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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To have bought some clothes from Tesco to cheer myself up?

194 replies

paradisefalls · 18/04/2020 14:03

Went to Tesco this morning to do the food shopping, it's the first time I've been out other than going to work in two weeks. Whilst I was there I thought I'd grab myself some clothes because with all this warm weather we've had I don't own any summer clothes and sandals. I picked up quite a bit (£180 worth) for myself and got a couple of dresses for DD's aswell. People were giving me some right weird looks and the lady behind me at the check out kept tutting. The cashier was admiring the clothes and saying that she needed to grab some bits for her Dd before she left work today. Aibu to think there's nothing wrong with picking up other essentials while your already there anyway? Aren't clothes essentials? I haven't ordered anything online since this all started because I don't want to add pressure to delivery drivers. I'm a key worker myself (royal mail) and know how worrying it is to still be working under these circumstances. After years of being a stay at home mum in a financially abusive relationship, buying clothes makes me happy because for years I've had nothing. Buying those bits today has really lifted my mood aibu?

OP posts:
Lynda07 · 18/04/2020 14:48

Why not, Paradise? You can wear them indoors :-). Seriously, nothing wrong with buying a few clothes, you would in normal times so why not now. Apart from morale boost you're keeping people in work.

Frangipanini · 18/04/2020 14:48

When people tut at me I look them directly in the eye and say "don't tut me you stupid cow/ dickhead or I'll take even longer".

Tutters are cowards who don't have the balls to say something to your face. It's really passive aggressive. I am someone who never starts a fight, but I will finish one. I'm also more than happy to be the person who teaches someone a lesson so they don't go on to really upset the next person who may be having a really bad time in their life and not need this petty crap.

skybluee · 18/04/2020 14:53

Yeah, that's crazy. Of course people need clothes. And I'd actually say it was a good and more effective use of your trip to buy food PLUS clothes at the same time, as it combines two different purposes into your one trip.

People are being ridiculous. If we're being literally, pretty much every single drink apart from tap water isn't necessary, etc. Life doesn't work like that.

pokemongrief · 18/04/2020 14:56

I would say clothing is pretty essential. The alternative would be interesting

MissHoskins · 18/04/2020 14:56

I saw one poster say that bread and milk are not essential purchases.
Enjoy your new clothes op. I usually get most of my clothes in Big Tesco! It's near where my son and family live, 160 miles away from me. So no new clothes for me atm.
Clothes are essential, ignore the tutters.

WhatTiggersDoBest · 18/04/2020 14:56

I bought some clothes a couple of weeks ago at Tesco and nobody cared. Maybe people around my way have got better things to do than to notice or care about what other people are doing.
As a sidenote, how did you hear anyone tutting if they were the correct distance from you behind the tape on the floor? That's impressive hearing.

Elephantonascooter · 18/04/2020 14:57

We had similar this week. DS broke his cot so we needed an urgent cot bed. Managed to find one in argos so did my food shopping while I was there. The looks we got were extraordinary.

Chloemol · 18/04/2020 14:57

Ministers have already said that if a shop such as a Tesco is open you can purchase anything in that shop. People who tut need to get a life

Straycatstrut · 18/04/2020 14:57

My kids are outgrowing EVERYTHING and getting holes in everything at the moment! My wardrobe is full of bleach stained, shabbyness from Primark too. I'd have done the same (can't go as a LP though). Buying clothes always cheers me up.

I think clothes are pretty essential....

recklessruby · 18/04/2020 14:58

Maybe she was tutting as you were daring to buy a lot of stuff and holding her up from spying on the neighbours Grin. Her choice not to move to another queue so dont worry about it.
I have arthritis in my fingers so sometimes get tuts and sighs if i take a bit longer (I look youngish and people seem to think it only afficts the old).
I just think so what I ll never see these people again. Why do they matter?
Yanbu. I want some summer clothes with my shopping when I get paid too.

SusanneLinder · 18/04/2020 15:01

We are allowed to buy stuff apart from basics. I really detest the shopping police at the moment! Buy what you sodding want.

480Widdio · 18/04/2020 15:02

Good on you.We need nice things to help get us through this tough time.

I have a look that can kill at a thousand paces,the lady behind would have felt the full force of it!!

TheFormidableMrsC · 18/04/2020 15:02

I've bought quite a few new clothes. I usually live in gym kit but recently had surgery so the sort of exercise I normally do can't be done currently. I want to wear a nice outfit every day because it makes me feel better. I've got a 9 yo son who desperately needed new clothes so bought some. I am so sick of people judging away, some of the shit I've read on here has been astonishing. People being "disrespectful" to sick people by laughing in their gardens was one of my favourites 🙄. If it's there to buy, then buy it if you wish. There will be somebody along to say that fashioning a bin liner would be more appropriate than having the temerity to buy new and needed clothes. Enjoy them OP!

bobstersmum · 18/04/2020 15:03

If you weren't supposed to buy it they wouldn't sell it!

hettie · 18/04/2020 15:04

I cannot stand passive aggressive behaviour. I would have politely asked why she was tutting.." I can't help noticing that you are tutting, is it directed at me? If so would you mind telling me what aspect of my behaviour you are finding so annoying?" If she answered that I was buying non essential items I would simply reply that I've read the guidance issued to police and that if I buy something I need whilst food shopping that that is completely allowed (may even offer to show her the guidance....)

TheMagiciansMewTwo · 18/04/2020 15:05

There's nothing wrong with buying clothes. Maybe she was huffing because it takes longer to get served with clothes since they fold them, ask about hangers, etc. Rather than just waving them in front of the scanner.

Nofunkingworriesmate · 18/04/2020 15:07

Why did you need to tell us you how seldom you have been out ? Why are so many threads now starting with “ I haven’t been out for weeks / this is the first time I’ve been out of the house etc... why?
The person behind you May have been huffing and tutting but it may have nothing to do with you

Applejaxx · 18/04/2020 15:09

I ordered myself some new t shirts from asos the other day. I was intending to buy new things for the summer, but obviously the lockdown put a stop on that. I don't have any summer clothes and its getting warmer, so I need them. If they didn;t want people to buy them then they wouldn't still be selling them.

CoolCarrie · 18/04/2020 15:10

Nothing wrong with buying what you needed, including clothes.
Where I am we can buy new headphones for DS as his are broken, or an electric razor for dh but can’t buy a new hairdryer! No logic at all.

Justaboy · 18/04/2020 15:11

Under the regs and police guidelines shopping for clothes is considied an essntial!

Problem si not of the public don't know this but its all there I did make referecesto it the other day!

BritWifeinUSA · 18/04/2020 15:11

I think the tutting probably can’t from the time spent chatting with the assistant. OP said the assistant was admiring the clothes as she scanned them. I have to say I get somewhat irritated when people have to discuss their purchases with the assistant and the assistants start the”oh that looks nice” and so on. But I’m an impatient person and hate waiting to pay for things. I don’t know if I’d go as far as tutting in a way that can be heard 6 ft apart, but I do roll my eyes when the “oh that’s nice” routine starts.

Isleepinahedgefund · 18/04/2020 15:13

Absolutely fucking outrageous OP. Next time, take your kids and all go naked.

Justaboy · 18/04/2020 15:14

here you are..

There is no need for all a
person’s shopping to be
basic food supplies; the
purchase of snacks and
luxuries is still permitted.
In general terms, a person
has a reasonable excuse to
visit the shops which remain
open to customers under the
Regulations.
If a person is already out
of the address with good
reason, then it would not be
proportionate to prevent the
person from buying nonessential items.

woodymiller · 18/04/2020 15:15

Well I bought a jumper in M&S. I did a no buy January, which went well that I continued it into February. Then by March we could see this coming and I bought food for the freezer, new jigsaws, games, colouring books etc for dc without buying anything for myself. My jumper might not be essential but I picked it up as the queue to the food hall snaked past it, I didn't make a special trip, I didn't have to come in contact with any extra people, it's just a wee treat to make me smile, no different to if I'd put wine in the trolley, or chocolates.

pigsDOfly · 18/04/2020 15:16

Enjoy your clothes OP.

In one of my shops recently I bought face cream. I buy smoked salmon and biscuits, hardly essential any of them. And I can buy chocolate and alcohol if I wanted them, again hardly essential to survival.

If the clothes are for sale then you're entitled to buy them, and you're allowed to enjoy them as well, despite what some people might think.

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