I try to personally, legally, starve the beast. I try to avoid anything with an attached tax, or find a way to pay less. I will not voluntarily be used as a slave simply because the self serving politicians need my sweat equity to buy votes for themselves.
I by used, make my own, swap services for services. I buy used cars (less consumer tax) and drive them until they die (I call them "disposable"). We do our own car repairs. Books on car repair for any vehicle are easily accessible.
I use food products to make my own cleaning supplies as much as possible. Food is non-taxable. A search engine will offer ideas if anyone else is interested.
I don't buy prepared food. It's taxable. I cook my own. If we travel, we go in groups (gas taxes) and pack food for the trip (Chic Fil A is the only exception to the rule right now) .
I buy from E-Bay, Amazon PERSONAL sellers, flea markets (all non-taxable for now).
I prefer non electric items, because why pay the extra taxes on the electric bill? Besides, with the economic situation today, tomorrow there may not be electricity available.
After awhile, this becomes more of a game and a lifestyle. Not only does it help us and not the politicians, it gives us something more productive to do than sit in front of a TV all day, whine about taxes, and simply pay.
If every tax slave in the country tried their best to avoid attached taxes, even if just a little, the beast would be left with very little to eat.
We can survive without the governments money, but the government can't survive without ours.
I salute you for doing your part!
Now, as to ebay and amazon...Nothing wrong with buying from ebay and amazon, but let me tell you they are very difficult on those smaller sellers. On ebay for example, a seller can add shipping costs to the price of an item, but he won’t get that money or any other funds from the sale, until 3 weeks after he ships at his own expense. Paypal and ebay will see to it. Amazon also keeps a seller waiting, while demanding that they ship and trust Amazon. Ebay’s latest policy atrocity is to offer buyers the option of a “partial refund” when they’re not satisfied. Thus if a buyer doesn’t care for the price he willingly paid he can always plan on being dissatisfied, maybe get himself a retroactive discount; it’s all up to ebay arbitration, and ebay tends to favor the buyer. (Read ebay’s community forums sometime, see what sellers’ experiences have been.)
Therefore while I admit ebay is a buyer’s paradise (especially for bad faith buyers looking to take advantage), I take any opportunity that presents itself, to recommend bonanza.com. They treat their sellers far better, listings are free; they don’t try to police communications between sellers and buyers; they permit sellers to state that they will accept money orders and checks. They don’t hold the funds or let Paypal hold them. Sellers don’t have to ship until payment is in their hands, literally.
Bonanza hasn’t the quantity and variety of bigger sites, but if you’re looking for something, please look there first!