I think what makes this country great, is when we work together for a common good. In this case it's for our own good(s).
Thanks Mom & Dad, this is exactly my point...
https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/4FrGxO2Fn_M
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Wednesday, October 9, 2013
My Government Might Shut Down, But I won't...
I know it's been a while, but I'm still on my buy USA products... here are some recent purchases, and from a discount store so I didn't spend more because the products were made here...just a reminder that it can be done!
Please note that the pitcher is not only made in the USA, but right next door in Carson CA!
www.scotch-brite.com (totally appreciate the fact that they have brought back a lot of business to the US)
www.housewares.org this is certainly a site worth looking into...
Saturday, July 13, 2013
Patrioschism or just a missing period?
A friend's grandfather
served our country in WWII, back when men joined the military out of patriotism
and not just because they wanted to blow things up. He was as patriotic as they
came. He was a proud American and would
let you know it any chance he got.
He also took pride in
frugality, but this was only second to his love for country. One of his
greatest discoveries was a line of tools that he would purchase at a lower cost
than Dewalt or Craftsman; and, of course, made in America with the stamp to
prove it - "made in usa". Unbeknownst to him, there was a
city....outside of the U.S.A....named Usa....
Although I could not
find a picture of a tool stamped with "Made in Usa", I did discover that
it may have just been a myth. There is a real place called Usa, it's in Japan
on the Island of Kyushu. The myth debunks the fact that the city was created
after WWII in order to sell items to the U.S.A. stamped with "made in
usa" as a guise for poorly produced Japanese products - apparently the
city of Usa was around long before WWII. I couldn't, however, find anything
about whether tools were ever made there or not.
I'm not sure if any of the above is true, or
whether my friend's grandfather ever found out about the misrepresentation. What I do know is that if you check your
labels and go in with the right intentions, you can honor those who came before
you by paying homage to their patriotism - no matter how non-existent you may
think it is in a global economy.
My blog is titled “Made in USA” (purposefully omitting
the periods) in honor of the good intentions of those who made our country
great by simply believing in it. I hope
to do the same.
Sunday, June 30, 2013
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Jeans?
The true price of those blue jeans
Those jeans of yours were made in Bangladesh and traveled a long way before being marked up by 300% or more.
- By
- on
- Mon, Jun 17, 2013 6:45 PM ET
Call it the calculations of the traveling pants. Those jeans you're wearing made a long journey from where they were manufactured in Bangladesh before they made it into the shop you bought them in. And the price you're paying? Let's just say it's a pretty hefty mark-up.
Reuters delved into the manufacturing process and came up with some alarming numbers.
When a factory in Bangladesh receives an order for a pair of jeans, materials and labor together cost about US $8.42. Once the jeans are made, packaged, trucked to the port of Chittagong from Dhaka, 153 miles away, and shipped to the USA (a trip that takes about 30 days), the cost has jumped to about $12.29. That includes U.S. Import dues and the cost of repackaging and trucking to retail stores throughout the U.S.
What do you pay? An average of $38.87, according to Reuters. That's more than 400% over the initial cost of manufacturing, or about two weeks wages for the workers who made them.
Watch the video for more details.
Reuters delved into the manufacturing process and came up with some alarming numbers.
When a factory in Bangladesh receives an order for a pair of jeans, materials and labor together cost about US $8.42. Once the jeans are made, packaged, trucked to the port of Chittagong from Dhaka, 153 miles away, and shipped to the USA (a trip that takes about 30 days), the cost has jumped to about $12.29. That includes U.S. Import dues and the cost of repackaging and trucking to retail stores throughout the U.S.
What do you pay? An average of $38.87, according to Reuters. That's more than 400% over the initial cost of manufacturing, or about two weeks wages for the workers who made them.
Watch the video for more details.
http://finances.msn.com/
Luckily with today's heat, I'll be wearing a dress
Monday, June 10, 2013
May Day, May Day....
May was a tough month. I lost my new dog to Kidney Failure. I had her for six months and 1 day. Was happy for the one more day.
I tried to fill the void with shopping...clothes and shoes not made in the U.S.A. I bought scotch...None of which helped.
I failed to share a single post in May. I can attribute that partly to what was going on personally, that and the scotch; but also, I was faced with having to admit that I completely abandoned my goal of only buying U.S.A. I was reminded that that's what life is all about. Each failure presents an opportunity to learn and grow, and you always have the choice to get back on track. You get knocked down; you get up again…I then remembered that this journey was to be about the successes and failures.
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."
Special Thanks to Henry Ford, Jon White & Chumbawamba
I tried to fill the void with shopping...clothes and shoes not made in the U.S.A. I bought scotch...None of which helped.
I failed to share a single post in May. I can attribute that partly to what was going on personally, that and the scotch; but also, I was faced with having to admit that I completely abandoned my goal of only buying U.S.A. I was reminded that that's what life is all about. Each failure presents an opportunity to learn and grow, and you always have the choice to get back on track. You get knocked down; you get up again…I then remembered that this journey was to be about the successes and failures.
"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."
Special Thanks to Henry Ford, Jon White & Chumbawamba
Tuesday, April 23, 2013
Don't Look a Gift Horse in the Mouth
How far do I take this? How much do I bend the rules?
I received a gift card for my birthday. Does that mean I can buy whatever I want with it? If someone gave me something not made in the U.S.A., I would use it. (Honestly really dying for some scotch)
If I buy something from a discount store, is that the same as buying used? The items are first purchased to sell in a big box store, then re-sold to discount stores. Is that ok?
Well today it was. I went birthday shopping and broke my rules. (although I did see some clothing made in the U.S.A., just didn't fit, but good to know they are out there)
This, however, I know fits into my rules....
I received a gift card for my birthday. Does that mean I can buy whatever I want with it? If someone gave me something not made in the U.S.A., I would use it. (Honestly really dying for some scotch)
If I buy something from a discount store, is that the same as buying used? The items are first purchased to sell in a big box store, then re-sold to discount stores. Is that ok?
Well today it was. I went birthday shopping and broke my rules. (although I did see some clothing made in the U.S.A., just didn't fit, but good to know they are out there)
This, however, I know fits into my rules....
I know it's hard to see, but the red tag price is one penny! The shoes are not made in the U.S.A., but a woman at the store was so excited about the price that she bought them for me :) The gorgeous necklace was a gift from my friend Deborah. Who knew it would match perfectly with the shoes?
Is this a fail? I say NAY!
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Keep On Trucking...
As you know, 2nd hand stores are my out when buying clothes. So many clothes are made in China, Vietnam & Guatemala - even the All American Levis brand (although I've been told some are made here). And... just when you think you've found a brand that is made in the U.S.A. (my Ninety slacks from my last blog) you check the label on a different pair, just to be sure; and, same brand, different style...made in Vietnam!
Headed to Buffalo Exchange again for a pair of jeans, which I've been looking for for about a month now, and found an awesome pair for $7.00. And look how long they are!(yes, those are 5" heels)
Bought 'em then checked the label once I was home....
Find yourself a pair, and Keep on Trucking
http://www.truckjeans.com/#!about-us
Headed to Buffalo Exchange again for a pair of jeans, which I've been looking for for about a month now, and found an awesome pair for $7.00. And look how long they are!(yes, those are 5" heels)
Bought 'em then checked the label once I was home....
Gotta love it!
Find yourself a pair, and Keep on Trucking
http://www.truckjeans.com/#!about-us
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)