Food and drink by the till

GreyQueen

I've often noticed that people who make a great song and dance about getting the best price on their petrol or diesel, including going out of their way to get to the places with the best prices, usually buy sweeties, chewing gum or trashy newspapers or magazines at the checkout at the filling station, negating all their savings and then some. These extras are where the filling stations make their money, it isn't that profitable to just sell fuel, so much of it is duty paid to the government.

I think it would be prudent to keep small children out of supermarkets. I appreciate some people have to shop with their kids in tow, but I often see Mum, Dad and 1-3 littlies all shopping together and getting into a lather. One parent could stay at home with them/ walk them around outside and alleviate much of the whining and begging for what is mostly highly-processed and over-priced rubbish.

Older children, say 8-10 and upwards, should be in the supermarkets being trained in the dark arts of thrifty shopping, after a session at home working on the meal plan and cupboard and freezer inventory, and perusing the shopping sites to see where the best deals are on the day.

purpleivy

I found it was quite simple when the children were small. They didn't ask because they knew the answer would be no! If the answer is going to be no, they don't bother asking!

maman

GreyQueen wrote: »

I think it would be prudent to keep small children out of supermarkets. I appreciate some people have to shop with their kids in tow, but I often see Mum, Dad and 1-3 littlies all shopping together and getting into a lather. One parent could stay at home with them/ walk them around outside and alleviate much of the whining and begging for what is mostly highly-processed and over-priced rubbish.

I've thought that myself. I see family groups going round, the parents often arguing with each other and sometimes screaming (or worse) at their children as well. What infuriates me is parents either threatening sanctions and not carrying them out or at the other end of the spectrum openly bribing them with junk. I don't know why but this seems far more prevalent in Asda!:rotfl:


I do think some parents make a rod for their own backs.

[Deleted User]

It is not just supermarkets - all shops are laid out to encourage you to spend. A really interesting book on the subject is:

Why we buy. The science of shopping by Paco Underhill.

xxlouisexx56

GreyQueen wrote: »

I've often noticed that people who make a great song and dance about getting the best price on their petrol or diesel, including going out of their way to get to the places with the best prices, usually buy sweeties, chewing gum or trashy newspapers or magazines at the checkout at the filling station, negating all their savings and then some. These extras are where the filling stations make their money, it isn't that profitable to just sell fuel, so much of it is duty paid to the government.

I think it would be prudent to keep small children out of supermarkets. I appreciate some people have to shop with their kids in tow, but I often see Mum, Dad and 1-3 littlies all shopping together and getting into a lather. One parent could stay at home with them/ walk them around outside and alleviate much of the whining and begging for what is mostly highly-processed and over-priced rubbish.

Older children, say 8-10 and upwards, should be in the supermarkets being trained in the dark arts of thrifty shopping, after a session at home working on the meal plan and cupboard and freezer inventory, and perusing the shopping sites to see where the best deals are on the day.

My OH is a very visual person so can not tell me what he wants in the supermarket without looking. I couldn't send him in on his own as he would easily spend £200 on a weeks shop and then say 'oh but we can afford it' where's I would spend £60 and think of the savings to our holiday funds!

I often go shopping with just my smallest dd who is nearly 4. I take a drink and a snack from home if I feel she may need one. We pay no attention to the things at the till. She should rather help me unload the shopping into the conveyor belt

Icey77

My DD is very quick to peruse the kids magazines at her eye level in the supermarket queue and start asking for one. So far, I've managed to say no every time despite some truly epic screaming and crying episodes but I feel that treats such as a kiddy magazine should be given when I feel they are deserved!

Mean mummy

GreyQueen

maman wrote: »

I've thought that myself. I see family groups going round, the parents often arguing with each other and sometimes screaming (or worse) at their children as well. What infuriates me is parents either threatening sanctions and not carrying them out or at the other end of the spectrum openly bribing them with junk. I don't know why but this seems far more prevalent in Asda!:rotfl:


I do think some parents make a rod for their own backs.

I once ended up in an A$DA in the middle of a Saturday afternoon. Gordon Bennett, never again; they must call them nuclear families because they're highly volatile and explode all over the place.

I'm especially fond of the families where Mrs has a trolley, Mr has a trolley and they've allowed the kiddos to have a trolley or two which they're shoving around with speed and great enjoyment, including into other shoppers' legs. Such fun.

nobodyspecial

Perhaps some families shop as a family because mum/dad can't drive and the non-driver is the best one at choosing the right shopping and judging bargains? For treats at the till or child eye-level, parents should practice saying no, surely they don't give into every whim at home? As for one parent walking them around outside, in a carpark with cars constantly coming and going doesn't strike me as the best place for kiddie walks. That's unless your chosen supermarket happens to be right next door to a nice park, when it might just work

I have bought a drink to consume there and then in a supermarket, it was that or nearly pass out. Hadn't realised I was so dehydrated

cat4772

I generally shop by myself. much easier, quicker and cheaper.

IF I am demented enough to take a 3yo or 5yo daughter with me then they are given specific helpful jobs around the store e.g. bending down to a lower shelf to pick up a packet of bread, going to get a cucumber or bag of apples. They get to decide if the apples should be red or green (massive decision). They help load groceries onto the conveyor and into bags for packing. They do know that if they behave I am likely to bake with them when we get home.

Cat.x

Honey_Bear

Live_laugh_love wrote: »

It's annoying when you go in to W Smiths and on reaching the till you're asked if you would like any of the promotional chocolates. Can't even get away from it at the self scan as that asks you too!!!

I stopped going to Smiths because the queueing system in the local one snakes its way around a veritable smogasbord of trashy magazines and overpriced sugar-flavoured-chocolate, all stuff I would never buy in a thousand years. Having kept me waiting by understaffing their tills, I'm then faced with a wall of other trash I don't want to buy fencing in the till itself. The final insult was that I was then always asked if I wanted whatever carp they happened to be pushing that day - er, 'No; I just want to pay and go, not negotiate my release date.'

Smiths was never the cheapest anyway, I went there because I liked the variety of stock and the service. They're competing with chains who stock the same stuff cheaper and paying is less hassle, so I just don't bother going there any more. Shame, because I used to like it.