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Rambunkscious

Beach Lover
Jan 17, 2007
136
3
I do not believe it is possible to cut back on Chinese products by 90%.

Even your computer and your car have Chinese parts in them.

Even if you could cut back on Chinese products by 90%, you would have to get a second job to pay the difference compared to non-Chinese products.

Your food, clothes, shoes, electronics, office supplies, building materials,
furniture, rugs, car parts, jewelry, tools,cameras, computer parts, dishes, toys,come from China, so whats left?

There is an article in todays Ft Walton paper about someone who was trying to do what you suggested no Chinese & seemed to be no problem. It is a problem unfortunately. For example Chinese womens shoes 30 dollars, same American made 114 dollars...............................................
 

beachmouse

Beach Fanatic
Dec 5, 2004
3,504
741
Bluewater Bay, FL
Some recent purchases for us. It's a pretty middle class spending pattern, IMO, and we're currently at one professor's salary between the two of us until I can find another job.

Food- nope. We've checked place of origin pretty carefully since the toothpaste incident. Number one source of imported food in our diet is Chilean produce (killer clementines from there right now and their peaches over the winter were almost as good as Georgia ones) We only eat locally caught fish and shellfish.

Clothing and shoes- most recent clothing came from Vietnam, Indonesia, Mexico, and the Dominican Republic. Prices- $10-$18 per clothing item. Running shoes came from Vietnam

Cameras- only from Germany or Japan. Mr. Mouse is insanely picky about his camera gera

Dishes- melamine from Denmark, some neat plates and bowls from Japan (courtesy of World Market in Pensacola) and the big splurge for my birthday was a Le Crueset wok from France

Furniture- American-made in small family factories and woodworking shops for a very reasonable price (courtesy Room and Board)

Tools- American-made. If you look through Lowe's/Home Depot/Sears, the price difference between American and Chinese tools isn't that much

Electronics- one cheap Chinese DVD player for a back bedroom was a recent pruchase. I'd guess the rest of the older stuff is a mix of Japan, Taiwan, China, USA, and a little bit of high end EU stuff

Jewelry- either American-made, or from smaller southeast Asian, Middle Eastern and African vendors. Save for my big two rings, and a pair of diamond earrings, most of my jewelry cost $40 per piece or less


As for the $30 vs. $114 shoes, there are a lot of $114 Chinese shoes on the market these days that weren't terribly expensive to produce. And there really isn't a price difference between the companies that still make running shoes in America and the ones who outsource.

Car parts- bleepin VW parts come by way of Germany or Mexico. The Subaru's place of final assembly was Indiana with mostly a mix of American and Japanese parts

Toys- No kids for us yet. When I have to buy a toy gift, it's usually books or some sort of EU-produced deal
 

scooterbug44

SoWal Expert
May 8, 2007
16,732
3,330
Sowal
It really isn't that difficult to avoid Chinese products if you shop around and buy quality items. Items may cost more, but will last longer so I consider it equal. You aren't saving money by buying cheap stuff - you are getting exactly what you pay for! Good products can last forever with care - I eat off my great grandmother's dishes every day.

Be careful about buying produce from South and Latin American countries as their rules and regs regarding pesticides and chemicals are not as strict.
 

beachmouse

Beach Fanatic
Dec 5, 2004
3,504
741
Bluewater Bay, FL
Agreed with the looking for quality that lasts part. What good's a $10 toaster if you have to buy a new one every year and clutter up a landfill with the remains of the old one?
 
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