Stewardship of Life

For Granted: $10 Jeans and Just Consumption

By Sharron R. Blezard, November 12, 2011

JUST LIVING BLOG

Unless you’ve been on a technology and media fast, you have no doubt read, heard, or seen that several major retailers are planning to begin the Black Friday frenzy early–as early as 10:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving day. Come on! Are we supposed to start calling it Gray Thursday now? I want a good value for my hard-earned money as much as anybody, but I also believe we need to engage our cranial matter to determine whether a bargain touted by retailers is truly in line with our stewardship values and love of our neighbor. When is a bargain really a bargain?

I have not shopped on Black Friday or the day after Christmas for many years. This is a personal decision reflecting my disdain for the over-the-top role of our consumer culture and my aversion to shopping in general, particularly in crowds. In recent years, however, this decision is also motivated by concern over the human rights and justice issues involved–i.e. love of neighbor.

Let’s take that under $10 pair of blue jeans being advertised as an early bird special by one big box retailer. It may be a loss leader, but I also suspect that somebody is paying a high price for those cheap jeans.  Somewhere corners have to be cut; the question is whether those corners are cut in quality of fabric, workmanship, labor rights, or some other area. The jeans are shipped thousands of miles to reach my local big box store, and they are shelved by workers who do not receive a living wage. The ad says quantities are limited and no rain checks are offered. That means the retailer is hoping I’ll come in and buy more than just a $10 pair of jeans. They’re banking that my desire will overrule reason and cause me to spend more money.

Back to the jeans. Not everyone can afford to spend $80-$100 on a pair of fair trade, made in the USA jeans from a company like American Apparel. That is fact. Not everyone is willing to scour resale, thrift shops, e-bay, and yard sales for clothing either. It is also fact that every decision has a trade-off, and the key to a good decision is to make sure you have thought through all possible angles of a purchase first. Here are some of the questions I try to ask:

1. Do I really need this item?
2. Is there a way I can do without it?
3. Can I find the same item or a similar one gently used?
4. If not, can I afford the purchase?
5. If I can afford it, is this purchase a just one in terms of the materials used, the transport involved, and most importantly, the people involved in its production? Also, does the company from which I am about to purchase the item reflect my values?
6. If I answer “no” or “not really” to any part of the previous question, am I willing to wait and revisit my decision/need/want or seek alternatives?

Sounds like a lot of thinking and consideration for a $10 pair of jeans, right? It might even make your head hurt to consider these things. It shouldn’t be so difficult to make a simple purchase, right? For goodness sake, we’re only talking a $10 pair of jeans!

Precisely! And therein lies the problem. Any time that little word “only” creeps into the conversation you better beware a justification in the making. For me, at this point in my life, I wouldn’t buy that pair of jeans anyway. Such a purchase simply isn’t reflective of my value system and the way I understand stewardship. Have I made uninformed consumer purchasing decisions before? Oh, yeah! Will I make poor decisions in the future? It’s quite likely, but I’m sure trying to make sure my consumption aligns with with my beliefs.

I know that as a middle-class citizen of the United States, I am already consuming more than my fair share of the world’s resources without paying my fair share for it. Therefore, I must carefully consider the implications of my purchasing power and what I consume. I buy used whenever possible, and I’m working hard at making local purchases and/or purchasing from suppliers whose business practices are just and sustainable. What I’ve learned is that I can do without a lot of stuff. What I’m also learning is that I don’t miss not having it.

So if shopping on Black Friday is a family tradition for you, don’t let me be a party pooper. Go search out those bargains to your heart’s content. Stay safe, stay warm, and get some sleep.

Just do me one small favor, please. Think about your purchases carefully before you go. Try asking those questions and see how the answers affect your decisions to buy. If you find yourself looking for alternatives to swiping that card or parting with cash, see the suggestions below.

Alternatives to Black Friday Consumption:

• Celebrate “Buy Nothing Day.” The possibilities are many. Click here to visit the official website.

• Sleep late and have a family brunch.

• Pray for those who have to work and sacrifice time with family or those whose labor is exploited to provide the western world with cheap goods.

• Spend the day making homemade holiday gifts. Again, the possibilities are endless. Consider giving decorated gift certificates for experiences and time spent with others. Be creative.

• Have a movie marathon day. Watch holiday films in your pajamas. Include at least one documentary about human trafficking or just consumption. Make popcorn on the stove the old-fashioned way and make hot cocoa using fair trade products.

• If the weather’s nice, get outside for a hike or some games. If the weather’s yucky, pull out the card and board games or puzzles.

Photos by gadgetdude, Johan J. Ingles-Le Nobel, and tshein used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!