Why I’ve Started Buying Almost Everything from China—and You Should Too I remember the first time I ordered something directly from China. It was 2018, and I was a broke grad student living in a cramped apartment in Austin, Texas. I needed a new desk lamp, but the ones at Target were either ugly or overpriced. On a whim, I scrolled through AliExpress and found a sleek, adjustable LED lamp for $12—shipping included. Three weeks later, it arrived, and honestly? It’s still on my desk today. That little lamp opened a door I never knew existed. Fast forward to now: I’m a full-time freelance writer and content creator in Portland,…