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

[Newforestdonkey]

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!

I think certain designers are well cheaper in America than here, a designer watch perhaps

Apparently good jeans brands like guess are much cheaper

Also trainers like Nike are much cheaper also.

@Warblerinwinter

Please don’t self prescribe antibiotic cream. It leads to resistant strains and can cause a lot of issues. There is a reason why you cannot buy in the uk otc. It is available in us as people have to buy all their own meds if they don’t have insurance. You do not need to buy it so don’t.

This is just silliness.

Antibiotic cream is wonderful. No one is using it in lieu of doctor visits and medications!

Can’t you get most things over there in the UK now anyway? Certainly I saw a lot of familiar junk food on Tesco when I was last there a few years ago.

@BritWifeInUSA

Can’t you get most things over there in the UK now anyway? Certainly I saw a lot of familiar junk food on Tesco when I was last there a few years ago.

Stuff I've got recently that I couldn't get in the U.K. (I have a willing shopper!!!) Love beauty planet bar soap Some Shea moisture products not available here Tree hut scrubs AG hair products Not your mothers conditioner Philosophy fresh cream perfume Candy corn (cheaper) Mrs meyers

@Newforestdonkey

Haven’t thanked everyone individually but I’ve learned a lot from all your suggestions!!

As for medication, I come from a European country where I can buy medication different from what I find in the U.K. and have done on plenty of trips. For example. I can buy contact lenses without prescription, so I always stock up. One needs to be sensible, but there are pros to having other countries’ medicines.

Yes exactly. I've lived in 4 countries, I have favourite meds in each that I stock up on when I visit.

My pharmacist in Germany was horrified you can get Eumovate without a prescription in the UK. Because it's so dangerous!! But it's the only thing that helps my eczema so of course I stocked up on it.

In the 21st century there's very few things worth buying in the USA, good are international and prices are often cheaper in the U.K. Branded jeans and certain make up brands are marginally cheaper but remember to factor in local taxes if looking at prices online. Ask him to bring back more unique things rather than generic brands perhaps

Oh but melatonin is a good call if you have sleep issues

The children have enough clothes, I really don’t think I should tell him to get those…though I really like Carter’s

Clothes the next size up.

Mega boxes of OTC drugs eg Advil

Maybelline mascaras - I know you can get them here, but to me they are always US

Anything at all from Pottery Barn; they may have Xmas stuff in already.

Is go for things like pencil cases and school bags for the kids - things they won’t get over here. Something a bit novel. When in doubt, he can search online to see if they are available here (or ask people in the office what they kids are into and where the good kids shops are). We also bought stocks of a brand of peanut butter that we can’t get here anymore!

We always get jeans (loads cheaper) and T-shirt’s, sports clothes, homeware, some sweets - mostly for novelty value as we can get most here - not all - and they do tend to suck (sorry but they do!).

pumpkin spice stuff, pumpkin/halloween/fall decorations. Old bay spice seasoning, flavoured coffee creamer, trader joe snacks, a really nice insulated drinks container, Target and costco stuff.

I think they're a Louisiana phenomenon but if can find Zapps chips (participatory the voodoo flavour) tell him to buy the ENTIRE shop (and then send me some pls )

@Whatevernext1

Top of my list is Secret gel deodorant in any fragrance - I never let my stash go below 6 now as I can't get on with anything else since using this.

I'm a weirdo that actually likes hershey's chocolate 🤣 I would be stocking up on the mint truffle kisses and the cherry kisses which are available this time of the year.

Bath and Bodyworks anything and everything 🤣 especially hand sanitiser and holders. I know you can buy online at Next now but there's nowhere near as much as you can get in the USA!

Tide stain remover pen - comes in so handy.

Chips ahoy cookies - the chunky ones in the brown packaging.

Peppermint bark - if you want a nice tin Williams and Sonoma normally do a nice one which I then keep and use for when I make it at home.

Turtles - either pecan or cashew are quite addictive!

Ruffles - cheddar or any really!

Frito twists in honey bbq flavour.

Sephora - rollerball perfumes which I find so handy for in my bag,I seem to hoard Dior ones!

Christmas decorations for the tree from Macy's,Bloomingdales etc.

Shopping bags - nice to have different ones when going to the supermarket!

I'm sure I will think of many more!

I am the other weirdo that likes Hershey chocolate. As my kids say, it tastes like vomit....but in a good way.

On the topic of chocolate, I love See's, but it's not easy to find. A lot of it is sold for school fundraisers.

I'm always surprised you can't buy melatonin OTC in the UK. It's naturally produced by your body and non-toxic.

Caramel M&Ms are utterly marvellous. Ask for several kilos of those!

[quote NataliaSerene]@Warblerinwinter

Please don’t self prescribe antibiotic cream. It leads to resistant strains and can cause a lot of issues. There is a reason why you cannot buy in the uk otc. It is available in us as people have to buy all their own meds if they don’t have insurance. You do not need to buy it so don’t.

This is just silliness.

Antibiotic cream is wonderful. No one is using it in lieu of doctor visits and medications![/quote]
🤦‍♀️So being a pharmacist is silly now ?
There is a big difference between creams that are antiseptic and creams containing active antibiotics. It is a fact that medical professionals and research organisation and WHO are seeing multi resistive strains of bacteria due to over prescribing and non compliance right across the world and in UK. it has been escalating since the late 1980s. It is Why you are routinely swabbed for MRSA and isolated for having resistant strain bioload when you are admitted to hospital for some years now. Partially completing courses is a key driver of that and in countries where people self prescribe. We are literally on the verge of bacterial mutations that are resistant to all and every available antibiotic - people will then die of sepsis as they did up to the 1940s . This is why GPs have now strict instructions to stop handing out antibiotics like sweets.
Topical treatments for skin as is being suggested are key driver for MRSA as the staph aureus bacteria is the one that lives on skin and causes skin infections.

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!

Chocolate teddy grahams
Yum.

Weber Kickin’ Chicken spice, any Weber spices, great for marinading/bbqs, just chucking on any meat for flavour.

Bath and Body work candles and anti bac gel (although you may have loads of anti bac still left over from last tear ;-) )

For the kids, there's always a bunch of junk food to get - cheetos/hot cheetos, different flavoured oreos and pop tarts etc

Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be bought in larger packs at a pharmacy in the UK. My local one certainly sells a box of 96 ibuprofen.

For me, melatonin is the thing to bring back as you can't legally sell that in the UK. I know people get it on the internet but I am wary of buying on the internet as you can never be certain of the source.

One teenage likes Tommy Hilfiger which tends to be cheaper in the US.

I will be buying some everything bagel seasoning though on my next visit, it sounds good!

Nyquill…. Best cold and flu otc medicine out there… and night Nyquill will get you through the night regardless… I wish I had some to deal with covid when it was at its worst…

Dramamine travel sickness tablets. Can't buy them in this country. I used to take them when I was younger then they banned them!

Omg yes re Dramamine..absolutely fantastic for migraine nausea!

We currently have half of a box of Swedish Fish that DH treated the DC with from an American sweet shop in our local town. They taste like Fairy liquid! 😂 Hence there still being half left (sweets usually don't last in our house!)