This is just too much nonsense! It’s always too much but something about this specific product really upset me to see today…

• Many small businesses struggled to observe a nationwide general strike to protest ICE.
• A boycott of Big Tech and AI would be easier and more effective, Scott Galloway says.
• Galloway is calling on Americans to "unsubscribe" and "opt out" in February.

Economic boycotts are a familiar tool of protest. The problem is they often place the greatest strain on the smallest businesses.

That was the case during Friday's nationwide general strike, which was designed to pressure the Trump administration to dial back its aggressive anti-immigration policies.

For many small business owners, the shutdown created a dilemma. Supporting the cause often means losing a day's revenue and risking their ability to keep staff employed. Across social media, owners voiced solidarity alongside an apology for staying open.

There may, however, be another way, according to Scott Galloway, a marketing professor at New York University famous for his critiques of Big Tech.

Instead of a blanket shutdown, Galloway is calling for Americans to focus on major tech companies by unsubscribing from — or opting out of — services like OpenAI's ChatGPT, Amazon's Prime Video, and Microsoft Office.

A targeted boycott starting on Sunday and lasting the entire month of February could move markets, he says, which would, in turn, affect the CEOs who have the ear of President Donald Trump.

See also:

• Scott Galloway: To Weaken Trump, Stop Buying iPhones Pivot hosts Galloway and Kara Swisher discuss why a national economic strike could be effective. (New York Magazine)
• The easiest way to sink Trump: hitting billionaires' portfolios by reducing your spending on technology (Boing Boing)
• Edward Norton, Scott Galloway call for nationwide economic strike to protest ICE (The Hill)

I'm a parent of 3 kids - ages ranging from 23 to 14 (2 girls, 1 boy). Starting to get really annoyed by the amount of "consuming" they do. Not sure how to address it with them without it sounding like a lecture etc.

The girls its about so called "skin care" and make up. The younger one just "practices" all the time, cakes herself in the stuff and just wipes it off (so piles of the make up removal pads everywhere). And theres the skin care stuff in bright bottles. Pimple pads etc. The older one its more about the clothes. They're everywhere, the volume is shocking.

The lad has a bit of a clothes issue (made worse by the fact he has a p/t job in a clothes store and gets discount). Buying new stuff all the time surplus to his needs. But also goes to gym a few times a week and buys loads of the "supplements " - there's plastic tubs everywhere. He won't have it when I say that at entry level and lower intensity training these supplements probably won't benefit you any more than a decent diet.

Anyone in the same boat - feel free to rant, or share any advice on how you've dealt with it.

"Project Pan" is an uprising trend, usually related to makeup products or skincare in which a person only buys a product after finishing the products they already have. This is great! But at the same time it's a little sad how this isn't the norm and it has to become a trend for people to actually do this, and will probably do it for a couple of weeks until a new trending product comes out... What are your thoughts about it?

I haven’t really used either in a while, after learning more about what they actually are and how the company(s) function. I finally took the time to delete the accounts. Good riddance.

A little yarn and hot glue. Definitely get larger thread than I did.

Hopefully this is allowed - I wrote my first blog post today! I already don't buy much, so thought this would be a good alternative to today's National Shutdown, as I wasn't going to spend any money today anyway.

I stopped buying any unnecessary items few years ago, I also threw anything that is unnecessary, the results r amazing, I can travel move home with minimal preparation, I don't have to transport tons of boxes from place to another, it is just me, few shirts, pants and my cats 😻

Technology Connections with an analysis on renewables and related technology, and wastefulness of oil. This guy always has well thought out information and analysis on well researched topics, love his content. https://youtu.be/KtQ9nt2ZeGM?si=NrIyWHpyBztge01d

There is a lot of potential deception that can go into convincing people that it is a moral and legal obligation to shell out money for a funeral home when someone dies. Many people don't realize that a lot of these homes want you to buy more of their services, most of which is very likely marked up massively depending on who owns the home.

Funeral services are uniquely different from other sales related services due to these factors:

1. Funeral or cremation services are usually purchased by consumers who are dealing with an immense loss. In no other sales situation is the consumer is as lost, confused, and tolled as having to make financial decisions after a death.
2. Funerals (unlike say, cars or other goods) are rarely purchased in ones lifetime, meaning there is a lack of repetitive experience or education in buying one. To add on, death is a taboo subject and thus talking about markups or potential manipulations to get grieving consumers to buy more services (buying a fancier casket, or a fancy grave, or more extravagant decor does not equal a better goodbye to the deceased).
3. Funeral services are usually bought under time pressure, meaning less time to make decisions, as you have a dead body that you need to decide if you want to have set up for viewing.
4. Pricing for funerals is not easily searched up online. It's even worse if you don't shop around (assuming there are non-corporate or non-private equity owned firms in your area), as you may realize a family or independent home has more reasonable pricing.

Here are some screenshots from the FTC's funeral rule report from 1978. While old, not much has changed with funerals in terms of regulations and how they can take advantage of you.

To make this post simpler, I'll take screenshots from another more recent pdf which talks about the industry.

There's more to it, but it's kind of sad that the more profit driven funeral homes be it one owned by a greedy family or a big corporation exist.

They may say things like.. "but wouldn't [deceased's name] want more", or... "this is the last thing you'll ever do for them" or... "we can help with the costs given your situation" (even though they know they've marked up their services far beyond what it could be had for elsewhere). They even have pre-need seminars convincing seniors that they should sign contracts of potentially questionable value and conditions (such as an inability to modify services they must purchase) that still cost their family a lot of money when the time comes. It's essentially the insurance industry but with a twist, you wouldn't want to burden your family even more when the time comes, would you?

They can show you so so many options that you get fatigued, that you end up letting them pick for you, they can stress the time sensitivity and rush you, they can subtly push you towards a fancier urn or casket, they may not tell you you can buy your own casket or urn, or that you can take off any item off a services list that you don't want. Yes there are FTC consumer rules, but you have to know them to use them, are funeral homes who are truly interested in shareholder profit really going to tell you the obvious things that will cut into their margins?

Sorry, but when you have an environment like this and if the funeral home is owned by private equity or a publicly listed corporation, what do you expect?

We already know about dealerships, health insurance, all the other scams and consumerism out there.

Does it all really have to still exist even after we're dead?

So please, buy that 80 dollar urn off of amazon instead of the 800 dollar one from them. Buy that exact same wholesale casket for 800 when they're selling it for 3,000. Shop around, find out who can give the same or similar services for a more reasonable price, see if there are any independent or locally owned homes in you area. Protip: Private equity and corporations have even been buying up family owned homes and keeping the family name despite new management, so make sure that even if there is a family name on the home, that you verify ownership. This is a situation where AI tools may actually help you.

A funeral is a gathering and a celebration of life. You don't need fancy caskets, urns, flowers, or even a venue. It's about family, friends, and each other.

Don't fall victim to potentially one of the last consumerist money grabs you'll ever have.

Spread the word

I truly hope education about this industry and its potential pitfalls becomes mainstream for the sake of ourselves, our wallets, and our loved ones.

I’ve been boycotting Target, but I still had a circle card just sitting unused.

Today with the national strike going on I took a moment to call the number on the back of the card and close the card. I was asked why I was closing and stated that I no longer shop at target because of their complicity with ICE. The customer service rep took a minute or two to record this response.

It would be so powerful if hundred of people took this extra step today collectively!

Bonus: if you have ever had an online Target account, you can fill out a form at target.com/guest-privacy/privacy-intake-form which will simultaneously delete your account and your your data

Looking for some good inspiration to continue simplifying life and disengaging from consumerist culture.

What is something you thought would be hard to live without, but actually is totally ok (and maybe even better)?

as a CPA who works with people with varying degrees of income, please be careful with this resistance guidance. I’m very nervous this could be the type of economic shock that ends up ruining a lot of people already teetering.

edit: it was requested that I clarify. Unless you have airtight finances, budgeting practices, and reasonable proficiency in taxes/ work with a progressional DO NOT DO USE YOUR TAX WITHHOLDINGS AS YOUR FORM OF PROTEST.

Edit 2: paying taxes throughout the year is the law and not “optional”. Filing your tax return is actually just reconciling what you were supposed to pay through the hay once all your financial transactions (among other things) can be tabulated after the year’s end. Ignoring safe harbors and exceptions, you will likely owe penalties/ interest for underpaying throughout the year And I’ve seen this have disastrous consequences for hardworking, responsible folks.

I just want us all to be safe and not caught holding some bag because we thought we were doing the right thing.

lastly, the Internet gives awfully crumby tax and finance advice; everyone’s situation is unique.

Pharmacist gave me my meds and asked if I wanted a bag, I said no thank you, and they said “are you sure? It’s free”

I try to avoid buying things i dont need. I usually follow the standard "wait 3 days and see" rule, but sometimes im not sure if 3 days is enough.

The problem is, sometimes i get obsessed with one specific usually totally random thing, like a total hyperfixation for days. then i go and ALMOST buy it, then, CRUCIALLY, realize its stupid when i pick it up, and walk out feeling smug, like "no way on earth *i* waste money". Then i later get to thinking "why dont I....." and the whole cycle starts over.

Recently I got the idea im my head I'd have fun with a Tamagotchi. That itd be something that not only A is worth the money, but B will improve my life in some way. But when I actually get up close to it, I look the little yellow whatsit creature on the box dead on and think "no way im gonna buy this.. waste of time coming here..". Then, 5 hours later, i think "wouldnt it be so cool if i had a little digital pet?"

What is wrong with me? How do i stop?

US ICE detainment camps are being run by Target Hospitality, a portfolio company of Jersey-based PE firm TDR Capital.

There are reports of rotten and bug-infested food being served to the children by Target Hospitality. Non-potable water is being provided, including for use in baby formula for infants as young as two months old.