cost of living is expensive

1. Have you all observed that the quality of many products seems to have declined recently? I am not referring to the broader issues facing the world today, but rather to the tangible items we purchase, which appear to be of inferior quality compared to a decade ago. This realization struck me when my colleague Izzie shared her experience of needing to replace a bra. In response, I decided to take the typical approach of purchasing the same item from the same retailer. However, after a few weeks, the product began to deteriorate. This prompted me to reflect on the numerous conversations I have had with others who have expressed similar frustrations. From coffee machines to smartphones, computers, and clothing, it seems that these items are failing or breaking much sooner than they used to. What is the underlying cause of this trend? Is there a way to escape this overwhelming accumulation of subpar consumer goods? Let us examine this issue from a fundamental perspective, beginning with the design process. When a company sets out to create a product, such as a jacket, there are three primary considerations: functionality (does it perform its intended purpose?), appearance (is it visually appealing?), and manufacturability (is it feasible and cost-effective to produce in large quantities?). Ideally, a successful product strikes a harmonious balance among these three elements. However, in recent years, this equilibrium has been disrupted. Take clothing, for instance. In the past, if one required a new jacket, the typical course of action was to visit a tailor, get fitted, select materials, and have a custom piece crafted. Over the decades, this practice shifted towards purchasing mass-produced items from department stores. By the 1980s and 1990s, consumers enjoyed a plethora of options and retail outlets. Today, many of us simply shop online, clicking "add to cart" without ever physically inspecting the product. This shift in purchasing behavior is compounded by the frequency with which we buy. A significant contributor to this phenomenon can be traced back to Ernest Elmo, a figure from the 1930s who, during the Great Depression, advocated for the concept of planned obsolescence in a paper