Went shopping with a friend
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
January 19, 2009 5:45pm CST
I have been going shopping on my own since my husband gave up his driver's license, so I have been going out every two days even when it was too cold to go because if not, we would run out. So yesterday I was talking to my friend and she said that we could go today since that is her main grocery shopping day. I usually go on Tuesdays or Wednesdays, but since both those days were busy for her, it was today.
So I had a list made up, and we were on our way. Now usually when my husband and I went shopping, it took forever, going up and down the aisles and he would look at things we had no intention to buy. But when my friend and I went shopping, first to the meat and cheese section, then to the produce section, and last to the aisle section, we were finished in no time.
So the question is for those who shop, is it faster shopping with your spouse, with a friend, or by yourself?
7 people like this
33 responses
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
20 Jan 09
I always shop faster when alone and with a list. When someone is with me I am slower maybe because I am talking or helping them look for stuff or distracted. So for me it is faster and easier to shop alone. You can get in,get what you need and get out.
1 person likes this
@mtdewgurl74 (18151)
• United States
27 Jan 09
Me too! I always head straight for the fruit and veggies first.
. then to the other stuff.
. then to the other stuff.1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
28 Jan 09
That's the best idea. After all, is not our health the most important? 
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
27 Jan 09
I am the same way. I know what to get and when I am with someone, I have to see where they are in case we go a different way, and if they go down the aisles, I have to see where they are. When I am alone, I forget about aisles. I just know where the stuff is and make a bee line to it, and I always do the produce section first.
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
20 Jan 09
Back in Thailand, grocery shopping is always with my wife. However yesterday we spent a day in Perth shopping for ourselves, and also buying gifts for friends back in Thailand. I spent most of the time sittting outside stores having sales, while my wife shopped. I would have prefered for us to go to seperate stores (I was looking for IT stuff). However I didn't mind waiting for her, as she takes such good care of me through the year, and she may have gotten lost.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
22 Jan 09
I find here there are many husbands who shop with their wives, mostly retired and those who work the afternoon shift. I do not like that as much as the husbands think that buying fruits and vegetables more expensive then buying meat.
1 person likes this
@mipen2006 (5528)
• Australia
22 Jan 09
I never interfere with what my wife buys.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
It is easier with a friend but with husbands, it is difficult. I prefer to go either by myself or with a friend since then we know what we want and go and get it, while with men it is slower.
@eshaan (6188)
• India
26 Jan 09
well i dont go wid my hubby ever for my personal things, clothes or sandals or anything it may be, he is always in hurry and in that much time i cant even decide my choice, i odnt like taking things in such hurry, i decide after thinking and dont want to buy wrong things and then go for changing etc...so i do it with my friends or realtives.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I prefer shopping alone and can get more done that way in less time.
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
14 Feb 09
We have to have our kids with us when shopping, so it can take awhile. Having said that, we usually know what we are looking for and where to find it, so that helps.
I also spend a bit of time just looking at stuff so I know what is there and what I might want next time.
I find that going through the checkout takes just as much time as the shopping itself, which is rather annoying.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
14 Feb 09
The other day, that is two weeks ago, we went shopping and there was no enough cashiers, there were at least four checkouts that were closed and there were at least five or six people with full carts piled up. Now this does not just happens on Saturdays, this also happens every day of the week except for Sunday when the store is closed. I mean why not hire some more cashiers?
1 person likes this
@newzealtralian (3930)
• Australia
25 Feb 09
It is the same here. You'd think these businesses would want to keep their customers happy by having more registers open, but it is all about the profits they can make now to them. It must be nice to be able to lose customers and still rake in the big money.
@shoobeedoowap (63)
• Philippines
21 Jan 09
shopping by yourself is more faster than taking someone shopping with you... thats my personal opinion because shopping alone can make you move faster and you can be fast too because you dnt talked much...
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I talk to myself. Must be going crazy, but I know what I want and I do not like browsing that much.
but I know what I want and I do not like browsing that much.
@KrauseHome (36448)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Well, since I choose not to drive, for the most part if I am going to buy very much, I have to go shopping with someone else. So for the most part, I will go with my husband. He is actually one who will listen, so it is never a problem. Usually it is me that needs to take time and go thru all of the aisles so many times he is trying to rush me a little faster. But the nice thing is since he does not mind doing Grocery shopping, I can send him to the Store when I am sick like now with a list of items to get, and that is all he will buy as well.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I do not drive and my husband cannot drive anymore because of health problems, he had a stroke and he has arthritis in his hands, so I either have to walk down there or go with a friend if I have a lot to pick up.
@wolfie34 (26771)
• United Kingdom
20 Jan 09
Definitely by myself, I haven't got the patience, the compromise to go around shops with someone and wait around as they look at things they want to look at, I am not a keen shopper any how so I want to get it over and done with, I know what I want so I go into the shops and get what I need and that's it. Buying food is slightly different in that I enjoy going around doing food shopping with friends, but anything other than food then it's got to be a solo trip.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I love shopping, but I find, except when going grocery shopping, i tend to go where they want. And I going with my husband because in the department stores he goes around the edge and of course, there is nothing there. While in the grocery store, he goes up and down the aisles, and of course, the produce and the bargains are around the edge. Drives me crazy. So I prefer to shop alone.
@callarse1 (4783)
• United States
21 Jan 09
Cheers! How are you doing? Uh oh. I'm sorry to hear that. I didn't realize that your spouse had to give up his license...is he too ill to drive? Did your friend drive you? It is nice to drive if it's a long walk for you.
Awww, you asked me about how long it takes to go shopping? Normally when I'm alone it's faster. With my parents it's quick too. It takes longest if we go with my father or with my grandparents. My father (like your husband) wants to look at EVERY item. My grandma does that, too. The grocery store we go to has kitchen items, too (coffee makers, mixers, et al)....they look at all that stuff... I feel it's a waste of time especially if you're not going to buy it, right? My grandma can be very bad cos once we were shopping in the grocery store for 2 hours! 
Cheers!
Pablo
Awww, you asked me about how long it takes to go shopping? Normally when I'm alone it's faster. With my parents it's quick too. It takes longest if we go with my father or with my grandparents. My father (like your husband) wants to look at EVERY item. My grandma does that, too. The grocery store we go to has kitchen items, too (coffee makers, mixers, et al)....they look at all that stuff... I feel it's a waste of time especially if you're not going to buy it, right? My grandma can be very bad cos once we were shopping in the grocery store for 2 hours!
Cheers!
Pablo1 person likes this
@Yestheypayme2dothis (7874)
• United States
20 Jan 09
My husband likes to go fast so it would have to be my husband. I don't shop with friends. If I shop by myself it takes longer. When I shop with my mom we get more accomplished in less time.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
My husband and I used to shop together, until he could not do it, and he would take his time going through the aisles, but when we got to the produce, he wanted to rush through it, so I am happy going by myself.
@marketing07 (6266)
• South Korea
20 Jan 09
hello suspenseful,when i go shopping with my husband we are going to finished in no time coz he doesnt like to look around he will just go to the section where we are going to buy ,but if i had with my friend it takes time coz we look around ..have a nice day
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I am the one who wants to go and get things, but my husband wants to go up each aisle. I do not like that because I can find more things to buy and I do not like doing it. I usually make a list unless I am just getting a few things and I prefer to go by myself.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I like shopping by myself or with a friend. We know what we want and we do not tell the other person, that they should not get that, however with my husband it is different he tells me what to get. I figure I know enough about shopping to not waste money.
@cynthiann (18602)
• Jamaica
20 Jan 09
And I hope that you enjoyed a coffee or something together before you went home! I hate shopping for food with a passion. I did not like doing it with my husband because he would read all the labels and seemed to have an obsession woth toilet peper. He would be so indecisive about toilet paper. He would compare the number of sheets on each roll and then whether it was a single or double sheet. He could spend a half hour trying to decide which brand to buy. I am not joking. Do you know how many arguments we had by the aisle that housed toilet paper? Too numerous to mention.
I like going groecery shopping with a like minded person. I will start one end and rattled off what I need and she will scuttle along helping me to pick up, pay up and head out.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
My husband is the same way, but now we have decided on a particular brand (after he went through the comparing the number of sheets on each roll) so now that is all right. He made a mistake with paper towels, and said we had to buy a certain brand because it was cheaper - and wasted more paper. So he gave up on that idea. So now I shop alone, or with someone who does not interfere with my choice if I have to get a whole lot at one time.
@ank_47 (1959)
• India
20 Jan 09
i go shopping with my husband and he will scolds me to do shopping in less time. but i see all the things in the shop and do shopping leasurely. but he won;t like it and tell to see the needy things. quite opposite than u ,in our family.
so if i go lonely only , i can shop all things i like .but i will try my level best to do shopping in less time.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I love shopping alone, unless there is something heavy, then I have to go with someone as I do not drive, and it is best with a friend rather with my husband.
@checapricorn (16061)
• United States
20 Jan 09
[i]Hi suspenseful,
It takes so fast when I am with my hubby! He will only love to go directly to the places where we need stuff and go home! LOL!
I am the type of person who will be tempted to stop by and look around!
Glad to hear that you were able to do things as fast as that with friends![/i]
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
My husband is the type who will go through the aisles and say "we cannot afford that, we cannot afford this," I think he figures that by some miracle, the prices will suddenly at that second be half off so he can get that. I prefer to go right to the produce section and will look at the canned stuff later, after the frozen food section of course. We have a limited budget so cannot get all that we want anyway, even if now I shop alone or with a friend.
@KarenO52 (2950)
• United States
20 Jan 09
When I go with with my husband it's much faster than when I go alone. I too make up a list when I go, but if I go alone, I go through all the aisles just to make sure I don't miss something I might need that I forgot to put on the list. I'm a half hour away from the closest stores, so I try to stock up on everything so I don't have to waste time and gas going back out sooner than I want to.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I prefer to go by myself, and I usually keep to the list, and that is because I want to save money and I want to get home quickly. If I go with a friend we will go in her car, and I can get more, but with myself I can only get what I can carry, that is until I get a shopping cart.
@MAMABLAZE (242)
• United States
20 Jan 09
Usually if I have a list and someone else has driven to the store I am done very fast. I don't tend to stop and look at additional items on these occasions. If I have driven myself I'm not often in a hurry so therefore take my time while there. If I am short of funds I stick strictly to the list and am in and out fast.Now if hubby goes I end up spending more and taking what seems forever to get done. Of course this rarely ever happens, he doesn't like to go grocery shopping and it's usually my time out of house. So I must say the speediness of my trip depends on a number of different factors. I cannot give a cut and dry answer for you to this one only a few different scenarios...Mamablaze!!
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
When I am by myself I get done quickly. If I go with a friend, it takes a little longer because then I can get more since we have the car. But we both get done quickly. But with my husband, he would want to go down all the aisles to see if we needed everything, but I did not like that, because I prefer to go to the produce, and dairy section first and get the essentials, then we can look at the cans later.
@bombshell (11256)
• Germany
20 Jan 09
i always shop with my little girl becasece if with hubby we can´t buy the way we wanted to buy,he likes some stuff we like but if bag he against it because i have lots of it.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
That sounds like my husband and I. I do my shopping alone or with a friend if I need a lot at once, and I am waiting for the day when he just looks at the price on the list and not what I bought. There are things I figure we need, but I cannot get.
@yanzalong (18984)
• Indonesia
20 Jan 09
What happens to me is different. It is my wife who spends time for ever. She has a list of things to buy but finishes off with nothing to buy. This is probably because the items she plans to buy are more expensive than she thinks. She sometimes asks me if the thing is too expensive or not. So what do I do when she's shopping. As usual, just window shopping waiting for her call, telling me that it's time to go home.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I do a lot of window shopping, but I prefer it to do it alone and it takes me a while to decide if something is worth it or not. HOwever, when I am grocery shopping, I know what I want and will get it done quickly alone.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
29 Jan 09
I do most of my shopping in one big box grocery store, and when my husband and I went together, he wanted to go up the aisles and then it would take longer because he wanted to see what we could not afford, while when I am alone, I will go first to teh produce and the dairy section, the meat section, and then do the aisles and only get what I need and I do it much faster.
