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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to ask you what you would ask from the States?

298 replies

Newforestdonkey · 25/10/2021 20:06

My husband is off to NY for work for 4 weeks, and I thought that the least he could do was to bring back some things for me and the children (young) but I don’t know what! Please tell me what you’d like to get!
(The children have enough clothes, I really don’t think I should tell him to get those…though I really like Carter’s)

Thank you!

OP posts:
Courtier · 26/10/2021 22:07

@MissConductUS no we don't have antibiotic cream here. Antibiotics are prescription only to prevent resistance.

Courtier · 26/10/2021 22:10

@SurferRona

Fourth vote for crest whitening strips. Cant buy in EU. Get a couple of boxes, he can flatten them for packing space purposes if needed! Most expensive, the better, I’d also say go for the strongest you can too.
You can buy Crest strips in the U.K. online
Delectable · 26/10/2021 23:02

Bath and Body Works Splash ie body sprays, shower gels and candles.
High dose vitamin D from Amazon.
Silk pillow cases from Amazon.
Centrum.
No chocolate for me. I always take loads when I go to the US cos it's just not their thing. :)
Cerave Face wash
Juices from Trader Joes.
Popeye's chicken and "biscuits" Enjoy!

cheeseismydownfall · 26/10/2021 23:09

Kettle Kurls. Like Whotsits on steroids!

earsup · 26/10/2021 23:10

with the nyc sales tax and poor exchange rate, you can get most of the items here cheaper....i used to buy bits when it was 2$ to the pound years ago....but most stuff is here and cheaper....

NataliaSerene · 26/10/2021 23:24

[quote gogohm]@bookish83

Got to laugh - trader joes is owned by Aldi! Aldi is better value [/quote]
Apples and oranges regardless of ownership.

noodlezoodle · 26/10/2021 23:45

I'm intrigued by all the people suggesting Nyquil because I was certain it was basically the same as Night Nurse, but worse tasting Grin

Blubellesmum · 27/10/2021 00:17

Have him get some limited edition M&M popcorn flavor. I'm personally buying all I can find. They're hard to find, but I promise they're worth looking for as they're the perfect bite of sweet, popcorn, buttery flavor so yummy. You won't go wrong with them.

Avarua · 27/10/2021 00:20

Cinnamon flavoured EVERYTHING please

MissCruellaDeVil · 27/10/2021 00:21

Melatonin gummies, a god send! I usually get them imported but last time I went I bought a good stash…

elp30 · 27/10/2021 00:26

@Anonymous48

I'm a Brit who has lived in the US for many years. It's so funny reading some of these things that people would think worthy of bringing back, some of which I've never even had in all my years here. Ruffles? Swedish fish? Cheez Its?

I guess it would make sense to buy big bottles of paracetamol and ibuprofen. I never really realized that it was harder to buy them in quantities in the UK.

I love living here, but if I ever moved back I don't know if there would be too many things I would miss. Lay's sour cream and onion crisps maybe!

I am American and although I've had many people's share of Ruffles and Cheez-its, I've never used Neosporin or had the need to buy melatonin. I have a small bottle of ibuprofen (20 pills) and it cost $0.75. I've had it for a year and there's still 18 in the bottle.

When I lived in England for nine years back in the '90's and early 2000's, I wouldn't let anyone come to stay in my home unless they brought me three-liter bottles of Dr Pepper (back when you could have liquids in your carry-on luggage), Masa Harina corn flour for me to make my own tortillas, dried chile peppers to make my own enchilada sauce, cinnamon-flavored sweets like Hot Tamales, Mexican chocolate, called "Abuelita" for drinking chocolate and to use to make mole, beef jerky, hot sauces, sour candy like "lemon heads" or "sweetarts", peanut butter treats like, "Reese's Pieces" or "Nutter Butter" cookies, saltines, a jar of dill pickles, pumpkin purée for pie, "liquid smoke" for my burgers, and Crunch 'n' Munch toffee popcorn or a combination of any of these treats.

My husband and I are moving back to England to retire and I'm grateful for the Internet because I could get most of those things in England now.

elp30 · 27/10/2021 00:28

@Avarua

Cinnamon flavoured EVERYTHING please

YES 🙌🏻

PrincessNutella · 27/10/2021 02:10

There are all kinds of great things to eat in Trader Joe's. The dark chocolate nonpareils are delicious. There are interesting packaged sauces and mixes that you might not be able to get in the UK. It might be fun to ask him to look for some kind of cake mix or other baking mix of something you might never have tried in the UK. It might not come out perfectly, but it might be interesting to try it anyway.

bookish83 · 27/10/2021 03:24

[quote gogohm]@bookish83

Got to laugh - trader joes is owned by Aldi! Aldi is better value [/quote]
It wasn't a joke but sure if it gives you a laugh... Hmm

Trader joes have specific products that you cannot get in aldi. Everything but the bagel seasoning, chocolates, toaster pockets (pop tarts) to name a few.

steff13 · 27/10/2021 03:49

[quote gogohm]@bookish83

Got to laugh - trader joes is owned by Aldi! Aldi is better value [/quote]
They're completely different stores. TJ's has lots of stuff Aldi doesn't.

bookish83 · 27/10/2021 04:14

@Darceyhemingway

You can get crest white strips here ive ordered them online before. I'd deff be requesting some DF perfume!
They are cheaper in the US and also you can get fakes here, plus on ebay. Those hurt and damage your teeth.

Proper crest strips from the US!

I am also glad I'm not the only Trader Joe's fan. I love it there!

heebiejeebies45 · 27/10/2021 05:19

Bbq LaysGrin

Tr3hern3 · 27/10/2021 05:30

Trader Joe’s and Aldi are a world apart and have literally zero similarities. Op I’d browse their site. I love their reusable shopping bags both the cloth and the other type. They change from store to store. Their Anything But the Bagel spice is amazing on so many things. I’ve tried to make my own but it’s not the same. Get DH to buy several pots you won’t want to be without it once you’ve started using it. They do other spices in the range.Their lavender dryer bags are fab as are their black/ white cookies. You can buy Swedish Fish in IKEA, I prefer the Trader Joe’s Scandinavian Swimmers. Dylan’s Candy is amazing . You could get him to FT the kids and let them choose.They have everything and it’s fun albeit ££££. My kids loved it there.Economic Candy has masses too. We didn’t find a particularly good Target or Walmart in NYC but the latter is good for sweets and snacks your kids might like and Target has good seasonal stuff, have a look online. Bath and Bodyworks pocket hand sanitisers are fab and come in hoards of flavours.YY to an American Girl doll if you have a daughter, browse their site. Quite hard to get hold of here and more ££££.

Tr3hern3 · 27/10/2021 05:31

And can I not I only add to the Trader Joe’s love but ask why we still don’t have it over here. Sad

Stillfunny · 27/10/2021 05:58

Surprised nobody has mentioned asking him to go to a Marshall's store.Designer stuff like handbags , wallets, shoes and clothes heavily discounted.
I am very impressed that he is willing to spend his off duty time doing all this shopping.

MrsSchadenfreude · 27/10/2021 06:35

I used to go to New York for a long weekend most years just before Christmas to do Christmas shopping and stock up on “essentials”. This thread makes me nostalgic as I haven’t been for a few years now.

Malin52 · 27/10/2021 07:31

So basically OP it's
-weird medicines that your DH will have to find by trawling through the aisles of a dingy Walgreens that you may never find a use for or for the limited joy of a 70c bottle of 5000 ibuprofen.

  • specific foodstuffs that may or may not be to your taste that your DH will have to find by trawling through the aisles of a massive out of town Costco or Target
  • making a specific trip to Sephora to fight through the gangs of teenage girls to buy specific brand cosmetics that can be purchased in the UK for a few £ more.

Id sack it off and fall back on the old reliables of 200 Marlboro lights and a bag of Hersheys that you chuck away after 6 months because they are vile.

I was so disappointed last time I was in NY. In 1999 there were brands you couldn't buy in the UK that were so exciting with stunning shops (Keihls, Banana Republic, Tiffany!), designer clothes for half the price and you could stock up on Levi's and Clinique for a fraction of the price. In 2018 when I went last all the brands were sold in London. Uk shops and brands were all there (one street in Greenwich was like any UK high street) and there were no savings to be made. We sacked off the shopping after half a day everything was so homogenous and familiar. Meant we got to do wonderful things though like the High Line and mainlining cocktails.

Malin52 · 27/10/2021 07:48

Cartier love bracelet. It's £2000 less in the US than the UK. Designed in NY in the 1970s

That's what I suggest.

luckylavender · 27/10/2021 07:53

Lots of things from Bath and Body works.

Sunshinealligator · 27/10/2021 08:04

@MissConductUS

Australia Gold aftersun aloe gel with lidocaine. It's amazing stuff for sunburn.

CVS does a knock off for half the price. I always have a big bottle in the house. It's a life saver when the kids forget to reapply their sunscreen.

Yes!! Was going to post this! I love that stuff