Are you a shopper?

I'm a sucker for the Outlet Villages! I love nothing more than a concerted day's shopping and hopefully picking up a bargain in the process. Cheshire Oaks is my nearest (and as I believe it is the biggest in Europe, I'm not complaining!) I always find though, that when there is something specific that I need, I can never find it!

PECS Bentalls is on my turf, or "Bent Tools" as we once called it, my friends and I when it was on our regular Saturday tour of favoured shops as teenagers, yes I've been going there that long

I agree with those who prefer shopping on smaller high streets with independent shops I'm equidistant between a really nice small high street and a largish town, so I try and use both.

I agree Jane I like old towns and cities full of character such as York, Bath, Stratford on Avon, Harrogate, I stayed in the latter back in December we ate several times at Bettys (not in the same day I hasten to add) but nevertheless ascended into carbohydrate heaven each time

I don't actually hate shopping but I do find it rather pointless and a waste of time. I spend an hour a week doing the food shopping in a big supermarket and a little browse round the clothes rails and in the toy and record/DVD department whilst there satisfies my urges till the next week.

I don’t like big shopping centres like the Metro Centre, but York is a lovely place to have a mooch round. Lots of small shops and plenty of nice places to eat.
I meet two friends there sometimes - we start off with morning tea in Betty’s, then progress to the shops and lunch.
It’s a grand day out

I'm not sure if it's my age or a change in heart but I used to so enjoy shopping with both my DD and my mum, however mum is no longer with us and DD has 2 little boys who obviously are not in the least bit interested in shops. DH does come with me but although he never complains his idling about makes me feel I am wasting his time although he says that's my opinion not his. I like to feel everything, look more than once at most things I see, dilly dally around the shops BUT now I am finding I cannot make a decision on what to buy or indeed if I should buy anything apart from clothes, toys etc for my DG's. We were in Ikea yesterday looking and intending to buy but it became a bit stressful as I just couldn't get in my head how everything we looked at would look in the room we were buying for, it has all become a bit too much and I hate feeling like that. Is that an age thing I wonder? DD and I used to have great trips in the big city, lunch etc but life has changed since then but I do so miss it.

I think that shopping as a fun day out has largely had its day and that's reflected in the falling sales and closing stores. Maybe it'll come around again but not for some years I suspect.

Definitely not. I can manage about half an hour then I have to have a drink! When I was little and shopping with my parents Dad and I used to decamp to the secondhand book shop and hide there. I still remember the smell of it. Bookshops are the only place I want to shop in, my daughter is exactly the same.

I am less keen on big shopping centres and have never been to Bluewater or similar places.. the nearest is the small Bentall Centre in Kingston which I knew and loved as just Bentall's Dept Store when I was a teenager!
I now try to shop locally in our small town High Street independent shops. I cannot get the underwear I need there now as the specialist lingerie shop shut down but I can get other everyday clothes, shoes , gifts, toiletries as well as all food & household goods. I would go to the bigger nearby town which offers a wider selection of stores if I was looking for something specific. I seem to want/need less and less!

I hate shopping! I don't mind buying food but anything else I purchase online wherever possible. I think part of the trouble is that I am not confident in my body, being dumpy, so nothing suits me.
A couple of weeks ago I went into the City Centre for the first time in a year only to spend M&S gift cards but bought nothing. I didn't go anywhere else, couldn't wait to get home!

Oh how I miss Bluewater and Lakeside every time I see your “meet ups” I wish I could join you all. Although I love living here between the New Forest and the Sea and enjoy going to Southampton for a day shopping with friends. Love mooching around the little villages and stopping for lunch also seeing the ponies, donkeys etc., wandering around freely.

Yes, I am a shopper. I do prefer a small high street though, with lots of little independent little shops. I love shopping in new places! The drawback there is, some of them, like art galleries and shops with fancy goods seem rather upmarket and pricey! I feel slightly intimidated if I go in and don't really like the silence, and assistants hovering or watching my every move! Give me a shop with a few people in it!

I find most malls very samey and I don't really like crowds. Again, a new one is an adventure. I tend to buy things for the home these days and love browsing. I don't like clothes shopping much any more since I gained weight. The plan is to lose it this year (ahem) and then I can shop for me more confidently. I do not like shopping with OH. I like to browse, dither, compare and given he doesn't like shopping anyway, he gets bored. I leave him at home doing other things whenever possible.

I hate Westfield at the Bush it's just all designer shops and eateries I think I've been twice usually take the tube I don't intend on going again any time soon.

Well I too love a foreign supermarket- all that lovely food, wine and kitchen bits & bobs, but that's not the same as schlepping around Westfield!

I'm back to Peter Jones tomorrow - safe territory.

No, I don't mooch either. Living where I do, the largest shopping mall is the Metro Centre at Gateshead. It's either the bus or train and takes about an hour to get there. I could take the car, but it's a hassle. I've never really enjoyed shopping, and only go if there is something I need.

Most certainly am, I love all shops, from mighty selfridges to a tiny dusty tile shop in Portugal. Love the smell of shops, the joy of finding something special, not necessarily expensive, mind you I am a feeler not just a looker, fabrics, furniture, glass, jewellery, books, stationery, so I don’t like shopping online, that’s a different thing altogether. I love a foreign supermarket, especially the fish and bread and cheese counters, an Italian delicatessen can fill me with delight.......

Therein lies the problem - I've never been a moocher!

I used to love a good mooch. Bluewater is nearest mall to me, Lakeside involves the @#$% Dartford crossing so I avoid that. Even decent High St. shopping means a 40 min drive for me.
Sadly shopping these days means frequent stops to sit down. So I only go if I really need to.

I like a "mooch" round the shops. I can get to Lakeside, Bluewater, Chelmsford and Westfield Stratford all relatively easily.

I like to see what the shops have in, feel the fabrics etc. I usually stop for coffee and cake or sometimes lunch.

I'm with you there Riverwalk I can remember when I did think shopping was a great day out. Westfield, Shepherd's Bush isn't that far from me, but I've never bothered going there. I think I worked out from visiting numerous malls in America, I just don't enjoy that experience, well not anymore anyway. I'd always just try and find a Borders to dive into to book browse, or similarly over here Waterstones. I like going to my local town early in the morning before it's really got going, particularly John Lewis, but a sustained shopping trip in and out of numerous clothing and shoe shops, definitely not for me these days, with or without the intention of purchasing.