Made in U.S.A. How much more are you willing to pay?

It all started with a Muffin Pan and my new obsession with Quiche, Mini-quiches to be exact. In finding new ways to use all the eggs my chickens are giving us I started making mini-quiches in an old muffin pan. The pan is pretty done in as you can see from the photo so I had to use paper muffin cups.

It's time for a new pan. I did spot one on of my favorite websites www.kingarthurflour.com a little pricey for me but it had great reviews and the plus it was Made in the USA. I put it on my wish list and moved on.

This week I ran into Target to get something quick before work. I had to go by kitchen goods so I make a detour. There I saw an inexpensive one from Wilton a name we have all heard. I picked it up to see the quality. The first thing I noticed was Made In China, down it went and I picked up the Kitchen Aid pan. Better quality, almost twice the price though still less than the one I liked online but wait…yes this too was Made In China.

I left without a muffin pan. A year ago I would had left with the Kitchen Aid muffin pan not minding that it cost more than the Wilton because in some items quality matters. Something clicked in that moment though. Could I find a muffin Pan Made in the USA that would fit in my budget? I know I am only one person but with today’s economy and so many people losing their jobs when manufacturing goes overseas suddenly I was not only thinking about the quality I was thinking about where it is made and how my shopping choices might impact that.

Who knew my little trip to Target to get my Diet Coke before work would lead me to this big debate within myself. How much more am I willing to pay for a Made in the USA product?

On certain types of items I have always been willing to pay more for quality if it matters. Take a coat. I will pay for a LL Bean jacket for me, knowing I will have it for many years. I am not willing to pay for my kids to have jackets from LL Bean knowing they are going to outgrow them within the year and a “no name” coat is going to keep them just as warm. I will admit I will buy them the boots from LL Bean because I don’t think the boots I get from Payless will keep them as warm and dry with our New England winters. (It’s January we have had no snow. Next year I will have to put up 2 hardly used LL Bean boots boys size 3 on Craigslist anyone interested?)

Choices are never simple. If I want to change my thinking on how I buy not only do I have to now figure in quality but also where it is made when I plan my budget. I like most average Americans have a budget.

So I soul searched. Yes as an American I believe it is important to buy American when possible. That day in Target it was not possible for me to leave with a muffin pan Made in U.S.A and I could continue using they yucky muffin cups a bit longer. Sometimes availability and urgency are not going to make it possible. If I needed to cook a dozen muffins that day (assuming that I did not have the yucky pan and muffin cups) I would had left with the Kitchen Aid. In this case I had time to go online and search for a muffin pan Made in U.S.A. Now you are going to say "didn’t that take a lot of time?" A bit but for me it was worth the effort and it is going to be a take conscious effort on my part to change the way I shop.

I also have to figure out what products are worth the time. A muffin pan I am going to have hopefully for a lifetime if I pay for quality. Current muffin pan not quality and boxed away in the garage for many years. What types of items will I look at to see if Made in U.S.A? I am not sure. I look around me at the items on my desk. Box of Mead white envelopes? Good Made in U.S.A. We only buy envelopes every couple of years. If I am at Staples and I have two choices of envelopes one is Made in U.S.A. another is a bit less and the other is not made here I will go for the Made in U.S.A. If neither are Made in U.S.A. I will probably not go online to find envelopes and just go for the cheapest. How about my wireless router? That was Made in China. Now I think I would take the time and see if I could find one Made in U.S.A.

Little everyday items I am willing to spend a little more on depending on how often I buy them but I am not willing yet to put in much effort to go completely Made in U.S.A. for them.For large ticket items that will have a longer life yes on more money and more effort.

How about you? How much effort and time would you put in to buy Made in U.S.A? How much more money would you be willing to spend? What if it was for another cause you believed in? Going Green? What is the level of effort, time and money?

I beleive in shopping local and with a Small Business when I can. Yep more of my “causes”. So I’ll take this a step further. If I knew there was a local independent shop that sold muffins pans made in U.S.A. I would support my local economy and buy it there.

Okay you cynics who are saying it is ridiculous for me to believe I will single handily save the economy by buying more Made in U.S.A. Duh! But I am going to be a drop in the ocean that causes a ripple. Think about it.

As for the muffin pan I did get the one I really wanted from King Athur's Flour an employee owned company in Vermont. Love that. I happened to need a couple of things which got me the 20% if you buy 3 or more pans discount. I still paid more for the pan which was made in the U.S.A. but I was willing to spend it.

Thanks for "listening" to me ramble,

JenzaLynn

P.S. a sidebar about LL Bean here is a link to an article about their hunting boots being Made in the US http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ll-bean-boot-gets-kick-173715613.html

Not all their products are but I do like their Social Responsibility views http://www.llbean.com/outdoorsOnline/conservationAndEnvironment/index.html?nav=ftlink

Lots of get Made in the U.S.A. websites out there. Just give it a search.