Now I have specific go-to choices on certain things that balance the conscience, convenience, health, environmental and limited resources/frugality sides of the equation without taking too much of my limited time/energy each time I buy something. It also helps me avoid the whole paradox of choice situation.

For example, I buy a lot of books from Biblio (which is mostly local bookstores). I bought a great book called Uncharitable about giving non-profits the same financial tools of capitalism that for-profit companies have. The price was great, they shipped it quickly and I supported a small book store I never would have had time to go to. My other go-to option is used books through Amazon marketplace or half.com. Doing this allows me to balance all the factors I care about without taking too much time and energy each time I buy a book. The sacrifice is helping my immediate locality though.

Also, I categorically buy things for my bike from local shops. I have benefited from free trail advice, troubleshooting and tools use over the years to make the additional cost well worth it. Here I sacrifice a bit on frugality, but I gain the service and convenience of the local shop and not having to think about the decision.

Also, my wife and I don’t buy certain types of pre-packaged food. We don’t always make it to the farmer’s market for produce and such, but we always get fresh produce/meat. We get a majority of the health benefits from eating well, sometimes the clean conscience of helping a local farmer and it works with our schedules.

Since I don’t have the time, energy or interest in researching each purchase, I do the calculating at the abstract level and then just go with the plan, adjusting it along the way as need be. It’s not perfect, but it works really well for me.

Re: Trent @TSD

“I hear what you’re saying, but I think you misjudge the guy!”

Put down my plate of food and walk out of room, only to reappear through the round window and keep and angry eye on you.

And I am not pretending to be on a high horse here. I buy irrigation supplies for my garden and building supplies for my house from Lowe’s. If I buy a book, I’m ordering it from Amazon. And I do this even though, like you, I feel a bit of a pang each time. I guess right now for these situations, I’d rather take the hit to my conscience than to my wallet.

I understand the predicament you are frequently finding yourself in, however I do think you might be over analyzing, thus creating a larger problem for yourself. Although very important to weigh all options and repercussions, as far as I’m concerned, you need to just go with your gut when it comes to most of these issues.

There are SO MANY hidden factors in all of the points and questions you raise, that it would be nearly impossible to answer them all, and you would probably be a different pant size by the time you came to a fully successful, educated conclusion. One very heated debate I often find myself in, and this seems to pertain to your article here, is the idea and the importance of Made In America. I know a clothing brand here in LA, which is Made In Los Angeles… at a factory owned by a very good Korean man, who pays his hard-working employees cash because they are here illegally. I also know that in Ohio, just outside Columbus, there is a Honda plant which employs a huge number of local workers. Which is better to support? Which deserves the coveted Made In America badge? What is more important, my money going to a foreign company, or my money going to foreign employees? My point, is that gut instinct and on the fly math is sometimes your only, and best shot at a real educated guess.

It’s like Ed Norton’s job in Fight Club, you need to be a recall specialist. If X+Y-Z doesn’t equal a sum greater than, say 5, don’t buy. Take what you know for sure about the brand, fit, price, origin, store, style, etc… plug it into your equation, and pull the trigger.

I’m not saying educating yourself is a downfall, quite the opposite, just that no matter the brand, the style, the store, etc, you’re going to find pros and cons. And as much as I think support to certain parties is integral these days, sometimes your personal happiness is even important.

Take care of yourself and in turn, you will take better care of the world, jeans, books and sunglasses the same.

nick

I’m all for the hand made footwear as well. The fact that my Sperry Topsiders are coming unglued from the sole after only a few months worth of wear makes me even more likely to go the Quoddy/Russell Moccasin’s route next time. As long as I can afford it.

I am personally guilty of trying to get the best deals I can however, I don’t have heaps of money and I have a problem with buying nice things, so I have to.

In the end, I think finding a balance is good. You don’t have to always buy American or shop at a local boutique, but if you are shopping, it would be good if you did once in awhile at least. In the long wrong, if you didn’t save your $40, you probably made a more interesting human interaction, developed a relationship and probably feel better in the end too.