#Makes their produce more expensive than most people can afford so we have to buy from Walmart

[rotzaprachim]

the thing about Hawai’i politics is that. You absolutely need to criticize the local government. But you also need to stand the economic and political politics of living in a place where the local government doesn’t have an iota of the power of the mega corporations like Hilton and Sheraton that run mega resorts here, nor the billionaires like mark Zuckerberg, Larry Ellison, or Jeff bezos that run second homes here or have quasi-feudal estates or exert far far more power than the relatively progressive county and state governments

like. You have to clock what it is that a man worth over 100 billion dollars purchased 98% of an island. What that’s like. What power does a city councilman who represents that island in a council have over a man worth over 100 billion who both owns the land people live on AND the hotels they work at

[pansy-picnics]

Americans who are worried about bird flu and/or are struggling to afford eggs the next few months- find someone in your local community who has chickens.

It is winter right now, so most backyard hens won’t be laying, but come spring, they’ll be laying so many eggs a lot of chicken owners don’t even know what to do with them all. They’ll often sell you a whole carton for like, 2-3 dollars. a backyard flock owner might even give them away for free if they’re desperate.

frankly, if you start buying fresh eggs, you probably won’t want to ever go back. farm fresh eggs taste better, last longer (sometimes without even being refrigerated), and have tougher, denser shells. not to mention they’re beautiful considering they come in all different shapes, sizes and colors!

in general though, farmers markets are HUGE. the cororate meat and dairy industries are breeding grounds for disease right now, and grocery prices are skyrocketing. local farmers markets and community owned grocery stores can get you better prices on better food, from things like eggs to produce, meat, and dairy.

i see a lot of people talking about community but i think a lot of people still don’t know where to start….since food is a big one, i want to share some resources. its important to remember that we don’t need these corporations to survive. they need us. even if you don’t make a lot of income, there are ways you can support your community and get better deals than at corporate owned grocery stores.

Most states have a farmers market network/association, or you can find local markets through your state’s department of agriculture website. heres a list of resources by state on the farmers market coalition. some of these links might be broken or outdated, but just looking up the name should bring you to the right page.

here’s also a list of food pantries and grocery co-ops per state. keep in mind these might not encapsulate every resource available, they’re just jumping off points in case you aren’t sure where to start, since i know things are really overwhelming right now. but even just looking up “farmers market/food pantry” and your county or city will come up with plenty of results.

I know that not everyone can afford farmers markets, there are cases where they’re more expensive than regular grocery stores. it 100% depends on the situation. but most areas usually have at least one local food bank or community group where you can get some assistance if you’re struggling. start to get to know your neighbors, too. you know how older folks will say that back in the day, you could go ask the neighbors for a cup of sugar and they’d give it to you? That kind of basic community is exactly what we have to go back to in these next few years. That is what is gonna keep us alive.

[totally-sick-blogger]

Sustainability is rarely accessible

This post is dedicated to Audrey, hi king!

Like many people, I think sustainability and taking care of the environment is really important; however, something that I feel isn't talked about enough when discussing ways to be more sustainable is how it's often inaccessible to disabled people and low-income people.

A lot of "alternative products" aren't viable options for disabled people because of factors such as cost, how easy they are to acquire, or physical accessibility issues.

some examples include:

paper straws and wooden cutlery - I know that for me both of these products give me major sensory issues and as for wooden cutlery I'd also like to note that they're much more difficult to eat with which could cause problems for someone with poor dexterity or fine motor skills.

pre-packaged foods - a lot of disabled people rely on pre-packaged meals and snacks for all kinds of reasons such as sensory issues, having specific safe foods, fatigue, and physically being unable to prepare foods. etc. One example I see often is being told off for buying precut produce because why not "just cut it up themselves" when in reality, some people physically cannot cut it up themselves or don't have enough spoons to make that a priority; not to mention that frozen and pre-cut produce is often cheaper than fresh produce.

medical supplies - A lot the medical supplies that disabled people rely on every day are made up of single use plastics and most of the items aren't meant to be used more than once (though some products can be used for multiple days if cared for properly) that being said, disabled people tend to produce more plastic waste but it's not our faults so we shouldn't be getting flack for it!

Another element of environmental advocacy that a lot of people talk about is veganism; which is of course great thing to practice if that's what works for you but a lot of people (disabled or not) cannot be vegan for dietary reasons. This could be because of allergies, intolerances, restrictions, location, finances, etc. For example, I've got a soy allergy and I've got a friend with a severe nut allergy. This means that neither of us could be fully vegan because the majority of vegan products are made with soy and nuts. I also rely partially on tube feeds for nutrition and as far as I know, there aren't any vegan, soy-free formulas yet (and if there are they're probably absurdly expensive)

This brings me to my final point about cost. A lot of alternative options for vegan and sustainable products are significantly more expensive; making it much harder for people who are already struggling financially to afford those products. Not to mention people who live in food deserts (areas of a city that don't contain grocery stores) or rural areas. There are very low chances that either of those places is going to have specialty food stores or even have alternative options in the few stores that they do have!

In conclusion: stop blaming poor and disabled people for the awful state of our environment and start blaming billionaires and massive corporations!

[mayakern]

Why are the clothes you sell so expensive :( I totally understand you need to make a living and all but I don’t think I can drop $50 on one shirt

i totally understand!! and it’s a fair question. thanks to big retailers and, in recent years, fast fashion, most people have been intentionally distanced from the cost and labor that goes into making our clothing (and just about everything else we consume)

basically, when you are making something, the more you make of it, the less it costs to make a single unit of that thing. that may seem counter intuitive, but this is for a couple reasons: 1. the more you make of a single thing, the more streamlined the process becomes and the faster and more skilled workers become at a particular task 2. when you make a lot of something you can buy your materials in bulk, reducing the cost to manufacture a single item 3. when someone places a really really big order for something, they have a lot of bargaining power because if they like what they get, they are likely to return with another large order in the future, and if they put the factory under contract, that is steady, guaranteed work and reliable pay.

i typed this up for a different question recently but it applies here as well so i’ll just copy paste:

of course, if you sell a higher volume, you can not only negotiate a lower PPU (price per unit) based on volume of sales (a factory will make more money from your business if you buy 10,000 shirts for $10/piece than if you buy 1,000 shirts for $12/piece*) but you can also get away with a lower margin because you’re expecting to sell more units to customers. imagine selling 10,000 shirts for $25/ea instead of 1,000 for $35/ea. even with a profit margin of $15/ea instead of $23/ea, you would only need to sell about 1,534 shirts of your 10,000 to make the same net profit and you’d have almost another 8500 shirts you could keep selling.

*these are not real numbers just an example for easy math and to show how stupid manufacturing math is

it’s also much, much cheaper to buy pre-dyed or stock fabric than it is to custom print designs. most large retailers use fabric that has been bulk produced. each of our garments is custom printed because manufacturing bulk custom printed fabric usually STARTS at around 500 yards (way more than we could use for a single design) and a fabric printer starts around $15k and takes up a bunch of room and uses a lot of electricity.

i run a small business with my wife. we do our best to find ethical labor and to pay our employees well, which contribute significantly to our overhead costs. we’re never going to compete price-wise with fast fashion or walmart or even with target. we couldn’t even fathom functioning at 1/100th of their volume. it’s totally understandable that not everyone can afford this or will think it’s “worth” the cost and the things i make are not necessities. i won’t even be offended if people call me overpriced because i know that most people just don’t know what goes into this stuff.

anyway this was long but i hope you found it informative!

[dailyanarchistposts]

Whether aware of it or not, your boss is stealing from you every paycheck. Employers profit off of the “excess” wealth that you, as an employee, produce. There are two ways to get paid in America: make money off the work you do, or make money off the work that other people do. Employees generate wealth, employers collect it.

We live in a capitalist society. We all know that. Most people are okay with it, too. After all, the competition (state communism like the USSR) doesn’t have such a good reputation.

But what exactly does capitalism mean? Our good friend the dictionary says capitalism is “an economic and political system in which a country’s trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit, rather than by the state.” This definition is a bit deceptive, but let’s run with it for now.

The word I care about in that definition is “profit.” Profit is the extra money at the top after all your expenses are paid out. You buy ten apples from the farmer for ten cents each and sell them in town for twenty cents each, leaving you with an extra dollar. Hurrah! You make enough of those dollars, and you can pay your rent and afford to eat. Both things you might need.

But you can only carry so many apples, and you can only sell them so fast. You could make more money if you hire other people to sell the apples for you. You pay them an hourly wage, or take a cut off of every apple they sell. Multiply this by enough people, and suddenly you’re quite wealthy. The people you hire only have enough to pay rent and eat, but you get to drive a hummer-limo and smoke Cuban cigars or whatever. Why? Because you stole from your employees. You aren’t working harder than them—in fact, you’re probably working less—and derive your income from the excess wealth generated by their labor.

And that is capitalism. When rich people steal from poor people through the legal process of wage labor. Capitalism is based on “capital.” Capital is wealth that can be used to generate more wealth. If capitalism was about getting rewarded for working, we’d be all about it. But it’s not. it’s about getting rewarded for other people working, it’s about letting money (and people) make your money for you.

If you, as a wage laborer, didn’t create more wealth for your boss than your hourly wage, you wouldn’t have a job. What we’re calling workplace theft is actually a bit of a misnomer. Workplace theft is the norm: your bosses are stealing from you every day. They’re living off your sweat. When you take money out of the register and put it into your pocket, that’s not workplace theft. That’s workplace justice.

[angusstory]

House & Garden's verdictOur new found love of Darlings of Chelsea shows no sign of slowing, with richly upholstered furnishings to decorate your living space in both contemporary and traditional shapes. Their pieces are made to order, but thankfully their lead times are much shorter than many equivalent furniture shops.Which website sells cheap furniture?AccordionItemContainerButtonDepending on the site, buying from a cheap furniture brand can be a bit of a false economy. Whilst you might feel like you're getting a good deal, you will likely have to purchase the same item over and over as the quality simply won't stand the test of time. If you're looking for budget-friendly furniture, Ikea is probably the best place to head to. No, the quality of their MDF furniture won't match up to an antique piece, but for quick and easy bits of extra storage, it will do the job. Aside from the Swedish flat-packers, John Lewis's new range of Anyday furniture is much more accessible price-wise, without compromising on quality, and Habitat has some lovely retro style pieces - we particularly like their 60th anniversary collection.What are the best online furniture stores in the UK?AccordionItemContainerButtonHere at House & Garden we love discovering new interiors shops, makers and designers who are doing something creative or out of the ordinary. Our pages are full of bespoke furniture and lovingly crafted textiles and homeware accessories, and there's no doubt they're incredibly beautiful. However, more often than not, these artisanal furniture shops are expensive - justifiably so given the quality of their work - and not everyone can afford to invest in what they produce. In these instances, the high street is the place to go to!For those on a budget, or for those who are clever with their high-low mixing, there are plenty of high street retailers who offer stylish products that won't break the bank. With fashion brands increasingly entering the interiors space, and longstanding homewares brands upping their game to keep up in the style stakes, there has never been a better time to shop for furniture online via the major high street shops.Whilst everyone has different taste and budgets in the interiors world, there are a few fail safe online furniture shops that will suit most people's style, and offer pieces for both large and small spaces. These are shops from whom we at House & Garden have bought from. They all sell a range of furniture at high street prices and we feel that they best represent the intersection between affordability and quality. Each of these offers a wide range of furniture and accessories, so there's plenty to choose from.Best online furniture stores 2025Cedak Wood Chairs, Set of 2What to buy: From bookcases to console tables to bedside tables, this retailer has some of the best-designed and best priced pieces around. Just make sure to dig out a discount code as there’s generally always one available. Oh, and the AM.PM bedding, every time.Pros: Affordable price points.Cons: The website isn't the most user friendly.House & Garden's verdictThis French fancy has a seriously impressive range of practical items. Think affordable linen curtains, large wool rugs, mirrors and more recently, lighting. La Redoute is probably best known for its affordable furniture, with smart cane bed frames from just over £600 (our pick, the Madara, is on sale with 45% off at the moment!), and sets of dining chairs for a snip of the price you'd find them elsewhere.This isn't a tale of the cheap and cheerful though, as La Redoute's quality is reliably good. There's a reason La Redoute is in every interior designer’s little black book of the best online homeware shops.What to buy: Their selection of dried flowers and textiles is particularly lovely but special mention goes to their accent chairs, covered in deep pile bouclé and in mid century shapes.House & Garden's verdictH&M has long been a household name, providing our wardrobes with lovely clothes and accessories for years now. However, you may not have noticed their move into the interior space (even in spite of that enormous flagship near Oxford Circus, if you’re looking to shop in-store).Large Bayuban Chest Of DrawersMini Grisewood Wireless Lamp and ShadeWhat to buy: When adding finishing touches to a home, we’ve always got our eye on their attention-grabbing array of living room furniture, such as lamp bases and cushions.Pros: Well made, quality furniture. £60 flat rate delivery & a 30 day return window.House & Garden's verdictA classic for a reason, OKA is well known for its brilliant edit of lamps, rattan accessories and furniture. OKA purchases are sure to be timeless picks; their collections are both stylish and relevant without being overly trend-driven or self conscious. They make items that command questions from visiting guests about where they can get it for themselves.Livia Ash Wood Bathroom Wall CabinetMaeve Scalloped Cotton Shower CurtainWhat to buy: Anthropologie has a wonderful array of ceramics, glassware, plant pots and candlesticks.Pros: Furniture made with a fashion savvy eye.Cons: Price point is slightly above the high street average.House & Garden's verdictWhether you’re shopping for decorative accessories or large furnishings like an armchair, take them out of context and many of Anthropologie's designs look much more high end than high street. They've recently launched a made to order collection of large pieces like sofas, armchairs and ottomans. They’ve cornered a sweet spot on the high street.Mid Century Vintage Oak And Brass Chest Of DrawersPair Of Stilnovo Style SconcesWhat to buy: Anything and everything. You'll find original anglepoise lamps alongside midcentury units and rattan bed frames. You can search by room, category, designer and period, so you needn't be an expert in design to find exactly what you're looking for.House & Garden's verdictSince launching in 2015, Vinterior has become the UK’s largest pre-owned furniture and homeware platform. Their website is home to nearly 300,000 hand selected items from 2,000 sellers. It's a one stop shop for characterful, pre-loved statement pieces.

[adj4mp]

Affordable Housing Bubble

I'm worried about the processes by which the government are going to try to meet their campaign promises, I've already seen a few occasions where the Labour party, Rayner and Starmer have come under fire for falling behind on their affordable housing goal for this parliament, the opposition have pressed it a few times and the media have mentioned it.

1000 new homes per day

At the time of writing, we're 50 days into the government, that's 50,000 additional homes they've promised and I'm betting construction hasn't started on these.

There will be plenty of opportunities for private firms to buy land and secure the ability to build on it, build some homes. But private firms have a vested interest in producing fewer bigger more expensive homes, fewer homes available means less supply and higher demand increasing the prices.

With so many new affordable homes the intent of the government may be to pop the housing market, make houses more affordable by driving down both the price of new houses as well as existing ones.

This, if not done carefully, is going to saddle a lot of people with negative equity on their mortgages which may have economic knock on effects.

So Private companies are either going to be less inclined to take on this challenge as it bumps their risk while reducing their return on investment. Meaning the government are going to have to turn the screws to make this happen through other methods.

So we turn our attention to local authority housing and social housing providers to do this.

There are still some local authorities with housing stock that may be able to incorporate this into their systems, but if the housing stock was previously sold off developing a whole system to go along with the modern responsibilities of a social landlord is not something they can attempt

Leaving Social Housing providers as those in the best position to shoulder the responsibility of delivering this promise. Social Landlords are very similar in some ways to charities, they're not-for-profit organisations on which a lot of people depend. Having them take a huge risk of building more and faster than ever before could cause them to collapse, fail to provide services to residents and need to be bailed out or brought out in some form or another.

Bailouts will cost Billions, the housing sector is huge, even a moderate provider with 2000 properties may be worth more than a hundred million pounds in just brick and mortar.

While Buyouts won't necessarily be feasible for other social landlords, if the sector is being pushed to the brink of collapse in order to provide the homes promised by the government unless there's a huge hidden rainy day fund they're holding back every provider will be in a similar situation. And so I'd be worried about the private sector buying up homes with considerable rent control in order to evict vulnerable residents to attempt to get higher rents.

I agree that we need more homes, but I want to see a plan that doesn't put risks on the people with the most to lose, those who're still paying off their only mortgage and could end up owing more than the value of their house to the bank. As well as those who have little choice about where they can live and as such have ended up as social housing residents.

[akwolfgrl]

Part 17 LFT

"This is where every pirate stocks up before heading to the Grandline," Nami said standing underneath the city's sign.

"I can't wait to go shopping! I bet they have all sorts of cool things perfect for experiments!" Ussop spoke excitedly. "Tabasco sauce," Usopp kept prattling on and Nami turned him out.

"I can start stocking up on food, I should start with the non-perishables first since you said we would be here a few days," Sanji said, patting his pocket in the shape of a notebook breaking the clean lines of his suit. “Tomorrow the fresh produce and meat.”

"I wonder if they have a swordsmith here?" Zoro pondered.

Nami couldn't resist the urge to tease him. Especially since she had given him enough money to buy Sanji something. The swords could wait for tomorrow.

"With what money Zoro?" She leaned into his space with a teasing grin on her face.

“Well I'm going to find the place where they kill people!” Luffy was off, Nami rolled her eyes not bothering to stop him.

“Sanjiiii-kunnnnn~ come with me clothes shopping then you can get stuff for the ship,” Nami moved towards Sanji linking their arms together sending a wink to Zoro. “Ooo then we can stop at a Cafe for lunch.”

“Of course Nami dear!” Sanji gushed, allowing himself to be dragged along with her whims.

Was she taking advantage of him? Yes she was, she felt no qualms about it one bit. She passed by an expensive bootique that she would have fun in tomorrow without Sanji. Today was about getting info from him, for Zoro who will owe her big time for this. She loved it when people owed her.

“Oo this looks like a good one,” Nami slipped inside what looked to have cute but affordable clothes for sale. “Go pick something out for yourself I'm feeling generous,” Nami just would add to Zoro’s ever growing debt. “All you ever were are those fancy suites.”

“Oh Nami-swan you're so sweet but I'm fine I have plenty of clothes,” Sanji protested.

“Aww but Sanji-kunnnn, it's more fun to shop together and I don't have any girlfriends to shop with,” Nami said with a pout.

“Of course anything for you sweet Nami-swan,” Sanji gushed before finally complying with what she asked.

“So Sanji-kun,” Nami spoke loud enough for him to hear while she looked through the clothes. “Tell me about yourself. I hardly know anything about you.”

“Oh? Well there's nothing much to say, I'd rather hear all about you Nami-swan!” Sanji turned the question back to her.

“Aww come on Sanji-kun! You already know about me, I mean you met my village and family,” How was she supposed to gather information if Sanji was so tight-lipped about everything?

“Hmm well I am a professionally trained chef, I spent most of my life on ships. I'm not sure what else is there to say,” Nami almost groaned in frustration. The ship thing was obvious by his sea legs, his sea legs were better than hers even.

Nami spotted Usopp walking past the window with a backpack strapped to his shoulders. It didn't look like he had bought much, only just bought one thing thus far. She rushed outside and grabbed him by his backpack.

“Nami! What's going on?” Ussop whined while she drug his skinny ass into the store. She shoved him down to the ground and crouched beside him.

“I need your help,” She hissed, keeping her voice down.

“With what?” He asked.

“Zoro asked for help in wooing Sanji, I offered very generously. I might add to do some reconstituting, and find out what Sanji likes. But the man is too tight-lipped,” Nami glared in Sanji's direction.

“How about we make a game? Everyone has to answer the question,” Usopp offers.

“Hmm that's not a bad idea,” Nami pondered, it might just work. “But you're helping.”

“What are you two doing on the floor?” Nami looked up to a concerned and confused Sanji looming over them.

“Nothing,” They both answered at the same time, Sanji was now looking at Usopp with supison. Nami stood up brushing the dirt off her clothes.

“Well shall we continue shopping?” Nami spoke looking at the few clothes in Sanji's arms. “Ah you actually found something. Let me see,” She took the clothes out of his arms and held them up. One was a sleek black turtleneck and gray slacks. While he would look good in them, they weren't exactly casual. “That's it?” She asked with her brow raised. “Didn't I say casual?”

“Well it's not a suit,” Sanji had the gall to talk back though his ears were tinting from slight discomfort.

“Whatever, fine! Just go try it on!” Nami sighed and shoved him into the changing room. “Ussop can start grabbing some shirts?”

“Sure,” He ran off towards the men's clothes. Taking this moment alone with Sanji, Nami offered up their little plan.

“So Sanji-kun, we’re going to play a little game. I'll ask the questions and everyone has to answer them. It would be better with alcohol but we can try again later… Sooo first question, what's your favorite food?” Nami asked moving closer to the curtain so she could hear him moving around in there.

“Spicy seafood pasta. Nami-swan, I adore you but… is this really necessary? I'm really not that interesting unlike you my sweet,” Sanji's voice was muffled as he changed.

“I ask the questions!” She scolded him.

“Yes Nami-swan I'm sorry,” he says, unable to deny his beloved lady friend!!!

“Now what's your favorite flower,” Nami demanded. Zoro could give him a bouquet of his favorite flowers.

“Ladies first,” Sanji responded, stepping out of the changing room, just as Ussop joined them an armful of shirts.

“You're buying that, I like sunflowers,” They were so bright and cheerful, almost unpredictable in where they will show up. One year before Arlong showed up, a bunch grew in front of their house.

“What are we talking about?” Ussop asked.

“Nami-swan asked about favorite flowers,” Sanji explained before returning to the dressing room before Nami caught his arm and shoved another shirt in his hands.

“I like daisies, they grow like crazy back home, they were my moms and Kaya’s favorite flowers. I used to pick them for her and put them by her bedside every day,” the sniper replied with a gentle fade in his eyes as if he was no longer there but lost in memories.

“Delphinium. And yes, I know as a chef I should pick something editable but I can’t help what’s my favorite,” Nami had never heard of that flower but well she wasn't a florist.

“Do you like to sing?” Ussop asked.

Nami glared at him, how was that supposed to help with Zoro getting Sanji on a date?

“Yeah, I do sing, I'm no musician but yeah I do sing. I mean I was raised by a pirate since I was ten and grew up on ships. During the stormy weather the Baratie would close and we would huddle up with whatever food we have and candles. We would drink, eat and sing until the storm passed. I know way too many old sea shanties, Patty and Carne know way too many love songs. They would get way too cozy with each other and as soon as the storm passed they would slip away from alone time.” That was the most Nami had heard him say about himself ever, Sanji came out of the changing room again this time in a pink see through shirt with large strawberries on it. “Umm did you mean to get this shirt for me?” She could see all the marks that Zoro had left on Sanji's skin.

“Yes, you are also getting that shirt!” Nami wasn't sure if she had enough information but she supposed that this would have to do.

[alifeasvivid]

ok I have a random question but do you have any thoughts on lab grown gems and does TOS Alfred have any thoughts on lab grown gems?

>.> I have lots of thoughts, yes. And they are far more nuanced than most of what I've seen on tumblr *cough*

My overall opinion is that lab created gems are awesome :D Lab created sapphires have been around since the early 1900's and the fact that we can create gemstones is a testament to just how awesome human spirit and ingenuity and curiosity really is. There are many stones like cubic zirconia which exist in the market only as lab created. Moissanite, an increasingly-popular alternative for diamond, is only lab created, it does not exist in nature--we made it, which is so fucking cool.

Lab created stones are almost always less expensive than mined, so they're a good option for people who want the look, but don't care about appreciating/maintaining value over time.

That's the hitch. Most lab created stones are not worth anything in terms of resale or appraisal and basically the whole jewerly industry is really conflicted about lab diamonds. When it comes to colored stones, there's usually a way to tell if it's lab or natural. The color is just a little too perfect, the stone is just a little too clear, that kind of thing. With lab diamonds, it's next to impossible and while that is very cool, it's easier than ever for people to be deceived about what they are buying. The jewelry (and watch) industry is very slow to adapt, a lot of emotional AND monetary value is placed on things being done "properly" or in the traditional way, but it IS adapting. It just takes time.

Personally, and I'll speak for Alfred also, I have no problem with lab created stones of any kind as long as they are properly disclosed and that people understand the pros and cons of natural vs lab created gems.

However, Alfred would have no use for lab created stones on a personal level; he wouldn't target them. They are very cool and make things more affordable, but on an industry level, they are just not worth much.

Cuz that's the real kicker. It's AWESOME that we have basically alchemical technology available to us and mining can truly be a terrible process both on an environment and a human level and that needs to change...

but natural stones will always be worth something more to us because there is nothing that compares to the majesty of Earth boiling and roiling and cracking and breaking and steaming and baking and beating and cooling and compressing and crushing its elements over hundreds and thousands and millions of years to produce and bring to the surface something functionally useless to most life but so beautiful that humans have been fascinated by them since the dawn of our species... and that we figured out how to pull them from the earth and create something else beautiful with them... there's really something deeply compelling there. Something fundamental to what makes us human, I think.

And Alfred is a romantic... so I think he'd agree.

[thetreetopinn]

And it's not just poultry and other meats

It's access to fruits and vegetables

It's access to medicine and medical devices

It's access to shelter and transport

The "invisible hand of the market" will always appear to favor the most cheaply produced, most unethically sourced products, goods, and services because that is what the poor can afford.

It is more expensive to be poor, and the rich know that, which is how they are able to siphon even more money out of the poor than they do the middle class.

To go back to the good old Terry Pratchett quote:

The reason that the rich were so rich, Vimes reasoned, was because they managed to spend less money.

Take boots, for example. He earned thirty-eight dollars a month plus allowances. A really good pair of leather boots cost fifty dollars. But an affordable pair of boots, which were sort of OK for a season or two and then leaked like hell when the cardboard gave out, cost about ten dollars. Those were the kind of boots Vimes always bought, and wore until the soles were so thin that he could tell where he was in Ankh-Morpork on a foggy night by the feel of the cobbles.

But the thing was that good boots lasted for years and years. A man who could afford fifty dollars had a pair of boots that’d still be keeping his feet dry in ten years’ time, while the poor man who could only afford cheap boots would have spent a hundred dollars on boots in the same time and would still have wet feet.

And to take it one step further, another quote from the same book:

The mansion was full of this big, solid furniture, bought by her ancestors. It never wore out . . . Lady Sybil Ramkin lived quite comfortably from day to day by spending, Vimes estimated, about half as much as he did.

You cannot HOPE and WISH the powers that be into treating the lower class better.

You have to FORCE them. They will fight it. They will scream and swear and throw their little tantrums, angry that they can't steal more money from the already destitute in order to make their already disgustingly bloated portfolios that much more bloated and disgusting.

They will throw everything they have in the way of progress. They will spend literally BILLIONS of dollars for the continued right to steal from the poor by giving them ever so slightly overpriced trash that will need to be replaced far sooner than it should need to be.

They will provide cheap, widely available food that will meet most of the public's nutritional needs, because so much of it is highly processed and engineered to meet the most basic of standards.

They will produce the cheapest meat you can buy with questionable ethics practices, using child labor, hide the injury reports of people in their packing plants, and then decry the idea of doing better saying "It will cost so much more if we do all of this!" when they have it in their power to NOT charge more... but that would eat into their profits.

Meanwhile, they also poison the air, the water, the soil, and our food, and they tell us we should be GRATEFUL that we have such a bounty to choose from.

The powerful and the wealthy make it impossible for the poor to support ethical practices, because they have captured the economies of scale and have erected severe barriers to entry so that anyone looking to up-end the system will have a terribly difficult time doing it. It is a self-reinforcing structure.

And the only way to make any headway against it is to organize.

As much as I want to support ethical farming practices I will be buying the cheapest bag of frozen chicken thighs as much as the next frugal/poor person which is why animal welfare needs to be legislated, not left up to the invisible hand of the free market or some bullshit. Invisible hand of the free market finds itself around a lot of throats.

[tameblog]

House & Garden's verdictOur new found love of Darlings of Chelsea shows no sign of slowing, with richly upholstered furnishings to decorate your living space in both contemporary and traditional shapes. Their pieces are made to order, but thankfully their lead times are much shorter than many equivalent furniture shops.Which website sells cheap furniture?AccordionItemContainerButtonDepending on the site, buying from a cheap furniture brand can be a bit of a false economy. Whilst you might feel like you're getting a good deal, you will likely have to purchase the same item over and over as the quality simply won't stand the test of time. If you're looking for budget-friendly furniture, Ikea is probably the best place to head to. No, the quality of their MDF furniture won't match up to an antique piece, but for quick and easy bits of extra storage, it will do the job. Aside from the Swedish flat-packers, John Lewis's new range of Anyday furniture is much more accessible price-wise, without compromising on quality, and Habitat has some lovely retro style pieces - we particularly like their 60th anniversary collection.What are the best online furniture stores in the UK?AccordionItemContainerButtonHere at House & Garden we love discovering new interiors shops, makers and designers who are doing something creative or out of the ordinary. Our pages are full of bespoke furniture and lovingly crafted textiles and homeware accessories, and there's no doubt they're incredibly beautiful. However, more often than not, these artisanal furniture shops are expensive - justifiably so given the quality of their work - and not everyone can afford to invest in what they produce. In these instances, the high street is the place to go to!For those on a budget, or for those who are clever with their high-low mixing, there are plenty of high street retailers who offer stylish products that won't break the bank. With fashion brands increasingly entering the interiors space, and longstanding homewares brands upping their game to keep up in the style stakes, there has never been a better time to shop for furniture online via the major high street shops.Whilst everyone has different taste and budgets in the interiors world, there are a few fail safe online furniture shops that will suit most people's style, and offer pieces for both large and small spaces. These are shops from whom we at House & Garden have bought from. They all sell a range of furniture at high street prices and we feel that they best represent the intersection between affordability and quality. Each of these offers a wide range of furniture and accessories, so there's plenty to choose from.Best online furniture stores 2025Cedak Wood Chairs, Set of 2What to buy: From bookcases to console tables to bedside tables, this retailer has some of the best-designed and best priced pieces around. Just make sure to dig out a discount code as there’s generally always one available. Oh, and the AM.PM bedding, every time.Pros: Affordable price points.Cons: The website isn't the most user friendly.House & Garden's verdictThis French fancy has a seriously impressive range of practical items. Think affordable linen curtains, large wool rugs, mirrors and more recently, lighting. La Redoute is probably best known for its affordable furniture, with smart cane bed frames from just over £600 (our pick, the Madara, is on sale with 45% off at the moment!), and sets of dining chairs for a snip of the price you'd find them elsewhere.This isn't a tale of the cheap and cheerful though, as La Redoute's quality is reliably good. There's a reason La Redoute is in every interior designer’s little black book of the best online homeware shops.What to buy: Their selection of dried flowers and textiles is particularly lovely but special mention goes to their accent chairs, covered in deep pile bouclé and in mid century shapes.House & Garden's verdictH&M has long been a household name, providing our wardrobes with lovely clothes and accessories for years now. However, you may not have noticed their move into the interior space (even in spite of that enormous flagship near Oxford Circus, if you’re looking to shop in-store).Large Bayuban Chest Of DrawersMini Grisewood Wireless Lamp and ShadeWhat to buy: When adding finishing touches to a home, we’ve always got our eye on their attention-grabbing array of living room furniture, such as lamp bases and cushions.Pros: Well made, quality furniture. £60 flat rate delivery & a 30 day return window.House & Garden's verdictA classic for a reason, OKA is well known for its brilliant edit of lamps, rattan accessories and furniture. OKA purchases are sure to be timeless picks; their collections are both stylish and relevant without being overly trend-driven or self conscious. They make items that command questions from visiting guests about where they can get it for themselves.Livia Ash Wood Bathroom Wall CabinetMaeve Scalloped Cotton Shower CurtainWhat to buy: Anthropologie has a wonderful array of ceramics, glassware, plant pots and candlesticks.Pros: Furniture made with a fashion savvy eye.Cons: Price point is slightly above the high street average.House & Garden's verdictWhether you’re shopping for decorative accessories or large furnishings like an armchair, take them out of context and many of Anthropologie's designs look much more high end than high street. They've recently launched a made to order collection of large pieces like sofas, armchairs and ottomans. They’ve cornered a sweet spot on the high street.Mid Century Vintage Oak And Brass Chest Of DrawersPair Of Stilnovo Style SconcesWhat to buy: Anything and everything. You'll find original anglepoise lamps alongside midcentury units and rattan bed frames. You can search by room, category, designer and period, so you needn't be an expert in design to find exactly what you're looking for.House & Garden's verdictSince launching in 2015, Vinterior has become the UK’s largest pre-owned furniture and homeware platform. Their website is home to nearly 300,000 hand selected items from 2,000 sellers. It's a one stop shop for characterful, pre-loved statement pieces.

[ramestoryworld]

House & Garden's verdictOur new found love of Darlings of Chelsea shows no sign of slowing, with richly upholstered furnishings to decorate your living space in both contemporary and traditional shapes. Their pieces are made to order, but thankfully their lead times are much shorter than many equivalent furniture shops.Which website sells cheap furniture?AccordionItemContainerButtonDepending on the site, buying from a cheap furniture brand can be a bit of a false economy. Whilst you might feel like you're getting a good deal, you will likely have to purchase the same item over and over as the quality simply won't stand the test of time. If you're looking for budget-friendly furniture, Ikea is probably the best place to head to. No, the quality of their MDF furniture won't match up to an antique piece, but for quick and easy bits of extra storage, it will do the job. Aside from the Swedish flat-packers, John Lewis's new range of Anyday furniture is much more accessible price-wise, without compromising on quality, and Habitat has some lovely retro style pieces - we particularly like their 60th anniversary collection.What are the best online furniture stores in the UK?AccordionItemContainerButtonHere at House & Garden we love discovering new interiors shops, makers and designers who are doing something creative or out of the ordinary. Our pages are full of bespoke furniture and lovingly crafted textiles and homeware accessories, and there's no doubt they're incredibly beautiful. However, more often than not, these artisanal furniture shops are expensive - justifiably so given the quality of their work - and not everyone can afford to invest in what they produce. In these instances, the high street is the place to go to!For those on a budget, or for those who are clever with their high-low mixing, there are plenty of high street retailers who offer stylish products that won't break the bank. With fashion brands increasingly entering the interiors space, and longstanding homewares brands upping their game to keep up in the style stakes, there has never been a better time to shop for furniture online via the major high street shops.Whilst everyone has different taste and budgets in the interiors world, there are a few fail safe online furniture shops that will suit most people's style, and offer pieces for both large and small spaces. These are shops from whom we at House & Garden have bought from. They all sell a range of furniture at high street prices and we feel that they best represent the intersection between affordability and quality. Each of these offers a wide range of furniture and accessories, so there's plenty to choose from.Best online furniture stores 2025Cedak Wood Chairs, Set of 2What to buy: From bookcases to console tables to bedside tables, this retailer has some of the best-designed and best priced pieces around. Just make sure to dig out a discount code as there’s generally always one available. Oh, and the AM.PM bedding, every time.Pros: Affordable price points.Cons: The website isn't the most user friendly.House & Garden's verdictThis French fancy has a seriously impressive range of practical items. Think affordable linen curtains, large wool rugs, mirrors and more recently, lighting. La Redoute is probably best known for its affordable furniture, with smart cane bed frames from just over £600 (our pick, the Madara, is on sale with 45% off at the moment!), and sets of dining chairs for a snip of the price you'd find them elsewhere.This isn't a tale of the cheap and cheerful though, as La Redoute's quality is reliably good. There's a reason La Redoute is in every interior designer’s little black book of the best online homeware shops.What to buy: Their selection of dried flowers and textiles is particularly lovely but special mention goes to their accent chairs, covered in deep pile bouclé and in mid century shapes.House & Garden's verdictH&M has long been a household name, providing our wardrobes with lovely clothes and accessories for years now. However, you may not have noticed their move into the interior space (even in spite of that enormous flagship near Oxford Circus, if you’re looking to shop in-store).Large Bayuban Chest Of DrawersMini Grisewood Wireless Lamp and ShadeWhat to buy: When adding finishing touches to a home, we’ve always got our eye on their attention-grabbing array of living room furniture, such as lamp bases and cushions.Pros: Well made, quality furniture. £60 flat rate delivery & a 30 day return window.House & Garden's verdictA classic for a reason, OKA is well known for its brilliant edit of lamps, rattan accessories and furniture. OKA purchases are sure to be timeless picks; their collections are both stylish and relevant without being overly trend-driven or self conscious. They make items that command questions from visiting guests about where they can get it for themselves.Livia Ash Wood Bathroom Wall CabinetMaeve Scalloped Cotton Shower CurtainWhat to buy: Anthropologie has a wonderful array of ceramics, glassware, plant pots and candlesticks.Pros: Furniture made with a fashion savvy eye.Cons: Price point is slightly above the high street average.House & Garden's verdictWhether you’re shopping for decorative accessories or large furnishings like an armchair, take them out of context and many of Anthropologie's designs look much more high end than high street. They've recently launched a made to order collection of large pieces like sofas, armchairs and ottomans. They’ve cornered a sweet spot on the high street.Mid Century Vintage Oak And Brass Chest Of DrawersPair Of Stilnovo Style SconcesWhat to buy: Anything and everything. You'll find original anglepoise lamps alongside midcentury units and rattan bed frames. You can search by room, category, designer and period, so you needn't be an expert in design to find exactly what you're looking for.House & Garden's verdictSince launching in 2015, Vinterior has become the UK’s largest pre-owned furniture and homeware platform. Their website is home to nearly 300,000 hand selected items from 2,000 sellers. It's a one stop shop for characterful, pre-loved statement pieces.

[alexha2210]

House & Garden's verdictOur new found love of Darlings of Chelsea shows no sign of slowing, with richly upholstered furnishings to decorate your living space in both contemporary and traditional shapes. Their pieces are made to order, but thankfully their lead times are much shorter than many equivalent furniture shops.Which website sells cheap furniture?AccordionItemContainerButtonDepending on the site, buying from a cheap furniture brand can be a bit of a false economy. Whilst you might feel like you're getting a good deal, you will likely have to purchase the same item over and over as the quality simply won't stand the test of time. If you're looking for budget-friendly furniture, Ikea is probably the best place to head to. No, the quality of their MDF furniture won't match up to an antique piece, but for quick and easy bits of extra storage, it will do the job. Aside from the Swedish flat-packers, John Lewis's new range of Anyday furniture is much more accessible price-wise, without compromising on quality, and Habitat has some lovely retro style pieces - we particularly like their 60th anniversary collection.What are the best online furniture stores in the UK?AccordionItemContainerButtonHere at House & Garden we love discovering new interiors shops, makers and designers who are doing something creative or out of the ordinary. Our pages are full of bespoke furniture and lovingly crafted textiles and homeware accessories, and there's no doubt they're incredibly beautiful. However, more often than not, these artisanal furniture shops are expensive - justifiably so given the quality of their work - and not everyone can afford to invest in what they produce. In these instances, the high street is the place to go to!For those on a budget, or for those who are clever with their high-low mixing, there are plenty of high street retailers who offer stylish products that won't break the bank. With fashion brands increasingly entering the interiors space, and longstanding homewares brands upping their game to keep up in the style stakes, there has never been a better time to shop for furniture online via the major high street shops.Whilst everyone has different taste and budgets in the interiors world, there are a few fail safe online furniture shops that will suit most people's style, and offer pieces for both large and small spaces. These are shops from whom we at House & Garden have bought from. They all sell a range of furniture at high street prices and we feel that they best represent the intersection between affordability and quality. Each of these offers a wide range of furniture and accessories, so there's plenty to choose from.Best online furniture stores 2025Cedak Wood Chairs, Set of 2What to buy: From bookcases to console tables to bedside tables, this retailer has some of the best-designed and best priced pieces around. Just make sure to dig out a discount code as there’s generally always one available. Oh, and the AM.PM bedding, every time.Pros: Affordable price points.Cons: The website isn't the most user friendly.House & Garden's verdictThis French fancy has a seriously impressive range of practical items. Think affordable linen curtains, large wool rugs, mirrors and more recently, lighting. La Redoute is probably best known for its affordable furniture, with smart cane bed frames from just over £600 (our pick, the Madara, is on sale with 45% off at the moment!), and sets of dining chairs for a snip of the price you'd find them elsewhere.This isn't a tale of the cheap and cheerful though, as La Redoute's quality is reliably good. There's a reason La Redoute is in every interior designer’s little black book of the best online homeware shops.What to buy: Their selection of dried flowers and textiles is particularly lovely but special mention goes to their accent chairs, covered in deep pile bouclé and in mid century shapes.House & Garden's verdictH&M has long been a household name, providing our wardrobes with lovely clothes and accessories for years now. However, you may not have noticed their move into the interior space (even in spite of that enormous flagship near Oxford Circus, if you’re looking to shop in-store).Large Bayuban Chest Of DrawersMini Grisewood Wireless Lamp and ShadeWhat to buy: When adding finishing touches to a home, we’ve always got our eye on their attention-grabbing array of living room furniture, such as lamp bases and cushions.Pros: Well made, quality furniture. £60 flat rate delivery & a 30 day return window.House & Garden's verdictA classic for a reason, OKA is well known for its brilliant edit of lamps, rattan accessories and furniture. OKA purchases are sure to be timeless picks; their collections are both stylish and relevant without being overly trend-driven or self conscious. They make items that command questions from visiting guests about where they can get it for themselves.Livia Ash Wood Bathroom Wall CabinetMaeve Scalloped Cotton Shower CurtainWhat to buy: Anthropologie has a wonderful array of ceramics, glassware, plant pots and candlesticks.Pros: Furniture made with a fashion savvy eye.Cons: Price point is slightly above the high street average.House & Garden's verdictWhether you’re shopping for decorative accessories or large furnishings like an armchair, take them out of context and many of Anthropologie's designs look much more high end than high street. They've recently launched a made to order collection of large pieces like sofas, armchairs and ottomans. They’ve cornered a sweet spot on the high street.Mid Century Vintage Oak And Brass Chest Of DrawersPair Of Stilnovo Style SconcesWhat to buy: Anything and everything. You'll find original anglepoise lamps alongside midcentury units and rattan bed frames. You can search by room, category, designer and period, so you needn't be an expert in design to find exactly what you're looking for.House & Garden's verdictSince launching in 2015, Vinterior has become the UK’s largest pre-owned furniture and homeware platform. Their website is home to nearly 300,000 hand selected items from 2,000 sellers. It's a one stop shop for characterful, pre-loved statement pieces.

[rametarin]

Imagine you’re a man. It’s hip to hate on shoes, particularly big shoes, heavy duty shoes most of all, as shoes apparently are a source of pollution in this hypothetical. Shoes, they say, produce all kinds of harmful wastes. And they glowingly point out, men do all the polluting because men have bigger feet and have more jobs that require more support and protection.

So the EPA puts a massive tax on all shoes, and an even bigger tax specifically on men’s work boots. Oh lordy lordy, the cost of the pollution tax on men’s work boots, and it’s specifically the boots men prefer to use when working blue collar jobs and being self employed. By people that insist we should all wear paper sandals and ride segues or the bus everywhere, so we don’t “need” those great big brutish boots.

Well, now as a man you pay an exorbitant fee for boots. And even worse, the way the EPA has decided to charge you for your boots, you will be charged the most for the sensibly sized boots vs. bigger, screaming Texas clownshoe cowboy boots. You want more affordable boots? For some counterintuitive reason, the shoe companies are taxed less when they sell bigger, more gaudy, more garish boots to men. Effectively, as a man, you can buy a normal, economic, fittingly sized shoe for a ridiculous premium for NO OTHER REASON than because the taxes to manufacture and sell them drives them up in the store and raises the price for the end user (marketplace manipulation by the government)

Or, you can buy a veritable clown shoe for cheaper, for some reason. The EPA has determined a smaller shoe that’s lighter and uses less material is somehow more pollutive than a great big clownshoe of a workboot and doesn’t tax those ones quite so much, despite being a bigger source of pollution.

And suddenly men are forced to get the most out of the dollars, and their dollars hit a wall and die buying the sensible product. So, they opt for the slightly bigger clownshoe workboot instead, since they lose nothing for doing so and get more for their dollar they’re forced to give up anyway. Why not get the shoes with the bells and whistles if they cost the same as the simple small set?

And now fast forwards to 2023, where you have people that don’t really like shoes, and especially hate men’s workboots, mocking the choice like school bullies. Knowing full well it was anti-shoe culture policies arbitrarily imposed on shoemakers/sellers, to economically incentivize (read: bully) people to either buy bigger, ridiculous boots, buy the normal sized but lose more money than you should, or go barefoot. You’ll either be shamed and called ridiculous for your stupid giant boots and how much space they take up, or you’ll pay for your normal assed workboots like a premium luxury tax, so the government can take a bigger slice of the transaction and business pie.

Our big truck problem is a direct result of automotive manufacturers and dealers having to struggle with nonsensical regulations that counterintuitively punish truck owners for buying trucks and make them pay more to have them, or make them buy bigger trucks just to get more value out of the bigger expense.

In an era where we call being forced to buy your own tampons or hygiene products a, “pink tax,” it’s still heresy to call shit like making smaller, essential self-employment and utility vehicles more expensive than much larger trucks a, “blue tax.” Even more ironic because pink is typically associated with femininity, and modern society will be the first to tell you, men use tampons too. While blue collar is unisex, and a good truck with a nice big bed is synonymous with small business and professions.

We’ll see more sensible sized American trucks gain more popularity when electric trucks are more a thing, because electric trucks get around arbitrary and pointless EPA silhouette-to-gas-consumption taxes that punish small trucks for being small trucks. And then everybody will try to talk about, “changing attitudes among the youth,” just to shit on the strawman legacy they created imagining big truck america as some MAGA hat wearing, bigoted, coal rolling monster. When the reality is, big truck America was happily helped along by people that don’t like personal automotive transport anyway, and saw an opportunity to disincentivize their ownership while making more money off those that use them. They created this normal by meddling with how expensive it is to sell something and affect the market in such a slapshod, seemingly deliberately fucked up way. Then acted like it was totally just a matter of runaway American machismo.

[tumibaba]

House & Garden's verdictOur new found love of Darlings of Chelsea shows no sign of slowing, with richly upholstered furnishings to decorate your living space in both contemporary and traditional shapes. Their pieces are made to order, but thankfully their lead times are much shorter than many equivalent furniture shops.Which website sells cheap furniture?AccordionItemContainerButtonDepending on the site, buying from a cheap furniture brand can be a bit of a false economy. Whilst you might feel like you're getting a good deal, you will likely have to purchase the same item over and over as the quality simply won't stand the test of time. If you're looking for budget-friendly furniture, Ikea is probably the best place to head to. No, the quality of their MDF furniture won't match up to an antique piece, but for quick and easy bits of extra storage, it will do the job. Aside from the Swedish flat-packers, John Lewis's new range of Anyday furniture is much more accessible price-wise, without compromising on quality, and Habitat has some lovely retro style pieces - we particularly like their 60th anniversary collection.What are the best online furniture stores in the UK?AccordionItemContainerButtonHere at House & Garden we love discovering new interiors shops, makers and designers who are doing something creative or out of the ordinary. Our pages are full of bespoke furniture and lovingly crafted textiles and homeware accessories, and there's no doubt they're incredibly beautiful. However, more often than not, these artisanal furniture shops are expensive - justifiably so given the quality of their work - and not everyone can afford to invest in what they produce. In these instances, the high street is the place to go to!For those on a budget, or for those who are clever with their high-low mixing, there are plenty of high street retailers who offer stylish products that won't break the bank. With fashion brands increasingly entering the interiors space, and longstanding homewares brands upping their game to keep up in the style stakes, there has never been a better time to shop for furniture online via the major high street shops.Whilst everyone has different taste and budgets in the interiors world, there are a few fail safe online furniture shops that will suit most people's style, and offer pieces for both large and small spaces. These are shops from whom we at House & Garden have bought from. They all sell a range of furniture at high street prices and we feel that they best represent the intersection between affordability and quality. Each of these offers a wide range of furniture and accessories, so there's plenty to choose from.Best online furniture stores 2025Cedak Wood Chairs, Set of 2What to buy: From bookcases to console tables to bedside tables, this retailer has some of the best-designed and best priced pieces around. Just make sure to dig out a discount code as there’s generally always one available. Oh, and the AM.PM bedding, every time.Pros: Affordable price points.Cons: The website isn't the most user friendly.House & Garden's verdictThis French fancy has a seriously impressive range of practical items. Think affordable linen curtains, large wool rugs, mirrors and more recently, lighting. La Redoute is probably best known for its affordable furniture, with smart cane bed frames from just over £600 (our pick, the Madara, is on sale with 45% off at the moment!), and sets of dining chairs for a snip of the price you'd find them elsewhere.This isn't a tale of the cheap and cheerful though, as La Redoute's quality is reliably good. There's a reason La Redoute is in every interior designer’s little black book of the best online homeware shops.What to buy: Their selection of dried flowers and textiles is particularly lovely but special mention goes to their accent chairs, covered in deep pile bouclé and in mid century shapes.House & Garden's verdictH&M has long been a household name, providing our wardrobes with lovely clothes and accessories for years now. However, you may not have noticed their move into the interior space (even in spite of that enormous flagship near Oxford Circus, if you’re looking to shop in-store).Large Bayuban Chest Of DrawersMini Grisewood Wireless Lamp and ShadeWhat to buy: When adding finishing touches to a home, we’ve always got our eye on their attention-grabbing array of living room furniture, such as lamp bases and cushions.Pros: Well made, quality furniture. £60 flat rate delivery & a 30 day return window.House & Garden's verdictA classic for a reason, OKA is well known for its brilliant edit of lamps, rattan accessories and furniture. OKA purchases are sure to be timeless picks; their collections are both stylish and relevant without being overly trend-driven or self conscious. They make items that command questions from visiting guests about where they can get it for themselves.Livia Ash Wood Bathroom Wall CabinetMaeve Scalloped Cotton Shower CurtainWhat to buy: Anthropologie has a wonderful array of ceramics, glassware, plant pots and candlesticks.Pros: Furniture made with a fashion savvy eye.Cons: Price point is slightly above the high street average.House & Garden's verdictWhether you’re shopping for decorative accessories or large furnishings like an armchair, take them out of context and many of Anthropologie's designs look much more high end than high street. They've recently launched a made to order collection of large pieces like sofas, armchairs and ottomans. They’ve cornered a sweet spot on the high street.Mid Century Vintage Oak And Brass Chest Of DrawersPair Of Stilnovo Style SconcesWhat to buy: Anything and everything. You'll find original anglepoise lamps alongside midcentury units and rattan bed frames. You can search by room, category, designer and period, so you needn't be an expert in design to find exactly what you're looking for.House & Garden's verdictSince launching in 2015, Vinterior has become the UK’s largest pre-owned furniture and homeware platform. Their website is home to nearly 300,000 hand selected items from 2,000 sellers. It's a one stop shop for characterful, pre-loved statement pieces.

[romaleen]

House & Garden's verdictOur new found love of Darlings of Chelsea shows no sign of slowing, with richly upholstered furnishings to decorate your living space in both contemporary and traditional shapes. Their pieces are made to order, but thankfully their lead times are much shorter than many equivalent furniture shops.Which website sells cheap furniture?AccordionItemContainerButtonDepending on the site, buying from a cheap furniture brand can be a bit of a false economy. Whilst you might feel like you're getting a good deal, you will likely have to purchase the same item over and over as the quality simply won't stand the test of time. If you're looking for budget-friendly furniture, Ikea is probably the best place to head to. No, the quality of their MDF furniture won't match up to an antique piece, but for quick and easy bits of extra storage, it will do the job. Aside from the Swedish flat-packers, John Lewis's new range of Anyday furniture is much more accessible price-wise, without compromising on quality, and Habitat has some lovely retro style pieces - we particularly like their 60th anniversary collection.What are the best online furniture stores in the UK?AccordionItemContainerButtonHere at House & Garden we love discovering new interiors shops, makers and designers who are doing something creative or out of the ordinary. Our pages are full of bespoke furniture and lovingly crafted textiles and homeware accessories, and there's no doubt they're incredibly beautiful. However, more often than not, these artisanal furniture shops are expensive - justifiably so given the quality of their work - and not everyone can afford to invest in what they produce. In these instances, the high street is the place to go to!For those on a budget, or for those who are clever with their high-low mixing, there are plenty of high street retailers who offer stylish products that won't break the bank. With fashion brands increasingly entering the interiors space, and longstanding homewares brands upping their game to keep up in the style stakes, there has never been a better time to shop for furniture online via the major high street shops.Whilst everyone has different taste and budgets in the interiors world, there are a few fail safe online furniture shops that will suit most people's style, and offer pieces for both large and small spaces. These are shops from whom we at House & Garden have bought from. They all sell a range of furniture at high street prices and we feel that they best represent the intersection between affordability and quality. Each of these offers a wide range of furniture and accessories, so there's plenty to choose from.Best online furniture stores 2025Cedak Wood Chairs, Set of 2What to buy: From bookcases to console tables to bedside tables, this retailer has some of the best-designed and best priced pieces around. Just make sure to dig out a discount code as there’s generally always one available. Oh, and the AM.PM bedding, every time.Pros: Affordable price points.Cons: The website isn't the most user friendly.House & Garden's verdictThis French fancy has a seriously impressive range of practical items. Think affordable linen curtains, large wool rugs, mirrors and more recently, lighting. La Redoute is probably best known for its affordable furniture, with smart cane bed frames from just over £600 (our pick, the Madara, is on sale with 45% off at the moment!), and sets of dining chairs for a snip of the price you'd find them elsewhere.This isn't a tale of the cheap and cheerful though, as La Redoute's quality is reliably good. There's a reason La Redoute is in every interior designer’s little black book of the best online homeware shops.What to buy: Their selection of dried flowers and textiles is particularly lovely but special mention goes to their accent chairs, covered in deep pile bouclé and in mid century shapes.House & Garden's verdictH&M has long been a household name, providing our wardrobes with lovely clothes and accessories for years now. However, you may not have noticed their move into the interior space (even in spite of that enormous flagship near Oxford Circus, if you’re looking to shop in-store).Large Bayuban Chest Of DrawersMini Grisewood Wireless Lamp and ShadeWhat to buy: When adding finishing touches to a home, we’ve always got our eye on their attention-grabbing array of living room furniture, such as lamp bases and cushions.Pros: Well made, quality furniture. £60 flat rate delivery & a 30 day return window.House & Garden's verdictA classic for a reason, OKA is well known for its brilliant edit of lamps, rattan accessories and furniture. OKA purchases are sure to be timeless picks; their collections are both stylish and relevant without being overly trend-driven or self conscious. They make items that command questions from visiting guests about where they can get it for themselves.Livia Ash Wood Bathroom Wall CabinetMaeve Scalloped Cotton Shower CurtainWhat to buy: Anthropologie has a wonderful array of ceramics, glassware, plant pots and candlesticks.Pros: Furniture made with a fashion savvy eye.Cons: Price point is slightly above the high street average.House & Garden's verdictWhether you’re shopping for decorative accessories or large furnishings like an armchair, take them out of context and many of Anthropologie's designs look much more high end than high street. They've recently launched a made to order collection of large pieces like sofas, armchairs and ottomans. They’ve cornered a sweet spot on the high street.Mid Century Vintage Oak And Brass Chest Of DrawersPair Of Stilnovo Style SconcesWhat to buy: Anything and everything. You'll find original anglepoise lamps alongside midcentury units and rattan bed frames. You can search by room, category, designer and period, so you needn't be an expert in design to find exactly what you're looking for.House & Garden's verdictSince launching in 2015, Vinterior has become the UK’s largest pre-owned furniture and homeware platform. Their website is home to nearly 300,000 hand selected items from 2,000 sellers. It's a one stop shop for characterful, pre-loved statement pieces.