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A blog for couples: 5 tips to help you when shopping with your partner
I love to shop, I find it therapeutic and exciting, an activity with so many possibilities. I love to shop from the comfort of my couch any hour of the day. I also enjoy making a day of it and heading into the city, having lunch at one of my favourite dining establishments in between wondering from building to building, floor to floor, looking for the something that will be mine.
Here in lies the problem, when shopping with a significant other, wondering from building to building, floor to floor, it may not be the highlight of their day, especially if they are an unwilling participant. I imagine for some they would readily trade shopping with a girlfriend/wife/boyfriend/husband with a trip to the fiery pits of middle earth. So with this in mind I put together my top 5 tips to help those who find themselves trailing behind, holding bags looking for exit signs (ie escape routes) and a one way ticket to middle earth.
5 tips to help you when shopping with your girlfriend/wife/boyfriend/husband
1. Take a smart phone with you so that you can check emails, update your Facebook status, play Bejewelled etc. This is particularly handy when you're hovering around change rooms.
2. Go to stores that interest you and arrange to meet at an allocated spot and time.
3. Never give an answer to “Does my bum look big in this?” It will only end in tears and extend the shopping trip. Pretend you didn't hear the question and compliment your partner on something else.
4. Give honest opinions when asked about styles and colours and provide some suggestions. Get involved, it'll make the time go faster
5. Never, ever interrupt a person who is looking for a bargain. If they are in a crazed and fevered state of bargain hunting it would be like poking a bear in the eye. Not a good idea.
Personally I prefer to shop on my own so that I can take my time and I do this when I'm not sure what I'm looking for. On the occasions that Mr B does accompany me on shopping trips, I make a list of things I'm after and create the accompanying mental map so that we can go from A to E with ease. Shopping with your girlfriend/wife/boyfriend/husband doesn't have to be fraught with angst and boredom. It can be quite the bonding experience and I think there's some expression about 'The couple that shops together, stays together' or something to that effect.
