Pop quiz! Do you like going out shopping?

I too don't like the shops when busy. I went to our town to shop this week as I needed to check on a size. I went early so there weren't many people.

Even then I meant to get something I couldn't get online, but in my haste to get back home I forgot. I think that is the first time I have been to a shop in town since the first lockdown. I prefer my local shops if I need something.

Hi Luna,

well - we’ve been sort of ok, and sort of not ok - as usual! 
You might prefer shopping online - I like it because I can take my time choosing things, and you can see how much it’s costing as you go. We miss the yellow stickers in the supermarkets though - we used to like finding bargains :) 
But having said that you tend to stick to what you know you need - you don’t get tempted by seeing random things and buying them - so it’s probably cheaper in that way.

how are you Luna? 

Hi Kate, haven't seen you here for long time. Hope you and your family are all doing well :) 

I'm looking at starting shopping online soon. I think it'll be less anxiety and better for me.

When the pandemic began we started doing our supermarket shopping online and I really prefer it. Before that we always used to go to the supermarket in the evening when it was really quite. My youngest son really likes supermarkets if they’re quiet because he likes choosing things (he’s an adult now and still likes them). We always always went when it was quiet - and the rare times we go now we go really early in the morning when it’s quiet too, - partly because of Covid, and partly because we prefer it so quiet.

but mostly we get it all online. I like not feeling rushed. I don’t like it being delivered and the delivery person coming and having to chat to him - but my husband deals with that now. I make sure it arrives when my husband isn’t at work. 

The older I get, the more I find myself going out of my way to actively avoid going out shopping. I can just about cope with paying a visit to my local convenience store, but can't be doing with visiting my town centre or local out-of-town shopping mall... They are just far too busy for my liking, and I'm not good around large groups of people.

Fortunately for me, I have an adult son that still lives with me. If we need groceries or other essentials, he'll pop out and get them. For anything else, I'll order online.

The police are unsupportive and unhelpful, don't even try to understand peoples situations. I've seen them harassing the homeless and they were rough with me during my meltdown last year.

If you'd like to change that, drop their customer service people a line, and tell them how you feel!

Every time I go in Holland and Barrett I vow never again. The staff will just not leave me alone. They appear to be trained to follow the customers around and keep asking if they need any help.

If I need any help I will ask for it. Otherwise I want to be left alone to browse. 

On my last venture in there I was approached three times within a few minutes, twice by the same member of staff. What part of "no I'm just browsing thanks" do they not understand? I felt like screaming at her to leave me alone and left without buying anything.

That's the best idea. One of the coffee shops in our town had a system where you could leave extra money and homeless people could have a coffee in the warm. I haven't been there since the pandemic though.

I took my Artist Friend with me, this afternoon, to Meadow Lane; Magherafelt. He got three pairs of Jeans, for £75, at Dunne's. Then, I got supplements from Holland and Barrett.

Win-Win. And it was, in his words, the quickest shop he ever did. 

Shame. 

I always give food to homeless ones; but no longer give them money, after a Panhandler fleeced me off €300 in Dublin; Easter Sunday 2009.

The police attitude has not changed.  I constantly see the police community support officers harassing the homeless.  It's almost their full time job.

You didn't offend me, a policeman did back about 50 years ago when I was thirteen on a school trip and a beggar was trying to get a few pence out of us well heeled grammar school types.

He drove the man off then turned to us and told us how we needed to avoid such people as "he had fleas".

I could only see someone even worse off than me, and I found our attitude to the poor as being uncaring and wrong, an attitude that has stayed with me, ever since.

And talking to them can be unexpectedly rewarding. One guy gave me some great urban survival tips, which if I had ended up going "on the lam" to avoid the "camps for the unvaccinated" (which they were talking about implementing last Chrismas, would have come in very handy. He was once a station master, but had still ended up homeless and on the street..

That's fine you csn down vote me, I don't mind and i apologise if i offended you . That's awful what happened with your neighbour.  I very rarely ignore people begging outside a shop, even your type B. I don't give money but always say "sorry I have no change" or something to that effect. Some just want people to talk to in which case I briefly give them my time. We don't know people's stories of why they are in the situation they are in and I'm always very aware that I could quite easily be in their shoes but for the grace of God. 

Sorry Out_Of_Step, I think that's one of the only two downvotes I've cast since joining this site.

In my opinion your attitude is a little small minded, and if I may say, somewhat inconsiderate.

I'll try and explain. Thee are essentially two sorts of beggar. A) Those in need, and B) those who are "taking advantage". 

Type A beggars have my sympathy, they are out there holding out their hands because they can't see a better way to get their neds met. Their immediate needs might be for drugs, electricity for their flat, food, drink, but whatever they are, until they "make that money" they can't think or do anything else, it's a nasty form of slavery in my opinion, and my £20, will give them a brief time out, or a microscopic "holiday" from having to beg. Of course, I'm not often so "comfortable" I can give my money away, in fact it's been twenty years or so since I crossed the poverty line and entered "financial destitution", so usually I have to apologise, and say "I'm sorry mate, I'm only a step away from joining you" or somethng similar. 

Type B beggars, get exposed fairly quickly, as no one likes them, so they are in no way as common as you might expect. 

The only beggars I tell to "beggar off" are the ones begging me to buy stuff or embrace ideas that I don't need, on the TV set and pretty much everywhere else. 

I've got a neighbour, a pensioner who used to take a long walk into the city and dish out some minor charity (coffee and cigarettes) very regularly. Eventually, after many years of doing this, some random eejit beat seven shades out of him as he was getting off the bus near his home.  

I hope you told them to "beggar off"

With this thread about shopping fresh on my mind, I went to buy milk this evening from my local supermarket which closes at 9pm. I left the shop at 8pm and was immediately accosted by a beggar asking for change.

When I used to do Christmas shopping in shops it also used to annoy me that they make more narrower isles. I just give up if it's crowded.

I like shopping, but am quick with it; as I know what I want.

My Gran, and now my Artist Friend, always go on about how I hurry them up. I believe that my Artist Friend is more Aspie than me. He always goes on about Lidl's Checkouts going too quick. Also, ongoing gripes about the prices. (Welcome to the World run by US Democrats)

I do, however, get frustrated at how much junk is available; whenever I seek something instant. It's either fruit, or a Pot Noodle, for me; as well as the occasional Protein Bar.

I enjoy shopping, but only in certain shops at certain times.  So when I stick to these rules I'm ok.

The times I like is when they are not too busy, early morning or the last hour before closing.( Not Sundays, local supermarket is packed on Sunday afternoons).

Some shops are just a pleasure to wonder about.  Others are not.