Shopping "difficulties" (not a big shop)

How does everyone find going shopping? 

I find it difficult organising myself and remembering what to buy outside general food. i make a list of meals and usually do 2 shops a week. But it's the other stuff I have problems with like toiletries or cleaning because they all run out at different times. And you cant always get what you need from the same shop.

Then there's remembering greetings cards. Online card shops have helped although you pay a premium it's easier to choose and they send you reminders. I'm often late with birthday cards.

I've delegated buying lightbulb to my partner for the rest of our lives.

Then there's other non-necessary stuff. I'm known for umming and ahhhing, carrying something around the shop with me then putting it down at the last minute and not buying it. Or I go especially to buy something but it's not in stock then I give up. Then I think "well I'll try online" then there's too many different websites, measurements,  prices etc.

Then I struggle when there's too much choice. I need new boot laces and tried a well known shoe repair who don't stock them. They said try the original shop. I did in store and online. No luck.  The store said contact customer services. I did. They don't make them anymore. Why sell expensive boots if they don't sell matching replacement laces? That frustrated me. So I went online and spent ages looking at other online shops but because I can't see the laces in person I don't know which colour to choose.

The shop I buy make up from suddenly stopped selling the only face powder I've ever worn. Now I have to find a new one. Have you seen how much choice there is?! I crumbled all my old bits together and congealed it with some surgical spirit so I've got a "new" powder press but it won't last forever. When there's too much choice I give up. Or there's different offers depending on which shop you go to but then you can't always guarantee they have everything in stock.

Or if something is not specific enough to what I'm looking for, I don't think "oh this will do instead, save yourself time and just buy this one". Or I look at something jn detail and think "actually it's not very good quality"when most stuff isnt these days as it's all cheap imports. Or I won't buy something if it's not exactly like the old one. Or I think "shop around a bit more" then I end up having to get the first one as there was no other choice for all reasons listed above.

Then I wanted to take something back last week but I didn't have a receipt and they wouldn't even give me a credit note.  I was ready for walking out of the shop and going home (not because i didnt get my own way but the principle of the matter with thr store policy frusytrated me and possibly because I was expecting a credit note as you can do in a lot of other stores) but it was a day out with a family member and I didn't want to spoil it. I couldn't concentrate for about an hour afterwards.

Has anyone got any tips? I take a list but it's remembering to put on it. Then when I get home usually that night we run out of something which I should've seen coming. Or my partner says "did you buy such a thing?" Well if he didn't tell me when I asked, then no. I do these shops in dribs and drabs. Maybe I need a routine of doing it on a certain day once a week or fortnight.

I'm going shopping in a bit.  I wish myself luck.

  • Thanks for your reply. What's the difference between ADHD and AS issues? I work fewer hours and I'm off for summer at the moment. I don't mind shopping for the bits when I have time. It's the organisation I don't like! He has volunteered to do the big shop when we are both working as he knows how much I hate it.  It sometimes makes me anxious or strange mood doing something which I have to do that I really don't want to. 

    I'll look into the magnetic notepads! I need 9ne upstairs and one downstairs haha. I was running downstairs just before I turned the light out last night because something suddenly popped in my head that we needed.

  • Appointment went well thanks and I wrote down in my journal a place I know where I can find some of the things on my list quite cheaply so I can go straight to this place next time. 

  • not a bad idea might try that 

  • We have a small notepad and pencil on a magnetic holder, attached to the fridge-freezer. If anyone notices anything that is running low, or that they especially want adding to the weekly shop, they add it to the current list. On shopping day it becomes the shopping list. It is a simple and practical way of keeping on top of household needs, it also spreads the responsibility for stock-taking from the shopper on to all the family.

  • occasionally i start to get stressed and if I feel that happening/starting  I just leave ---- I'm not sure if it is my ADHD or autism 

    its becoming pretty rare for me to feel uncomfortable in shops this way than say 2 years ago.

    It could be I am shopping at off peak times ( I use google for that as below ) 

     

  • Can your partner do the shopping instead? I have more ADHD related shopping issues than autistic ones, my husband does our weekly shop and it saves us money, and it’s also one less thing for me to do on top of working and trying to keep on top of our child’s activities etc etc Try and stick to a routine rather than going as and when (also saves money I used to live opposite Tesco’s, went in there most days!) also get one of those magnetic notepads to put on the fridge so he can add things to the list as well instead of expecting you to know everything 

  • lol,,,,,,,forums eat loads of time, too much time. I need to spend less time i here myself.  Enjoy your shopping and/or your appontment 

  • Now I've got 35 minutes to get up and get ready before i go out for an appoinemtment. I thought this post would take 5 minutes and its turned into half an hour. I build in time buffers to my day but it's still not enough!