The Great 'what's in your shopping arsenal' Hunt

minerva_windsong

My kit:

- Canvas shopping bag
- Bottle of tap water
- Cereal bar or other healthy snack
- Coupons or vouchers if needed (in a zip-up pocket in my purse)
- My phone (for writing lists and checking prices online)

luxor4t wrote: »

When clothes shopping I wear flats but carry the shoes I'll be wearing with the garment so I can see how the outfit looks without getting sore feet.

This. I also wear a strapless nude bra so I can see how things will look without straps getting in the way or anything showing through. And clothes that are easy to get in and out of to save faff in the changing rooms.

Also slightly off topic but a small tip for if you're trying on a dress or top that needs to be taken off over your head and you're by yourself: bend over and pull it off from the hem, turning it inside out as you take it off. Easier than trying to pull it over your head whilst stood up and saves the awkwardness of the shop assistant seeing you in your undies!

wildthing01

my one essential is my mobile, containing all the apps I need:

- a unit/price comparison app so I can compare costs of different sized items (my maths is terrible) ('my shopping pal')
- all the cashback site apps (quidco/TCB/shopitize) for on the spot checking of in-store cashback offers, in-store discounts and check-ins.
- hotdealsuk basket buddy with offers listed by local store
- apps for all the usual retailers/supermarkets so I can compare across stores.
- notepad app where I've made my list and also any measurements etc.
- camera to takes photos of things we might want, to show my husband later
- shortcut to MSE grabbits forum
- kindle app and variety of games for when I inevitably become bored and need a coffee.

oh, and the one thing I never take is the children - it's much easier to concentrate without them - and much less boring for them.

heth

When my kids were young, before pocket calculators let alone mobile phones, I used to carry a slide rule - anyone else remember doing that?:D Now it has to be a mobile with a calculator & conversion function, plus of course the ubiquitous tape measure

Arlandria606

Ah, I love a good shopping trip, especially if it's a bit further afield and requires a whole day's planning and investigating!

Here's my list:

When shopping for shoes, pop socks and normal socks.

When shopping for clothes for me, appropriate underwear (e.g. nude colour, strapless / multiway bra) if not the specific underwear that will be worn with it.

When shopping for accessories / shoes for a particular outfit, the outfit - if at all possible. If not, a photo on my phone.

When shopping for clothes for others, a note of their sizes and any fit preferences or specific colours/styles. (Though this is usually a mental note.)

When shopping for groceries, a reminder of ingredients for favourite recipes with a note of what I have and what I'd need to buy, as well as a note of what staples I'm running low on.

When shopping for furniture, a scale diagram with some spare squared paper, scissors, a pencil, and blu-tack, so I can make a scale sofa (or whatever it is I'm considering) and re-arrange the room if need be. A tape measure is also handy.

When shopping for interior furnishings and decor, a lollipop stick painted in the room's paint colour and close matches for any other colours in the room. (I have a set with every colour in the house on a split ring that lives in my handbag - it's invaluable.) If I have them, samples of fabrics and woods used, and a note of the colours of metal fittings in each room (e.g. chrome, brushed stainless steel, etc).

When shopping for the cat, a note of her collar length, nose-to-bum length, and weight. (She's bigger than your average cat - most collars are too small for her and many beds are too.)

When expecting to do a large or heavy shop, or be out all day, my "sholley", which is actually a big wicker basket on wheels with a waterproof liner. It's fantastic and really makes the experience more enjoyable, especially in the winter when you need a thick coat outside, but then want to take it off in the shops and need somewhere to stick it so your hands are free.

When shopping for toiletries I make sure not to wear perfume, body spray or scented deodorant, so I can try scented products out on my skin. Same with nail polish and make-up if I want to try it out.

When planning to be out all day, my Kindle, and a note of good places to stop for a drink and make use of the facilities.

When shopping for food, especially in markets or places where there are likely to be tasters and samples, water to cleanse the palate. Though to be honest I almost always carry water anyway, I make the extra effort when I know I'll be tasting.

Always: a fold-up bag or two; notes of birthdays and ages (on my phone); a camera for snapping pics and running suggestions past DH (on my phone); a barcode scanner app for price checking (again on the phone); Quidco app to remind me which shops do in-store cashback or receipt uploads and which do online cashback (another on the phone!); hairbrush, bands and pins (for checking how clothes look with an updo); a small pouch to put any jewellery in (in case I want to try on something delicate that might snag); wet wipes and tissues for cleaning off mucky hands or make-up; loyalty cards, vouchers, leftover gift cards, & cashback credit card.

Most importantly, when looking for a specific item, prior research into options, colours, costs, functions, price, sizing, etc. so that I can make an informed decision, especially if an alternative presents itself.

elizabethhull

Wow, you're efficient !!

Arlandria606 wrote: »

Ah, I love a good shopping trip, especially if it's a bit further afield and requires a whole day's planning and investigating!

Here's my list:

When shopping for shoes, pop socks and normal socks.

When shopping for clothes for me, appropriate underwear (e.g. nude colour, strapless / multiway bra) if not the specific underwear that will be worn with it.

When shopping for accessories / shoes for a particular outfit, the outfit - if at all possible. If not, a photo on my phone.

When shopping for clothes for others, a note of their sizes and any fit preferences or specific colours/styles. (Though this is usually a mental note.)

When shopping for groceries, a reminder of ingredients for favourite recipes with a note of what I have and what I'd need to buy, as well as a note of what staples I'm running low on.

When shopping for furniture, a scale diagram with some spare squared paper, scissors, a pencil, and blu-tack, so I can make a scale sofa (or whatever it is I'm considering) and re-arrange the room if need be. A tape measure is also handy.

When shopping for interior furnishings and decor, a lollipop stick painted in the room's paint colour and close matches for any other colours in the room. (I have a set with every colour in the house on a split ring that lives in my handbag - it's invaluable.) If I have them, samples of fabrics and woods used, and a note of the colours of metal fittings in each room (e.g. chrome, brushed stainless steel, etc).

When shopping for the cat, a note of her collar length, nose-to-bum length, and weight. (She's bigger than your average cat - most collars are too small for her and many beds are too.)

When expecting to do a large or heavy shop, or be out all day, my "sholley", which is actually a big wicker basket on wheels with a waterproof liner. It's fantastic and really makes the experience more enjoyable, especially in the winter when you need a thick coat outside, but then want to take it off in the shops and need somewhere to stick it so your hands are free.

When shopping for toiletries I make sure not to wear perfume, body spray or scented deodorant, so I can try scented products out on my skin. Same with nail polish and make-up if I want to try it out.

When planning to be out all day, my Kindle, and a note of good places to stop for a drink and make use of the facilities.

When shopping for food, especially in markets or places where there are likely to be tasters and samples, water to cleanse the palate. Though to be honest I almost always carry water anyway, I make the extra effort when I know I'll be tasting.

Always: a fold-up bag or two; notes of birthdays and ages (on my phone); a camera for snapping pics and running suggestions past DH (on my phone); a barcode scanner app for price checking (again on the phone); Quidco app to remind me which shops do in-store cashback or receipt uploads and which do online cashback (another on the phone!); hairbrush, bands and pins (for checking how clothes look with an updo); a small pouch to put any jewellery in (in case I want to try on something delicate that might snag); wet wipes and tissues for cleaning off mucky hands or make-up; loyalty cards, vouchers, leftover gift cards, & cashback credit card.

Most importantly, when looking for a specific item, prior research into options, colours, costs, functions, price, sizing, etc. so that I can make an informed decision, especially if an alternative presents itself.

suesislaw

I always take a pencil and paper, useful for keeping tabs on my spend when I have a voucher for "spend £40 get £5 off" or similar. I like to curtail my spending at just over the limit, in case I get another voucher for a discount the following week!

LameWolf

My Blue Badge for parking.
DH to push my wheelchair.
PDA - for making notes, and it has a calculator in it (I don't have a Smartphone).
If buying furniture, a tape measure.
Shopping list, which I stick to.
All relevant vouchers.
Loyalty cards, credit and debit cards, small amount of cash.
My wheelchair "backpack" containing a quantity of reusable bags.
Small bottle of tapwater.
If visiting several shops, a list of the order in which to visit them, to get finished in the shortest possible time (I loathe shopping).
Small bottle of Oramorph and a 5 ml measure, in case pain becomes overwhelming while I'm out.
Caffeine tablets, in case I get suddenly fatigued (one of the joys of having lupus).
Rescue Remedy in case of a panic attack.
Spare hearing aid battery - it invariably gives out at inconvenient times.

snowleopard61

Trusty rucksack, especially for food shopping (not only does it keep hands free but it is much less tiring to carry heavy shopping on your back than in your hands) with a couple of extra carrier bags inside

Comfortable shoes, always (I try to walk at least the outward journey to town, to save on bus fares, if not back)

Bottle of tap water

Packed lunch so I'm not tempted to buy a sandwich when out for the whole day, and something to read so I'm not tempted to buy a newspaper or magazine to read while I eat it

Light coat because it's cold outside but the shops are often hot

VfM4meplse

LameWolf wrote: »

Small bottle of Oramorph and a 5 ml measure, in case pain becomes overwhelming while I'm out.

I empathise, buts its not really the kind of advice MSE is going to responsibly dish out, is it?

MSE_Debs wrote: »

Since moving flat, I don't go anywhere without a tape measure, just in case some bargain furniture crops up!

I did the same for years after I moved - in retrospect the space is actually more valuable! But at the time it felt really important not to miss out on the bargain factor, especially when money was tight. These days it's more important that I take my bags for life, remember to take all my gift vouchers (have just found a load from JL and M&S that must have been loitering around the house for years). The other essential is the iPad with decent 3G to validate the actual, rather than perceived bargain factor.

MSE_Debs wrote: »

From your own carrier bags to calculators, or even sarnies. We're tapping MoneySavers' collective knowledge to find out what's in your shopping arsenal.

:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

AcidHouse

1) If I'm shopping for several bottles of alcohol for an occasion, I take a wheel suitcase with me to put them in at the checkout. Actually this is also useful if you're doing a big shop in general (for example - new clothes!) - I've done it several times in London to save me carrying separate bags on the tube.

2) If I'm expecting to bring back heavy items but it's not a big shop, I'll take a back pack with me to load up.

3) Always take my own drink in a sports bottle.

4) I plan the route so that I pick up heavy items last, visiting other shops first.