What to buy in America

[comewhinewith]

I have a trip coming up and should be able to squeeze in some shopping. What should I pick up that is cheaper/you can't get here?

So far, I have the large containers of paracetamol & some melatonin...

I'm clearly cut from Mumsnet cloth...

Melatonin
Neosporin (not seen any controversy)
Big jars of paracetamol and ibuprofen
Goldfish
M&Ms caramel cold brew and Peanut Butter
Hot Tamales
Bath and Bodyworks plug in oil burners

Tony Chachere's, Creole Seasoning

Yes! They are the best, I've found them one in the UK and they cost me £6!

Cheeze it's are available in Morrisons now.

You can thank me later.

But do buy goldfish.

To anyone looking for paracetamol, it’s not sold under that name in the US. Look for acetaminophen - it has the brand name Tylenol. It’s very widely available generically in massive bottles.

I saw some Cheez-it snacks in Tesco and leaped on them last week but they were vile, not the same as I can get in the US. They were “double cheese” thins or something like that and very disappointing. I don’t know if that’s what you’re referring to?

But thank you very much in any event for pointing it out.

Sigh…I loved Carters when my DCs were little. Absolutely adorable clothes and good quality too.

Back in the day it used to be Levis, but America isn't that cheap any more.

Hydrocortisone cream for itchy bug bites. Everglades seasoning. Packets of Hidden Valley Ranch (the seasoning needed to make fresh Ranch dressing). Bags of pepperidge farm stuffing croutons (American style stuffing is carby and very more-ish, always a welcome addition at Christmas). Big bags of chocolate chips for baking.

Since we have stopped going to the States regularly, I've order melatonin online and just pay for shipping. It's a lot cheaper than a transatlantic flight!

My son brought me back some Bath and Body works stuff nearly 3 years ago which was a fraction of the price here. The little room spray is still going strong!

We used to buy kids' trainers in the next sizes up as they were so much cheaper.

I also loved being able to buy as many paracetamol type tablets as I wanted without having the Spanish Inquisition.

Just back from NYC. Fou d it pretty much London prices - though some bargains on Takis....and in terms of unavailables.....only melatonin.

Depending on where you are going, I like those out of town shopping malls for discounted brands.

They are insanely cheap for some brands.

Caramel M+Ms

We’ve just come back and I can’t say I found anything much to be better value or cheaper than the uk?! Maybe I was looking at the wrong things. We went to Walmart and target and trader Joe’s. I thought Medications were expensive. $3/4 for ibuprofen I can buy for 50p in Asda! $5 for sweets that I can get in home bargains for £1.25! I would only be bringing back things that can’t be bought over here.

I am wearing a pair of jeans I bought from the clearance rack at the J Crew outlet at the Jersey Shore for $20 and they fit like a dream. I got a smart dark denim pair of trousers, which I had been hunting for and was prepared to spend up to £150 to get, for $20 from the Banana Republic outlet in the same place. No sales tax on clothes in New Jersey, so the price was the price!

Lego. Tide pens. More Tide pens. More Lego. Gymboree children’s clothes. T shirts from Old Navy.

@whosthefoolnow - the sprinkles are vibrant because they are chock full of banned chemicals! I used to buy loads, but they really are full of illegal (in Europe) additives so I resign myself to paler things now.

I agree, i went in 2016 and everything was so expensive in the US and the price disparity has only got worse

Paracetamol is much cheaper in the UK than in US! I know you cant buy big jars of it, but it's easy to build up a store.

Peanut Butter M&M s !!

Not much anymore really. I remember years ago sticking up in Maybelline and Carmex, anything Levi's or Nike.

Do still bring back cornbread mix, pancake mix, ranch mix and goldfish.

Gillette Venus Snap. Small razors that come in their own case. Brilliant for travelling.

Must say I did have a chuckle buying wine in Florida, had to show ID that I was over 18 (or 21) in my mid-sixties!

I’m American and recently went back for the summer. I brought back to the UK: designer fabric for quilting, Nyquil/ DayQuil ( cold/flu medicine), big bottle ibuprofen, Alleve ( naproxen), wintergreen Lifesavers, Hot Tamales , various hot sauces, salt water taffy.

Pretty much everything else is now available in the UK thanks to globalisation. And I can’t really think of anything that is cheaper in the States anymore, except the certain quilting fabric I bought.

Oh, and I brought back a jar of grape jam which is a childhood favourite and I’ve never seen in the UK.

Goldfish crackers
almond m and ms and other flavours not seen here!
melatonin
old navy for basics

Agree that many things aren't necessarily cheaper but there are plenty of things worth bringing back that are good value or unavailable on the other side of the pond...

Chipotles, hot sauces, cajun seasonings
Cupcake sprinkles, vanilla essence
Hot tamales, cinnamon gum - if you like that fake cinnamon flavour - I do!
Wintergreen lifesavers
Goldfish crackers, all varieties
Bagels
Junior mints
Mad M&M flavours

Neosporin cream with the mild anaesthetic added
Burts Bees & Carmex lip balms
Big bottles of St Ives shower gel
Any shampoo and conditioner in those gigantic bottles, that just last forever
Peptobismol - the bright pink stuff. Brill for upset tummies.
Hydrocortisone cream in higher dose than we can get over the counter.

Any Apple devices, still significantly cheaper in the US, even if you factor in the tax. I saved at least a hundred on an ipad in May.

Old Navy, Gap, etc. especially for the kids stuff.
7 for all Mankind and other branded jeans.