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AIBU?

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Original poster

To ask you to tell me what to buy in the US

111 replies

usashopper · 15/12/2018 11:46

We are off in a week's time on a family holiday to the US. It is years since I was last there and I just wondered what is worth buying and bringing back that is much more expensive and hard to find over here? I am unreasonably excited about a trip to Walgreens but wonder if there is anything else I should consider. Thank you all!

OP posts:
hooveringhamabeads · 15/12/2018 13:39

DayQuil / NyQuil capsules. They sort you right out if you have a cold or flu.

Zevitevitchofcwsmas · 15/12/2018 14:12

I'd buy everything from pottery barn

Happysaurus · 15/12/2018 14:39

If i ever went, it would only be for yarn and to hit all the craft stores!!

Darkbaptism · 15/12/2018 14:44

Naproxen, melatonin and also aspercreme (for my mum). A variety of M&Ms and Oreos.

Oriunda · 15/12/2018 18:22

We always visit a premium outlet. Get loads of Polo Ralph Lauren etc for Christmas presents and it’s worth signing up to the vip club online for an extra 10% off the already heavily discounted items.

Oriunda · 15/12/2018 18:22

Oh and Williams Sonoma is lovely!

Spanglybangles · 15/12/2018 18:29

Advil, Tylenol, excedrin, melatonin, sleeping tablets/syrup. Caramel m&m’s (soft caramel inside), mint M&ms, coconut M&ms, Zapps voodoo crisps, anything and everything from Bath and Body Works, converse (got a pair of leather ones for $20 over there in October). GAP, Abercrombie, Sephora, Hollister. Aww man the list is endless.

Rosie1976mini · 15/12/2018 18:30

Will second Tylenol PM, also York’s Peppermint Patties are lush!

Tommy Hilfiger clothes from any outlet store, Coach handbags, a visit to Ross stores as they are normally treasure troves of labelled clothes etc if you like a good rummage.

Spanglybangles · 15/12/2018 18:30

Oh gosh yes Oreos. They are so much better than the ones we get here, chunkier biscuits, more filling....yumm!!

Spanglybangles · 15/12/2018 18:33

How pleased was I with what my folks brought back for me Grin

To ask you to tell me what to buy in the US
JW13 · 15/12/2018 18:34

@usashopper @tryagain I made this mistake and brought back an enormous kitchenaid mixer and a nutribullet (this was a few years ago when they weren't really available in England). Got home and realised the error of my ways.

Managed to fix it by getting a step up converter but that cost £50. I still saved quite a lot but now have to use the bulky converter to use my kitchenaid Blush

chemenger · 15/12/2018 18:52

Don’t go to CVS, it’s nothing special. Walgreens is much nicer.

TheLovleyChebbyMcGee · 15/12/2018 19:03

Yes to old navy and caramel m&m's. I also live the massive jars of painkillers you can get, and the cold and flu tablets are great too!

ShinyMe · 15/12/2018 19:12

I always buy lots of the huge bags of Peanut Butter M&Ms and Fifth Avenue bars. YUM.

ShinyMe · 15/12/2018 19:14

Ooh, and actually, what I really love are the big tubes of anti itch gel. I react really badly to insect bites, and I've had American stuff in a great big tube that you can keep in the fridge. It's an ingredient you can't get in the UK and seems to be the only thing that works for me a bit. You can't buy them online either, as far as I can find out.

amicissimma · 15/12/2018 19:18

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Rosie1976mini · 15/12/2018 21:41

This is great stuff, but worth the giggle if you know anyone about to have a baby!

To ask you to tell me what to buy in the US
anniehm · 15/12/2018 21:56

To be honest - nothing is worth it financially, never really has been (we lived there) apart from a handful of us brands which are overpriced here. The only thing I brought back last time was 5 years worth of melatonin tablets as I can't get them officially here until I'm 55!

anniehm · 15/12/2018 21:59

Ps old navy and gap were rubbish this year compared to when we lived there. Don't buy electrical goods as wrong voltage btw

LittleLlamaontheduskyroad · 15/12/2018 22:01

The candles from Bath & Body works. And the seasonal Reeses stuff, peanut butter cups always taste better in Christmas tree form. Grin

Notquiteagandt · 15/12/2018 22:36

Everythings so expensive with the exchange rate and american economy. I would stick to brands you can only get over there ie bath body works etc

Or american brands that rip you off in the uk ie.anthropologie, lulu lemon, bannana republic, j crew.

Might of been because I was in california. But after not being stateside for a few years I was shocked how expensive things where tbh.

scaryteacher · 15/12/2018 22:41

If you are a stitcher, the Weeks Dye Works threads, any patterns you can find, and fabric.

Letsmoveondude · 15/12/2018 22:56

Check out the outlet malls, great deals to be had still.
I got 2 pairs of timberlands, 1 for DH in a size 11 and a size 9 for DD for under $200, it was buy 1 get 2nd 1/2 price.

Ugh had some women’s boots which I got for $69- pretty dusky pink ones, I wish they had them in grey in my size but sadly they didnt!

DH also got some timberlands shirts for $15 each, and Ralph Lauren tops for like $30 each.

And you may not be going to DIsney or not, but DD got loads of Pins for $1 each from Disney outlets.

My best deal was 14.6 lb of bicarbonate of soda for cleaning from Costco. It was about $8, which I was soo excited about. I can’t find it anywhere near as cheap here, although I was quite concerned that I would get in trouble travelling with 14lb of white powder... i was shocked to see it hadn’t even been tested when I got home!

I do swear by the outlet stores though. Even at our current crap exchange rate

Imalittleelf · 15/12/2018 23:00

Peanut butter m&ms

1.75l of a spirit.... the bottles are amazing just very heavy so watch your weights!

Ahoy cookies

Lifesavers

Salt water taffy

SassitudeandSparkle · 15/12/2018 23:02

Bath & Body Works, Clinique, agree that Walgreens and outlet malls are fab (and also agree that electrical goods are not a good idea due to the voltage difference!).

Sorry to hear that Old Navy (same group as Gap but cheaper) is not up to much these days, we used to buy a fair bit from there when we were over - an American friend even sent some ON stuff over for DD when she was born.