I'm so tired of shopping _ do you get tried of shopping

**imagine** · 07-14-2009, 11:57 AM

With the kids growth spurts, summer activity got to haves (like googles for swimming lessons etc), the change of season coming (fall clothes) and school supplies, I am so tired of shopping. It is physically tiring and is giving me a headache. Add some fast food drive thrus and I really feel bad and so tired of handing over money.

The list is not finished yet but I told the kids I needed to stop shopping and I didn't want to hear anymore about things or wants or needs or eating out.

It is only a little shopping everyday but it feels like I've shopped until I dropped and I still have to go get milk.

Do you ever feel this way?

**stinkbug** · 07-14-2009, 01:25 PM

I HATE to shop!!! This morning I had to go look for a bathroom rug and could not find one in the right size. Then went to Macy's to get dh's work pants. They NEVER have his size...it is So frustrating...he's not a weird size, he's a normal size. All they had was huge sizes. So, I orderd on-line and had to pay shipping AND tax and they won't be here for almost 2 weeks??? Ugh.....did I mention I HATE shopping.

**mombottoo** · 07-14-2009, 01:36 PM

I absolutely detest shopping...for anything. I shop for groceries, because we have to eat. I rarely shop for anything else unless it's absolutely necessary.

**calimomx2** · 07-14-2009, 01:37 PM

I don't like shopping either! I also have a bazillion things I need to get and do but I hate doing it! I usually try to do all that on 1 day so I can get it done and over with but that makes for a very long and tiring day!

**dcompton** · 07-14-2009, 01:48 PM

I've been living out of the stockpile because I am so averse to grocery shopping. I see a great deal on strawberries, think I'll go tomorrow and when tomorrow comes decide very easily that I really don't want them that badly. That it is so blazing hot doesn't help. I really don't have to shop for much besides groceries which is a mercy. I just hope the stockpile more or less holds out until cooler weather.

I find it is amazing what I can do without when the alternative is having to actually go shopping for it.

Now shopping for FUN stuff, like yarn or a new journal... we'll that's a whole 'nother kettle of fish!

**Grainlady** · 07-14-2009, 02:39 PM

I bet you're not a planner by nature (LOL)! Not everyone is.

"A little shopping each day" sounds like you are lacking a bit of organization, and you react to these "needs" like they are fires and you are putting them out.

You may find some relief by setting aside 15-20 minutes each evening to go over your schedule for the next day, the entire week, and even the month. Restrict shopping to no more than twice a week (or what's ACTUALLY reasonable for you). Everyday is a bit much and shows lack of planning.

Start as early in the day as possible to avoid the heat of the day, which is draining in and of itself, in my opinion. I go to Wal-Mart between 6:30 and 7:00 in the morning to avoid the crowds.

-Carry an ice chest stocked with recycled milk jugs filled with water and frozen for "ice" so you can put perishable foods on ice if you can include groceries in your other shopping trips, while you are in the area.

-Do you plan your meals for the week? (see my example below if you need some ideas)

-Do you keep "emergency" food in the freezer, like frozen sloppy joe meat, taco meat, or other whole-meal-in-the-freezer favorites that can be left to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, or microwaved, on days you know it's going to be busy? Even a container of MILK frozen in the freezer might help prevent unnecessary milk runs to the store. I keep several years worth of a whey-based powdered milk product in storage we use instead of store-bought milk, so I haven't had to run to the store for "milk" in 28-years.

-Do you keep an on-going grocery list so if you travel near the grocery store while on another errand, you can get what's on your list?

Here's how I plan meals. One day can easily be exchanged for another, so it's easier than a set plan. Most of my meals are taken out of the freezer. This helps avoid those Fast Food stops. My "FAST FOODs" are raw fruits and vegetables, and a meat entree from the freezer.

Monday: Big Meal
Includes a large cut of meat and all the fixings. This will provide for other meals during the week, sandwich meat for lunches, a base for soup, or leftovers in the freezer. If I can't make the Big Meal, I can always reach in the freezer for meatloaf, roast turkey, or roast beef slices (from a previous Monday), freezer mashed potatoes, and fresh or frozen veggies and fruit....

Tuesday: Leftovers from Monday.
It may or may NOT take on a different look from Monday. It may be a casserole made from leftovers or just reheated as is....

Wednesday: Stir-Fry
If you plan right, you'll have many of the veggies already cut from Monday or Tuesday food prep, ready-to-go in the refrigerator, or use frozen bagged stuff (or a combination of fresh and frozen). Stir-Fry is quick to fix and a good way to get produce used-up out of the refrigerator. Add some rice and fruit for dessert.

Thursday: International
Loosely speaking, this is either something with pasta or tortillas, taco shells, or tortilla chips. I make meaty spaghetti sauce and keep it frozen in user-friendly amounts. I only make it a few times each year. Pasta doesn't take long to cook, so you can have spaghetti in less than 20-minutes. Add bread sticks, a tossed salad or fresh veggies and fruit for dessert, it's a quick meal. I also keep frozen taco meat, and all kinds of shredded meat that can be made into tacos, taco salads, quesadillas.... Frozen chili (also kept in the freezer in user-friendly amounts - single servings for me) is a great topper on a baked potato or a base for a taco salad.

Friday: Vegetarian
This helps cut the cost of meat in the food budget. We include low-costing meat substitutes - eggs, cheese, beans.... I keep homemade bean burgers in the freezer that are easy to fix, along with homemade multi-grain burger buns. This is a nice time to have "breakfast" - pancakes/waffles/French Toast, omelets, frittatas - if you don't have time for those the rest of the week in the morning.

Saturday: Soup and/or Sandwich

Sunday: Homemade Pizza, and in hot weather, we have dinner salads with lots of garden veggies.

**cab54** · 07-14-2009, 03:43 PM

Hate it. Even for groceries.

**imagine** · 07-14-2009, 05:10 PM

Originally Posted by Grainlady

I bet you're not a planner by nature (LOL)! Not everyone is.

"A little shopping each day" sounds like you are lacking a bit of organization, and you react to these "needs" like they are fires and you are putting them out.

You may find some relief by setting aside 15-20 minutes each evening to go over your schedule for the next day, the entire week, and even the month. Restrict shopping to no more than twice a week (or what's ACTUALLY reasonable for you). Everyday is a bit much and shows lack of planning.

Start as early in the day as possible to avoid the heat of the day, which is draining in and of itself, in my opinion. I go to Wal-Mart between 6:30 and 7:00 in the morning to avoid the crowds.

-Carry an ice chest stocked with recycled milk jugs filled with water and frozen for "ice" so you can put perishable foods on ice if you can include groceries in your other shopping trips, while you are in the area.

-Do you plan your meals for the week? (see my example below if you need some ideas)

-Do you keep "emergency" food in the freezer, like frozen sloppy joe meat, taco meat, or other whole-meal-in-the-freezer favorites that can be left to thaw overnight in the refrigerator, or microwaved, on days you know it's going to be busy? Even a container of MILK frozen in the freezer might help prevent unnecessary milk runs to the store. I keep several years worth of a whey-based powdered milk product in storage we use instead of store-bought milk, so I haven't had to run to the store for "milk" in 28-years.

-Do you keep an on-going grocery list so if you travel near the grocery store while on another errand, you can get what's on your list?

Here's how I plan meals. One day can easily be exchanged for another, so it's easier than a set plan. Most of my meals are taken out of the freezer. This helps avoid those Fast Food stops. My "FAST FOODs" are raw fruits and vegetables, and a meat entree from the freezer.

Monday: Big Meal
Includes a large cut of meat and all the fixings. This will provide for other meals during the week, sandwich meat for lunches, a base for soup, or leftovers in the freezer. If I can't make the Big Meal, I can always reach in the freezer for meatloaf, roast turkey, or roast beef slices (from a previous Monday), freezer mashed potatoes, and fresh or frozen veggies and fruit....

Tuesday: Leftovers from Monday.
It may or may NOT take on a different look from Monday. It may be a casserole made from leftovers or just reheated as is....

Wednesday: Stir-Fry
If you plan right, you'll have many of the veggies already cut from Monday or Tuesday food prep, ready-to-go in the refrigerator, or use frozen bagged stuff (or a combination of fresh and frozen). Stir-Fry is quick to fix and a good way to get produce used-up out of the refrigerator. Add some rice and fruit for dessert.

Thursday: International
Loosely speaking, this is either something with pasta or tortillas, taco shells, or tortilla chips. I make meaty spaghetti sauce and keep it frozen in user-friendly amounts. I only make it a few times each year. Pasta doesn't take long to cook, so you can have spaghetti in less than 20-minutes. Add bread sticks, a tossed salad or fresh veggies and fruit for dessert, it's a quick meal. I also keep frozen taco meat, and all kinds of shredded meat that can be made into tacos, taco salads, quesadillas.... Frozen chili (also kept in the freezer in user-friendly amounts - single servings for me) is a great topper on a baked potato or a base for a taco salad.

Friday: Vegetarian
This helps cut the cost of meat in the food budget. We include low-costing meat substitutes - eggs, cheese, beans.... I keep homemade bean burgers in the freezer that are easy to fix, along with homemade multi-grain burger buns. This is a nice time to have "breakfast" - pancakes/waffles/French Toast, omelets, frittatas - if you don't have time for those the rest of the week in the morning.

Saturday: Soup and/or Sandwich

Sunday: Homemade Pizza, and in hot weather, we have dinner salads with lots of garden veggies.

Actually, I'm very much of a planner. LOL

I plan my meals each week around the schedule for that week so I know what days are crock pot days, which are quick meal days and which are big meal days. If I run out of anything it is milk some weeks one gallon is enough, somedays it is gone in a few days. I have self stable milk for emergencies ( but it is only for cooking and son to drink, Hubby and I don't like to actually drink it)

I have lists of what fall and winter clothing the children need and school supply lists just came out.

There have been several "emergencies" like swimming teachers saying bring nose plugs next week or daughter crying cause her goggles leak and she has to swim underwater a lot.

The children have both had major growth spurts Ones that skip sizes and you can't get your feet into the ones you had so that has meant new shoe shopping.

I have been doing a little at a time cause lately I have been at the point in the stores of get me out of here. Told the children that they couldn't talk about shopping. I don't even want to hear about what you think would be cool for Santa to bring you or what you are saving your money for. Which is hard for the children when they have new school lists and are dreaming of new school year and all that entails.
Do you know how much debating back and worth a 7th grade boy does on which pair of shoes he wants for gym shoes?

**Grainlady** · 07-14-2009, 08:02 PM

Originally Posted by imagine

Actually, I'm very much of a planner. LOL

Do you know how much debating back and worth a 7th grade boy does on which pair of shoes he wants for gym shoes?

I'm glad to hear you have it all "together". From your brief earlier description, I thought it sounded like you were completely frazzled and without direction. I guess you wanted some emotional support while I tried to give you something that would possibly help based on what I read.

And yes, I know what it's like to "debate" about shoes with a 7th grade boy..... Our son wanted a trendy brand of shoes that cost more than what we had money budgeted for. I handed him the budgeted amount, telling him this was the amount we could afford, and said if he wanted to work to earn the difference I'd be happy to take him to get the more expensive shoes.

Actually there wasn't a debate, but I did give him an option and stayed with my original amount. After a few days he decided we'd get the affordable shoes. The high-priced shoes all the sudden didn't seem all that special. He said he figured they would get stolen at school anyway. So his only "debate" was with himself. It was a good moment to teach him a lesson on budgets and finance. You don't ALWAYS have to say NO! At that age, let them figure it out themselves and get a taste of the REAL world.

We used the same thing on his older sister when she wanted a special brand of jeans that were absurdly expensive. Sure you can have them - if you pay the difference.

**happimommi** · 07-14-2009, 09:00 PM

I actually love shopping, BUT I now have two teenage daughters that wear the same size and shopping with them is a nightmare now. They fight over clothes and since they don't want to be twinners, they argue over who saw what first, then they pout when the other get the item they wanted. I will never take them shopping together again!!!!

**Nana2two** · 07-14-2009, 09:26 PM

Today was one of those days. I had to drive 2 hours away for a specialist appt. Which turned put great. So while hubby and i were there we need to go to sear and get a new dehumidifier, they are not cheap. I needed to shoes so we stopped at a few places, by the 5th place i was fustrated. Im not paying $80 for nikes. I have fibro so my arches of my feet her. But we just bought a $249 dehumidifier.After 2 hours of searching and a headache i said fine lest stop in at famous foot wear. never shop there because of the prices. Well what did i fine on the clearence rack. A pair nike arch sole supporters in my size for $37.99 + 10% off that at the register and i could get a second pair of 1/2 off so hubby found a pair of winter boots for $18 with 50% off that so we payed for 2 pairs of shoes around $46 or so not to bad.

**jas** · 07-15-2009, 06:15 AM

I don't like to shop that much either! A little bit is fine. I do enjoy, of all things, grocery shopping. Especially when everything is on sale and I have coupons.

Last year I was having major panic attacks whenever I did any shopping, it got so bad that it was quickly turning into agoraphobia. Very glad to say that bout is over. Now even if I don't really like shopping I go (not always spending anything) to not get stuck and scared again. I have to make myself go to remind myself I am better and I can do it!! For so long I wouldn't do anything and didn't think I could.

**imagine** · 07-15-2009, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by happimommi

I actually love shopping, BUT I now have two teenage daughters that wear the same size and shopping with them is a nightmare now. They fight over clothes and since they don't want to be twinners, they argue over who saw what first, then they pout when the other get the item they wanted. I will never take them shopping together again!!!!

Maybe that is it I'm tired of shopping with the children., Plus the fact that there has been so much shopping.
Son and his debating about what he is getting. Daughter thinking her brother is getting all the "cool" stuff. Older brother's school supplies are so much "cooler" She isn't think that having to need a 3 inch binder means that much more homework. LOL He takes so much time

daughter wants to drive the cart. She isn't that good at it yet. She needs a student driver sign. LOL

**scooby8themall** · 07-15-2009, 09:09 AM

I love to shop my sister lives 130 miles south of me when I go and visit we usually shop from 10:00 am to 5:00pm we are seriously addicted to shopping lol.I only have 1 major retail store and 3 grocery stores where I live so being in the big city is a treat.

**imagine** · 07-15-2009, 09:11 AM

Originally Posted by Grainlady

I'm glad to hear you have it all "together". From your brief earlier description, I thought it sounded like you were completely frazzled and without direction. I guess you wanted some emotional support while I tried to give you something that would possibly help based on what I read.

And yes, I know what it's like to "debate" about shoes with a 7th grade boy..... Our son wanted a trendy brand of shoes that cost more than what we had money budgeted for. I handed him the budgeted amount, telling him this was the amount we could afford, and said if he wanted to work to earn the difference I'd be happy to take him to get the more expensive shoes.

Actually there wasn't a debate, but I did give him an option and stayed with my original amount. After a few days he decided we'd get the affordable shoes. The high-priced shoes all the sudden didn't seem all that special. He said he figured they would get stolen at school anyway. So his only "debate" was with himself. It was a good moment to teach him a lesson on budgets and finance. You don't ALWAYS have to say NO! At that age, let them figure it out themselves and get a taste of the REAL world.

We used the same thing on his older sister when she wanted a special brand of jeans that were absurdly expensive. Sure you can have them - if you pay the difference.

I'm so glad you did give me some advice.
I did/do want some help figuring out why I'm so frazzled with shopping as well as emotional support and to know I'm not alone in my feelings. I'm thinking that I'm tired of shopping with the children.

Son doesn't debate with me he debates with and second guesses himself. He ended picking the most expensive pair $17 dollars.
The other two he was choosing from were $12 and $5. He finally decided that he wanted the $17 as they were more cushioning and matched his gym suit better. You should have seen him debate with himself on what type of binder he needed.