Do you remember Covid response letters? At the start of the pandemic companies would send out Covid response letters to their customers. These emails started arriving after March 2020. These announcements created a way for companies to share their new rules of engagement and actions.

It would tell you things like new health-related rules for visiting their retail locations, how they were taking care of their employees and anything they were doing to ensure everyone stayed safe.

Today I received a letter that is the tariff version of Covid response letters.

It came from Grand and Toy. It was warning me that soon I may see price adjustments on the Grand and Toy website.

Grand and Toy is a company that has operated in Canada for 140 years. They sell stationary and other office supplies. In 1996 they were purchased by the American company OfficeMax. Later in 2021, Grand and Toy came under a new sub-division of OfficeMax called ODP.

Across Canada, Grand and Toy once boasted numerous retail stores. Now they operate primarily online.

After I received the letter, the first thing that came to my mind was, “I think I should learn how to make paper.”

This may seem like a far-fetched idea. However, hyper-inflation has happened in other countries. In light of the madness and unprovoked attacks that have been happening recently, It isn’t so far-fetched for it to happen in Canada. So, I am preparing myself mentally.

If the price of printer-paper gets out of hand due to the tariffs, I may need to learn how to make paper.

Right now, I get inexpensive paper from Dollarama for under $5. However, if you buy your stationary elsewhere, the tariffs could have an effect on your stationary purchases. If tariffs cause stationary to go up from $5 to $10, then $15, then $25, you may need to learn how to make paper.

Alternately, you may change your definition of the word “need”.

Thankfully, three years ago, a work-related experience made me realize what I really need to live.

I had just finished a project for a company. I had a little time off. I decided to use that time to come to PEI to look into more affordable housing.

Almost immediately after I arrived, the company contacted me and asked me to do some additional work. So, I interrupted my vacation and started working from my hotel room in Charlottetown.

Due to an unexpected chain of events, I ended up living in, and working from that hotel for three weeks.

Living in a hotel for three weeks away from my stuff made me realize what I really need in life.

I came away from that experience with a changed definition of need.

I now believe that a human needs 5 things.

1)     Food

2)     A comfortable space (in a safe, hygienic environment)

3)     Clothing

4)     Internet Access

5)     Some interesting work to do.

Later on, I came to realize that this interesting work could be volunteer work, housework, being a stay-at-home parent, or just whatever keeps you engaged in living a meaningful life.

So now that I am mentally preparing for price increases, that list of real needs will be top of mind.

To prepare, I am also reminding myself that 150 years ago, there was no electricity and 32 years ago there was no internet.

People lived happy, productive lives without falling apart.

This new reality may be a harsh one to deal with if you value technological innovation and see this as a slowing down of progress.

I just want to tell you that there is another way to look at it. Look at it as if it’s what we need to do right now to get through a difficult time.

I know that this is hard to do.

It is bad enough that Canadians just lived through major price gouging from some supermarkets. I did not enjoy paying $11.00 for a bunch of asparagus and I don’t want to go back there any time soon.

However, I can’t ignore the letter I just received. It had an ominous feeling to it. I can’t shake this feeling that there is more to come. As of March 13, some companies are already laying off employees because of the tariffs.

So, I am sharing this with you.

You can live a very happy fulfilling life without “your next Amazon purchase”.

Spring is coming. Outside is starting to look nice.

There is a lot of joy to be had outside of a debit/credit card.

Have a plan to avoid any “guilty pleasure” inflated purchases.

Have a plan to redefine a fulfilling life.

Have a plan to understand the moment we are living in and embrace it with strength.

We can get through this.

 

PDF of The 67 American Products to Boycott If Tariffs Against Canada Are Implemented

How to Boycott 67 US Products to Combat Tariffs Against Canada

How To Replace 67 American Products You Use With Canadian Products