Is the supermarket easier for shopping or the high street?

[theauthor]

OK I've signed up to talk about this on Radio 5 tomorrow evening, giving a parent's perspective (and it very vaguely ties in with my book).

Would love to get MNers' views to add to my own and I will try and mention MN when on!

Am just hoping I can actually stay awake long enough to do it (it's v late), let alone say anything coherent!!

(Have name changed to my non-anonymous nickname in case anyone is actually still awake and listens!)

[SqueakyPop]

It's easier when shopping for food and other consumables. Harder for things they don't actually sell.

[MerlinsBeard]

So you are asking us and will try and mention MN?

[witchandchips]

much easiet to stop power ranger toys going into the basket on the high street. In big supermarkets you can agonise over types of pasta for a second and suddenly dc appears with an armful of toys.

[theauthor]

Thing is MofM, I can only mention MN if it doesn't seem contrived. I really will try my best. It's not like I'm getting paid for talking on the show so I don't feel there's anything wrong with asking for others' opinions on here.

I've been posting on here for two years plus in a personal capacity and have plugged MN in my book. I promise I'm not merely trying to pick everyones' brains and then get paid for it (I wish!) - I'm just genuinely interested in what others' think.

[theauthor]

And I thought it would be an interesting discussion anyway.

[MerlinsBeard]

well easier than what? WIth DCs or without?

Of course supermarket shoping is easier than say, nuclear war UNLESS you go with your DCs on one of those days and then nuclear war sounds preferable!

Also, it depends on what you want, if live near a erm bakery and all you want is a loaf of bread and your nearest supermarket is 3 miles away, then no its not easier

[theauthor]

ugh hideous typos there others not others' and getting not get.

[SqueakyPop]

We need more of a remit if we are to give sensible answers.

[theauthor]

Easier than the high street - going into lots of little independent stores for things rather than a one-stop-shop.
Def depends on what you have on the local high street as I don't have e.g. a butchers or bakery anyway.

[theauthor]

here's what they said on the request board: www.mumsnet.com/Talk/66/581794

[Overmydeadbody]

What kind of shopping though?

Totally differnet things offered on the 'high street' compared with what is offerd in a supermarket.

My high street has no food shops. The closest supermarket to me sells no clothes or toys or household products, only food and cleaning stuff and toiletaries.

The closest Tesco Extra sells everything, so yes it is easier to go there if I need loads of random stuff and food.

[Blandmum]

Easier to shop in the supermarket than to go to our 'High St' which has a very small co-op (with very poor friut and veg and next to no fresh meat), a pharmacists shop and a newsagents

At one point I lived in St Andrews where I could easily walk to an excellent baker, butcher, fishmonger, cheese shop, green grocer and there was a Tescos metro that would deliver your dry goods. So when I lived there I did use the local shops, because their range and quality of products were excellent. I would also prefer to support independent local shops where I can.

But as I'm not prepared to eat poor quality stuff with next to no choice, I get my stuff delivered by Sainsburys

[Overmydeadbody]

Also, if you're straspped for cash and need to watch every penny, shopping on the 'high street' in little independant shops isn't even an option. I'm not going to buy a loaf of bread in my local bakery for £1.40 when I can get the same thing for 79p in the supermarket am I?

[SqueakyPop]

For me, Sainsbury's is a 2 minute walk and the High Street a five minute walk, so that makes it easier.

If I am getting a lot, then I can drive and park in the supermarket, but not easily in the town centre.

The only supermarket near our High Street is Waitrose and they are slightly more expensive and have smaller packs than Sainsburys.

The High Street for me is mostly for clothes shopping and other things that are very discretionary. If I am worried about money, those are the first things to go.

If I am worried about crowds at the supermarket, I can choose to go early in the morning when I know they are quiet, or use the express lane. If I just want something very quickly, I can go to the convenience shop at the end of my road, but that is not the cheapest option.

[theauthor]

Assuming you do still have a high street with a few food shops, I do think it's a lot easier to go to the supermarket - park in the parent and child bay for free (parking on my local high streets costs an arm and a leg these days thanks to greedy councils), sit ds in a shopping trolley, and queue up to pay once at the end rather than several times in different shops.

[MuffinMclay]

With young dcs in tow the supermarket is far preferable. I'd love to go into little independent shops (butchers, greengrocers etc) but its just not possible with a double pushchair. My nearest town has lots of small shops with narrow doorways and no room to swing a cat.

[Blandmum]

Internet shopping is also saving me masses of time, adn money.

I shop on line for groceries, and get them delivered, usually for 2.50, which is less than I'd spend on petrol, and the extras that just seem to jump into your basket that you don't need.

Plus it has to be better for the environment for one van to deliver to 20 houses, than all of us to drive to the shops and back in our own cars

[pointydog]

The supermarket is much easier. It's a shame because I would like to support small businesses and dislike giving these huge too-powerful companies more and mnore money but like most other people, time to shop is squeezed out of my life. And my local town centre is very poor on teh shops front, partly because of the power of supermarkets.

[Mercy]

Blimey OMDB, my bread costs £1.20 in the supermarket!

Our high street is a real mixture anyway (medium Sainsbury's, small M&S, butcher, fish stall once a week, no bakers any more unfortunately) but tbh I do the main shop at the bigger supermarket once a week (either online or in person)

Actually I probably could get everything from small independent retailers if I had the time (or rather inclination) to do a 2 mile circle. I might try it when ds starts school!

[MerlinsBeard]

can i just add that Sainsbo is on my high street!(along with Co op which is about 200 yards from M&S food!)

[Mercy]

I should add that where I live you would have to walk to these places anyway.

It's only worth driving to the big supermarket.

[Overmydeadbody]

Mercy I don't buy the 'finest' ranges or the expensive brand name bread, just cheap loaves.

[Overmydeadbody]

What is a 'high street' anyway?

I live in town, there is no one high street, just the city centre. Is that what you mean?

Online shopping is actually the easiest isn't it. No brainer.

[LIZS]

We no longer have a traditional high street -it is all chain stores, charity shops and supermarkets.

[theauthor]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this. I think it went well, considering it was 1am and I really wanted to go to sleep!