppose.

Callistemon21 Sun 09-Jul-23 20:47:29

I’m unsympathetic to Just Stop Oil

Dr Grahame Buss, Leading member of Just Stop Oil is revealed to be sitting on an estimated £1million pension pot from.. Big Oil Company.. Shell

Should he forfeit his pension?

twitter.com/ClimateRealists/status/1677913648436506628

Callistemon21 Sun 09-Jul-23 20:43:42

Flowers - buy British grown flowers!

lixy Sun 09-Jul-23 20:37:39

I try to buy British produced food. It is getting harder and harder to buy other things that are UK produced, so I don't buy much in the way of 'things'.
We work hard to use eco-friendly cleaning products.
But I do drive an elderly petrol car and we do fly at least twice a year.

I did march against the Iraq war and protested outside Downing Street about Boris not asking the Queen if he could prorogue parliament. I always vote in local and national elections.

On balance, not very principled it seems!

Iam64 Sun 09-Jul-23 20:20:06

Like Anniebach and others, I boycotted South African goods during the apartheid years and made that clear to the supermarket
I’ve only bought local free range eggs and chicken for years. I buy meat from the butcher who knows how it’s bern reared. I don’t buy farmed fish.
I’m unsympathetic to Just Stop Oil. Maybe my protest mojo is diminishing

maddyone Sun 09-Jul-23 20:08:11

I’m quite principled about the things that matter to me. I didn’t buy anything from South Africa for years because of apartheid. I only ever buy free range eggs. I only buy British meat because of our better welfare standards. I recycle whatever I can and I try not to waste food, or anything else really. I buy my paracetamol although I use a lot because of the neuralgia in my hand, rather than request it on prescription. I don’t lie and I try to be straight forward with people.
However I fly reasonably often including to New Zealand to visit our daughter. I’ve ordered a new car and it’s a petrol car. I would never join a Just Stop Oil group.
So swings and roundabouts I suppose.

Chardy Sun 09-Jul-23 19:48:29

I think I've bought 3 Dysons over the years, and I really liked them, but last new one was a Shark.
I forgot free range eggs only, and I avoid companies that I know donate to Tories eg Warburtons. We don't eat meat or fish so no conflict there.

Callistemon21 Sun 09-Jul-23 17:04:03

Chardy

Yes anniebach to SA boycott/Barclays Bank in 60s and 70s.
Next used to be my favourite shop, and I loved my Dyson, but after their CEOs' behaviour re Brexit (promoted it but seemed to want special treatment for their companies) and apparent lack of concern for their employees, I decided I didn't want my money contributing to their bonuses.

I'd already bought Dysons and I'm not going to get rid of them on principle but I might because the rechargeable ones are less than satisfactory!

Chardy Sun 09-Jul-23 16:32:42

Yes anniebach to SA boycott/Barclays Bank in 60s and 70s.
Next used to be my favourite shop, and I loved my Dyson, but after their CEOs' behaviour re Brexit (promoted it but seemed to want special treatment for their companies) and apparent lack of concern for their employees, I decided I didn't want my money contributing to their bonuses.

dogsmother Sun 09-Jul-23 16:32:09

Hm this is interesting.
Im as principled as I feel I can afford to be but I’m also quite tight. Or perhaps careful with my funds.

Aveline Sun 09-Jul-23 16:29:32

I have resigned on several occasions in points of principle. I was sorry to have to do this each time but I did not want to associated in any way with plans they had for actions I felt were wrong or unethical. I'm a real pain in the neck!