Shopping today at Target I chose the contact lense solution that was on sale.
Tonight when I looked closely at the label it said made in Spain!
I wasn't expecting that.

I want to pay the lowest price but am I hurting myself in the long run if I have to pay more taxes to make up for the lost payroll and other taxes that won't be paid if US company goes out of business? Is it fair to compare prices since the USA company has to pay FICA, unemployment insurance, workplace safety regulations, emissions standards, minimum wages, etc. The foreign companies probably don't.

With contact lense solution it is small enough price difference that it will be easy to switch back to B&L to support US workers (since I benefit from the taxes they and their employers pay). I don't mean any offense to our frugal friends from outside the US.

Of course most things like clothes, are hard to find made in USA.

Have you thought about this lately?

I think about this all the time. We have tons of Chinese vendors here in Italy and I wonder about Italian vendors having to compete with the lower prices of the Chinese goods. Also, I see foods from other countries where Italy produces the same items. Garlic from China and Spain is one example. Sometimes I wonder if the Italians aren't as inventive as the Chinese to promote their products but how does one compete with those low production costs?? Many of the standards of Asian countries do not match those of the EU so I avoid purchasing those goods. If at all possible I buy from local vendors. I understand completely your dilemma.

because I don't think it is a sustainable way to live. I can find clothes made in Canada- I just had to open my eyes and go look for them. Are they more expensive? Well that is hard for me to answer. I did pay more, but I know that when I paid more it was so someone in Canada could have a job in safe, clean working conditions. I know it wasn't made by children for slave wages. I know it wasn't shipped half way around the planet, either.

I buy used a lot, but when I buy new it is very important for me to know where something was made and about the suppliers that are used by stores where I shop.

I shop local whenever I can and keep my money in the community. Stores that sell things for the lowest price - it makes me wonder HOW they can sell things for the lowest price. How does that store get the lowest price and all the other stores sell things for more... Someone, somewhere is getting squeezed.

I think about it a lot too. I've said before that my neighbor worked for a company that moved it's operation to Taiwan. It was a medical equipment company and they moved partly because the regulations aren't as strict there and lesser quality items can pass inspection. Then they are shipped back here. That scares me.

We keep hearing about lead & asbestos in products from China and Mexico. That scares me too.

I know that a lot of unions have jacked up salaries so high that it is hard for companies to make a profit, but I'd still rather buy American and be assured it is safe.

The Next Fifty Years

A few years ago I started trying to buy exclusively American and have found it a hard thing to do. I try to check out where my things come from when I can and support those American companies that actually make something rather than importing it. I was going to buy sheets last year and finally found a place in Maine that makes them. I questioned them if the cotton material was actually processed in America and they said no because it is impossible to get cotton made in America. They make the sheets after they get the material. I live in the region that grows the cotton but it has to be shipped to the other side of the world to be processed before it is sent back here. The book A Year Without Made in China elaborates on the buying American dilemma.

I just got back from Denmark (literally, an hour ago - frugal though, free trip) and was told by a number of people there about their experience with energy. In the early 1970s their primary source of heating was from oil. Then the oil embargo hit and they were literally without heat for awhile and it was terribly expensive. They then changed to coal but not such a great alternative. They have moved on to natural gas, which they mine themselves, but it should run out in 20-30 years. Russia has offered to provide natural gas to them but they were providing it to Ukraine until they got mad at them and cut off the gas. They don't trust the Russians and are very interested in alternative sources of energy and are busy trying to explore different methods. The thing that I found interesting was that everyone in the country considers it their duty to do whatever they can to help keep them energy independent. They consider it patriotic to conserve and recycle and use as little energy as possible. Interesting the memory from 40 years ago is so fresh. Definitely different from the American attitude about gas. I don't know much about the gas industry but from what I have heard whatever we drill in our waters goes to many places, not just us. We can open up all kinds of drilling fields but it doesn't mean we get to keep the gas.

As far as buying American, we would have to decide just how much we are willing to pay. There is always this brouhaha about unions (what few are left) wanting ridiculous wages for work. GM's average worker made $15/hr, which I don't think is that ridiculous for living here. However, even if workers agreed to work for minimum wage, we still could not compete with China or other countries who can do it for much, much less. I was looking at the prices for goods in Europe and thinking how spoiled I am with the prices here (I forgot my coat and wanted to buy another one there but decided it was better to be cold). How much are you willing to pay to have American manufactured goods? It's a frugal dilemma. What is the patriotic thing to do?

http://www.texasjeans.com/

if you want jeans, anyway... So there is at least one company that processes cotton in the USA, just not in a format the company you were talking to wants I guess. Maybe someone should suggest to the Texas cotton company that they come up with ways to process their local cotton for other vendors.

Just noticed they have ladies jeans on close-out for $9.99. Me thinks I will buy some...

Located in Asheboro, NC. lol

Good to know it's there though. I don't think I could buy jeans without trying them on though. I'm too much of an odd fit.

$15 an hour is not too high at all, union or not. My neighbor was making $25, plus more with overtime. That is high IMO.

The Next Fifty Years