Why is there always someone behind me in times of distress?
By kbourgerie
@kbourgerie (8780)
United States
April 15, 2009 6:08am CST
How many times have you gone grocery shopping or for that matter. shopping in general
and found that you didn't have enough with you to pay when they totaled your purchases? And how many times when this occurred was there a line of 20 people shifting from foot to foot impatiently as you dug in your pockets trying desperately to come up with the balance? It never fails. Do you always carry a back up source of funding with you in case you are short or do you just start giving things back to the cashier? Or how many times have you spent hours shopping and then got in line and because this time you are the 20th person. had time to rethink your impulsive shopping habits and found yourself emptying half the basket while you are waiting and the majority of whats left to the cashier. "I changed my mind". Or are you as decisive as when you walked in, know what you want, and never waiver from your plan? So I guess my question is when you go shopping, do you go prepared? Or do you go without much planning?
4 people like this
16 responses
@tigerdragon (4297)
• Philippines
17 Apr 09
when i do my groceries, i already know what i need and it's usually written down and i keep tab at the current prices of my regular necessities on excel so i know my monthly budget, more or "more" (prices do change to more).i still bring extra "CASH" for emergencies in case i get bitten by the spending bug or all of a sudden i have a craving for a certain item.
@tigerdragon (4297)
• Philippines
21 Apr 09
yes, i do. so i can budget my spending and have some spare for my savings. if let us say , i have a budget of $200 for my groceries for my basic needs and if i saved a few dollars or so, the savings goes to my "savings can", i don't use them to buy more stuff, it is primarily my emergency fund in case i need to buy some other things out of my usual basic needs within the days before my scheduled shopping.it lessens my financial stress and worries. at times , i buy some items in bulk that's good for a few months or a year like 6 toothpaste tubes, 12 disposable shaver,several bottles of shampoo, 12 bath soap bars, several exfoliants, deodarants and the likes.
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
21 Apr 09
You use Excel to keep track of your spending? That is very admirable. I could take a few lessons from you.
@tigerdragon (4297)
• Philippines
24 Apr 09
hi! thanks for the mark. i hope my suggestions would help a lot.
@p1kef1sh (45681)
•
16 Apr 09
I don't think that this has ever happened to me Kat. I usually have a mental idea of how much I am going to spend and err on underspending rather than over spending. I try to make a list, but I confess to not sticking to it very often. Gosh, that makes me sound smug! The Boss will pay the difference sometimes for folk that don't have enough. It's no wonder that there doesn't seem to be a person in the city that doesn't know her! LOL.
3 people like this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
21 Apr 09
Wow that is so nice of your wife. She has definitely got her place saved in heaven.
@whyaskq (7523)
• Singapore
18 Apr 09
I am not bragging. I discovered that where ever I go, people will follow. I often joke with cashier I bring in crowds and should be entitled to a discount. When I go shopping, I am always prepared. I will know how much I have with me before I go shopping. I only buy within the amount I have.
2 people like this
@saundyl (9783)
• Canada
17 Apr 09
When I'm in a hurry I'm decisive. If i underbudgeted I will say ok this isnt needed i'll take this off the bill so its not over the amount i carried in. I dont take extra in because then im tempted to get tempting yummies that are sooo bad for me...this way i get a few things i need and maybe a treat but im not over doing it.
If i'm not in a hurry i tend to be an impulse pickereruper and then end up taking it back to the shelf. I dont set it down randomly because when i worked stocking shelves it drove me wacko to find a block of cheese in the shampoos or something else that had to be run allll the way back across the store or was spoiled because someone was irresponsible and didnt just take it to the till and say i changed my mind.
2 people like this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
21 Apr 09
I think everyone should work in a store at least once, then they could apply the kind of experience you have had.
@JHawkin214 (279)
• United States
16 Apr 09
I generally know what I'm getting and try to stick to the plan. However when I get off track I don't have enough funds to have a back up plan usually so I give the stuff back to the cashier!
3 people like this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
23 Apr 09
Someone like me, that hands it back to the cashier.LOL.
@minniemadz (499)
• Philippines
16 Apr 09
Well, when I go shopping, I got prepared. And I'm not an impulsive one. I usually compute beforehand the amount I have to pay before I go to the cashier to prohibit such incident. :)
3 people like this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
24 Apr 09
I'm beginning to think I'm one of the few people that ever caught unaware. LOL.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
16 Apr 09
it never happened to me before because i usually go shopping with planning... and i always bring the stuffs that i want to the cashier when i am ready to pay... not before that... if i want to leave some stuffs behind, i will leave it before i go to the cashier... take care and have a nice day...
1 person likes this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
25 Apr 09
Yes, but do you put it back where it belongs? Thats the question. LOL.
@Thoroughrob (11742)
• United States
16 Apr 09
I usually go with coupons and sale items in mind. I try to keep my bill low. I have only once gave things back to the cashier. It was because it did not ring what the shelf said and they would not go check it out.
1 person likes this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
24 Apr 09
That really makes me mad when something rings up wrong and they can't be bothered to check out the price listed on the shelf. I remember once being charged $60 for zucchini and I don't even eat the stuff. I always check my receipt now.
@mummymo (23706)
•
23 Apr 09
LOL Yep it never happens when there is no one around does it? As you can probably tell it has happened to me on more than one occasion! I now have a back up credit card that I keep in my purse but only use in this type of situation! I don't tend to plan shopping -I hate shopping and only do i when I really have to! xxx
1 person likes this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
23 Apr 09
No, it doesn't. It always happens when there is at least a dozen people standing impatiently tapping their feet. RFLMAO.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
16 Apr 09
That can be very embarrassing... in my case... i always have a back up... everytime i go grocery shopping... my parents would always be with me because they usually give me a lift... so if in case the money i have is not enough... i can always borrow from them... if they are not with me... i don't buy a lot of items because i won't be able to carry a lot...
1 person likes this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
25 Apr 09
I don't buy a lot either at one time because my son and I walk to the store and back. Its usually the one and only time I wish I had a car.
@aseretdd (13730)
• Philippines
16 Apr 09
I usually go with my parents when i go grocery shopping so that they will give me a ride home... so if ever i over shop... i could always borrow money from them... if they are not with me... i make it a point to get only the items i need and i have enough money for... it can be quite embarrassing to run to the atm machine just to withdraw some money because i do not have enough cash with me...
1 person likes this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
24 Apr 09
Yes, that could be embarassing, particularly if you have left people standing in line waiting for you to get that done. LOL.
@gr8life (6251)
• Malaysia
20 Apr 09
Hello kbourgerie,
I always make sure I have enough cash with me when I go for shopping. I don't use credit card and if I don't have enough cash, I always go together with my husband or sister 
But most of the time, whenever I go for shopping, I always calculate the amount using my cell phone's calculator and make sure it won't exceed the money that I have with me that time.
But most of the time, whenever I go for shopping, I always calculate the amount using my cell phone's calculator and make sure it won't exceed the money that I have with me that time. 1 person likes this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
21 Apr 09
It looks as if most people are being very cautious about what they spend by being aware of their available assets.
@sid556 (30960)
• United States
16 Apr 09
I have A.D.D. and amazingly this has only happened to me once in all my 52 years on this earth! I think I try so hard to make sure that I don't mess up that I am always aware of the possibility...it's real. More often....ok ....almost without fail, I will be the one behind someone with an issue whether it be that they forgot their cash or wallet or something. If not that, the register will break down. I can get in the shortest line anywhere and there will be a major hold up always. ...always. If I try to use reverse thinking and get in the long line...it makes no difference. It happens constantly. the only way I've figured how to not get irritated with it is to just not be in any sort of hurry when I go into the store. things happen and I have had to learn patience. I'll read the paper or something while waiting. Or I'll do what you said...empty out half my shopping cart....not a bad thing either...saves money.1 person likes this
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
25 Apr 09
You said a mouthful there. If I do have the bad luck of being behind someone, its always an elderly lady who wants to argue the value of a coupon. Nine times out of 10.
@neerajpandey_13 (1765)
• India
16 Apr 09
It is normal situation for everybody. Overall God is always there to support you in time of distress.
1 person likes this
@Aussies2007 (5336)
• Australia
15 Apr 09
I went through a time when I was on a very tight budget...
I would find it too embarrassing not to have enough money to pay the cashier.
So while I did my food shopping... I kept adding the cost of each item in my head. And keep in mind that I am usually shopping for two weeks... which means a full trolley load. I had to install more ram memory in my brain. lol
I am always super organise. You cannot be an impulsive shopper when you are on a budget. You need to adapt to your conditions.
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
15 Apr 09
It used to frustrate me to no end to try to keep track of items as they were placed in the basket, because either my kids or their Dad invariably would put things in when I had my back turned. IF, I happened to notice the additions I would have to start all over recalculating and if I didn't well, thats when it could get sticky at the check out.
@kbourgerie (8780)
• United States
15 Apr 09
Thats really good. I have a general idea when I leave, but I have to admit I don't have it down to a fine art.
