Why do the elderly go to supermarkets on Saturday?

[CheeseLover2026]

I’ve just got back from doing the family shop. I work full time long hours, so it’s shopping on weekend or nobody eats.

Shop is heaving. Everyone is slightly tetchy, rightly. The meat aisle is practically a bin fight. Trolleys in the way. Kids messing about.

And yet, so many elderly people, many of whom have mobility issues and are probably slightly frightened by the way my kind swoop in and swoop out to get an item while they are stood there pondering over this or that.

Yes, they have a right to do what they like. But WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND would choose a frenetic Saturday when they have more civilised options?

In my mum’s case it’s because she has Parkinson’s and needs either me or my sibling to take her. We both work full time so Saturday morning is the day we usually go.

I’ve just got back from doing the family shop. I work full time long hours, so it’s shopping on weekend or nobody eats.

Nobody in your house knows how to order online shopping?

Strange.

Could you let us know what the cut off age is for being allowed to go to the shops on a Saturday?
Funny how it's perfectly OK to be ageist.

As others have said, it may be the only time they've been able to get a lift there. There may not be someone in the shop with them but they may have been dropped off and picked up (that's what an elderly friend of mine does).
Or, they go daily, by bus, and buy a few things that they can carry.
Or, for many people, going to the shop is the only social interaction they get.

To annoy you personally.

How very dare they eat…

you must have a charmed life if this is the thing that’s bothered you enough to post on MN

It would have been my idea of hell too…… 20-40 years ago. These days I focus on my health, which means shopping regularly for fresh food. The walk to and from the supermarket contributes to my step count, and the heavy backpack and the bags I carry on the way back hopefully qualify as weight training.

I know what you mean. Yes they’re well within their rights but you do wonder why they would.

Obviously a few older people will been in a position where they have no choice but it can’t possibly apply to everyone

Tbh I’ve had my shopping delivered since they invented shopping delivery!

Why do 2 parents bring their badly behaved children at the weekend?What a horrible thread,OP must be selfish and self centred.Vile.

Well that’s me told!

I see a lot of accusations of ageism and at the same time some really derogatory comments about children.

I’ve spent years working full time and raising children. Everytime I do anything admin at the weekend I tell myself ‘when I’m retired (if that ever happens), I’m going to go to the shops when it’s quiet.’

Well you do. Have it delivered.

Single parents?

My partner and I work opposite shifts, so we’re either in work or alone with the kids. No choice but to take the kids unfortunately. I usually get a home delivery for this reason but sometimes I forget. Believe me, I would much rather leave them and go alone 😂

Simply cos they bloody want to that’s why, it’s their choice have some respect

Engage your brain. You hold down a full time job, think it through.

my dd doesn’t have a car. She walks or gets the bus to the supermarket. She can only buy what she can carry, which is roughly a day or two’s food. By the time you’ve got bread, milk, toilet roll, and ingredients that’s your backpack full.

so she’s been shopping today for another 2 pints and food to see her till Monday. She also is in a tiny one bed so only an icebox, no freezer. No delivery either as her flat is on a London red route so vehicles can’t stop.

check your privilege. Imagine yourself with no car, only able to buy and store what you can carry.

you’re like these people who say buy and cook in bulk to save money. Well that’s fine if you have the storage and freezer space. Not everyone does.

you’re being ridiculous. Book a delivery.

It drives me crazy. Then they stop in the middle of the bloody aisle to have a chat with someone from up their road, about someone's child, who is unrelated to either and moved to Australia over a decade ago. Just sod off and meet up for a coffee like a normal person!

I try to do all of our food shopping online now. Because honestly my tolerance levels for selfish arseholes isn't particularly high.

Define elderly first……

How on earth do you swoop shop AND update a spreadsheet on elderly people’s relatives at the same time? You really are an amazing woman. 😀

You’re fine Op.

Some people on here just like to have a go at people!

You just made an observation about what your own preference would be, you didn’t say they shouldn’t be there!

I didn’t say they shouldn’t be allowed. I asked why it seems like a good idea.

Well I guess I'm old (69) and retired and I get an online delivery for us and my (younger) neighbour nearly every Thursday am. When I was working 4 days a week, we used to go on a Thursday am to a large supermarket, as I had that day off. Prior to that we went in an evening after work. Tbh I won't change back to doing a large shop in person as I can't stand the busyness, we also save money, no impulse buys!

I work p/t and the advantage of that is avoiding the supermarket on the weekend. No idea why you would chose to go there then.

I had this very conversation with DH in M&S earlier! Full of people doddering around, standing right at the top of the escalator then deciding actually they weren't going to get on it, casing everyone else to have to move back out of the way.
I would never choose to go on a Saturday if I didn't have to!

Welcome to MN @CheeseLover2026 . Did you sign up just to post ageist tripe?

Maybe they're working or doing childcare through the week. Maybe they can only get a ride then.

But you're being ageist ranting against elderly people being in the supermarket, a public place, on Saturday mornings.

I don't know about where you are, but here, the drivers for grocery delivery need to be tipped and that adds on to the grocery cost.

On MNs elderly is like 250 or something