Don't Eat Don't Drink
By Amber
@AmbiePam (120686)
United States
October 21, 2011 12:25pm CST
You know how they tell you not to go shopping when you are hungry because you'll buy more than you intended? Well, I think they should add don't go to the grocery store when you're thirsty. I'm walking through the store and every beverage looks good to me. I ended up buying a bottle of water to drink immediately upon exiting the store, but also a small bottle of lemonade, about the size of a water bottle. I'm glad I just gave in and did only that. I bought milk too, but that's more for cooking than anything. I'm glad I kept it at that. 
Do you guys have that problem when you shop? If you're hungry or thirsty do you buy more than you planned on? I won't spend more than I want to, I'll just take off something else on my shopping list. And those of you who have children - do you make sure they are fed before going? I've seen kids opening cracker boxes claiming to be starving while their harried mother begs them to behave because they'll eat when they get home. 
Do you guys have that problem when you shop? If you're hungry or thirsty do you buy more than you planned on? I won't spend more than I want to, I'll just take off something else on my shopping list. And those of you who have children - do you make sure they are fed before going? I've seen kids opening cracker boxes claiming to be starving while their harried mother begs them to behave because they'll eat when they get home. 5 people like this
28 responses
@webeishere (36313)
• United States
21 Oct 11
So far it seems I am the odd one out here.
I have the tendancy to shop only when I am hungry. If I am not, then I tend to dislike loking at all the foods etc. So I also tend to impulse buy due to this affliction of sorts.
HAPPY POSTINGS FROM GRANDPA BOB!!~
2 people like this
@yoyo1198 (3641)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Oh, yeah!! I finally learned to eat before I go to the grocery. I've been guilty of buying more than what I went in there for even though I went in with a list. I've also learned to not go to the grocery without a list. I've been known to forget the list and will go all the way back home to get it before shopping. I'm a sucker for those displays they put out to catch the impulse shopper.
I can't seem to remember to drink something before shopping either. So, I'll have to buy a Coke or water to sip on while I'm waiting for the handicap bus to pick me up. I remember that I'll have a short wait time and take a book to read but will frequently forget to pack my bag with a drink.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169449)
• United States
21 Oct 11
I try to take a bottle of water in the car with me, and even a snack. Actually, we buy a gallon of drinking water and make sure we have cups or water bottles to put it in, because it is less than $1. Our big downfall is that we often do major shopping out of town, and we inevitably end up eating out somewhere. Not good for waistline or pocket book. Then we over eat, and are really drowsy as well. It would not be so bad if we would stick to just eating a slice of pizza at Sam's Club. I do not remember ever feeding the kids in the store. To me that is unheard of, so maybe I just always fed them before shopping.
1 person likes this
@manleyjoe (1597)
• United States
21 Oct 11
I think the parents are afraid that the child will make a scene and embarrass them. Or try to report them for abuse.
2 people like this
@Fishmomma (11658)
• United States
23 Oct 11
I agree its hard to shop thirsty, as those little bottles of water add up over the year to my shopping bill. I try to avoid the store, but its the I need something at the last minute that means saving very little money. Yesterday it was milk, as I really don't like milk from the freezer for drinking. I freeze milk to use for baking at a later time.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Oct 11
My kids are fairly good in grocery stores. They might screw around with each other, as usual, but they do not ask for things for themselves even if they are hungry or thirsty. The answer is always no, so they don't ask.
There have been times I've had to buy a soda to drink while I'm wandering the store, or go to the deli and get the kids some popcorn chicken to eat while we're shopping. When the twins were little, every single week when we went I'd buy a box of donuts off the discount rack and we each ate one.
When my younger 2 were a bit smaller I'd let them pick out a box of cereal bars, and they got in the habit of opening the box and eating a cereal bar while we shopped. I broke that habit eventually because the box would be gone before I ever got home, and the rest of the week they'd beg me for more cereal bars.
1 person likes this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
22 Oct 11
Yeah you forgot one. There are 5.
1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
21 Oct 11
You are so right because there are times I am so thirsty and although I have purchased, packages of water, juices, milk and teas, I end up also purchasing a to go individual drink as I cannot wait until I get home.
This got me thinking that maybe we should fill up a container of water on our way out the door, so that we do not buy additional items as the thirst may drive us to.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
21 Oct 11
You are right as I live in a hot country I always take water with me when I leave the house. This is automatic or else you would end up buying water to drink.
I drink maybe up to three quarts throughout a day quite easily. and more if I am trying to lose weight. It helps with the appetite and also just flushes everything out
I drink maybe up to three quarts throughout a day quite easily. and more if I am trying to lose weight. It helps with the appetite and also just flushes everything out1 person likes this
@hardworkinggurl (37062)
• United States
21 Oct 11
Yes I drink almost a gallon a day. lol This has helped me with my skin a well and the run down feelings I use to have. I never thought about taking any with me while grocery shopping so will make it a habit also.
1 person likes this
@a_year_older (636)
• Malaysia
24 Oct 11
I've never heard of that saying. I don't think I tend to buy more if I'm shopping when I'm hungry or thirsty. I usually have a shopping list when I go and I only pick up more food if it's new or if I haven't eaten it in a while.
1 person likes this
@jillhill (37353)
• United States
21 Oct 11
I do think it makes a difference.....I don't know if I actually buy more or just different things....I think sometimes I buy more convient items when I am hungry...the worst part is that everytime I go get groceries...I want to eat out? Does that make sense? I don't think so!
1 person likes this
@Opal26 (17679)
• United States
27 Oct 11
Hi lil Sis! I am always thirsty when I go shopping! As soon as I get
into the store I get myself a diet coke out of the little refrigerators
so I can drink while I shop! First of all I hate food shopping!
Even if I did go to the store hungry I end up sick to my stomach for
some reason. Maybe it's the different smells or the fact that I get
super stressed out trying to "stick to my list" or worrying that I
will have enough food stamp money to cover everything. So, I am
never worried about getting hungry. I am more worried about
just getting through the grocery shopping experience in general!
1 person likes this
@catdla1 (6005)
• United States
23 Oct 11
I refill bottles of water and freeze them. When I go anywhere, I always grab one on the way out the door. My son is grown and gone now, but I don't remember having too much of a problem shopping with him. The cereal aisle was the worst, but I let him pick out one box, which he had to finish before he got the next one. That taught him early not to buy the varieties that he didn't like, but had an irrisistable toy in the box.
If I could train my hubby like that, I'd be happy. Doesn't matter if he's full/hungry, well-watered/thirsty. He makes a bee-line for the junk food sections. 
1 person likes this
@sijabatnaburjut (2171)
• Indonesia
22 Oct 11
I won't buy stuff which I don't need any. I went shopping with a list, so it's more helpful and easier to go shopping in anywhere else. I can set up my shopping duration. By looking at the list, we know how long should need to shop, so our shopping time is really not wasting, time saving and we can be more organized and disciplined.
@RitterSport (2451)
• Lippstadt, Germany
22 Oct 11
hi dear Ambie, I am not making a shopping list most of the time but have some ideas or plans when getting to the grocery store. If something is on sale I will sometimes buy this item instead but I also live on a budget so I know when I buy one more of this item I got to cut back on something else. Like just this week I was shopping and found some good stuff to use during the week in the small hotel so I got it and the fridge there is in good condition now. I know I need to buy less next week so the budget will not be blown.
1 person likes this
@chillmaik (67)
• Philippines
23 Oct 11
whenever i shop and gets hungry i usually eat in fast food restaurants which is unhealthy..if you want to save while shopping then before leaving your house make sure you've eaten enough and bring a tumbler with you so that whenever your thirsty you don't have to buy a beverage ..after or in the middle of shopping we would really feel hungry..so if I'm done with shopping and when im already starving..i go home immediately so i don't have to spend money for food.
1 person likes this
@anne25penn (3305)
• Philippines
22 Oct 11
One item that is not on my shopping list that I always buy when I go to the grocery is water. It seems that no matter how much I have had before I go to the grocery, by the time I get there I am so thirsty. I guess it's because of the weather here where I live. I also have a budget for snacks when I go out so, I don't really buy more than I plan to.
@salonga (27775)
• Philippines
22 Oct 11
Yes that is a good tip, don't shop for groceries when you are hungry and thirsty. Indeed based on personal experience you'd end up shopping for more food and drinks that you ever need. One more thing, I know it is enjoyable to bring along the kids when shopping but if they are uncontrollable it is better to just leave them along when shopping for groceries. They would most likely pick and put in your shopping cart just about all items they feel like eating and mostly they are nothing but junks and when you stop them, they would more likely throw tantrums inside the store. Kids are kids so they don't know most of the times that what they are doing is wrong. Yes, there are those who just open and eat food sold in the store (I'm glad my little ones don't do that!) and it is really quite embarrassing. Of course you have no choice but to pay for that whether you like it or not. 
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
22 Oct 11
I agree. I bring a drink with me when I shop, usually water or iced tea. I drink few things, anyway, as I do not drink anything with sugar, which negates ninety nine percent of stuff in stores, including juice.
I also try to eat before I go, or I buy food that I don't need and will even much on on the way home!
1 person likes this
@moneywinner (1863)
• Brazil
22 Oct 11
I definitely have this problem when I shop when I'm hungry. I never noticed this happening when I'm thirsty, usually, because I just open one bottle of coke or water to pay when I go the cashier. But, when I'm hungry, usually, I just ended up buying a lot of junkie food and spending a lot more money that I would spend if I was not that hungry.
1 person likes this
@clearwater18 (695)
• Philippines
22 Oct 11
Yeah I've tried that. It's kind of funny how that works. Whenever I'm hungry or thirsty, I really tend to buy more. I don't know the reason for that. The only thing we can do is to control it I guess.
1 person likes this
@ardoy0731 (7308)
• Philippines
22 Oct 11
Yeah that always happened,buying more than what you really have to buy.In the end buying a bottle of water lead to a bag of grocery.
