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?

The answer is do a click and collect or home delivery instead of policing who can enter a supermarket on the weekends.

You work 12 hours a day 5 days a week? Lidl opens 8am-10pm Monday to Friday. Surely you can find 30 minutes on one of those days to do your shopping and not “swoop” around elderly people on the weekend.

Because they are allowed to!
Maybe they need something

And she followed them all out into the car park to check who was driving. That is dedication!

Ageism only works one way on MNs.
Things that aren’t actually ageist get labelled as ageist.

Like you, that’s when they want to go

It drives me barmy. Yanbu OP. But I'd go early evening if I were you. Much quieter.

I know an elderly person who goes to the supermarket on a Saturday because it helps break the weekend up for her. Weekends can be very long and lonely for some people.

'Because they want to' is reason enough.

By swoop I just meant having to sort of dive around and pick up something like I’m doing yoga because I’m conscious of others also needing to shop quickly.

Maybe it's the only time their relations who work can give them a lift?
Perhaps they are working during the week?
Perhaps they've got a unexpected friend/ relative arriving ..
Perhaps their pension money, Coop divi, money owed to them from the latest refund from a late/ cancelled train etc etc has just come through?
Perhaps they just needed to get out of the house?
Perhaps their cat has just turned its nose up at the brand of food they've been given.
Perhaps it's just stopped raining.
Perhaps they're needing to speak to someone for the first time this week?

Who knows?

Where are you?

no tipping delivery drivers in the uk.

even if you did you’re still saving on fuel, wear on tear on you vehicle, and that commodity people underestimate, your time.

It's a damn disgrace, op, how dare they choose to spend their money whenever they like.
Start a campaign to get them banned on Sats.
While your at it could you also ban the feral wee ones, EVERY day of the week.
Thanks 😁

Oh for goodness sake!

I agree OP - they have all week, after all, unless they need a bus or lift which is only available on a Saturday.

B&Q used to run a discount scheme for over 65s on a Wednesday morning - I think Iceland does something similar - maybe it would be good for other supermarkets to do similar to encourage those who can shop midweek to go in midweek.

But I don't know, I just don't like crowds. So I wouldn't go shopping at busy times. But some people do!

Yeah I had thought of that but once I’m home, out of the officewear, stuck a washload on and done dinner I am so exhausted I can’t face a shop. As for online delivery - good idea except my work hours mean zero flexibility so I can’t be mucked about by cancelled or late deliveries.

That’s a good idea

Kids I can understand though because what if you have no choice? Single parent? No childcare?

They may be busy during the week? They may enjoy annoying ageist people?

This is why I do home delivery or click & collect. Weekend supermarket shopping drives me nuts 🥜

The raining one sounds daft but is valid tbf.

if you are getting the bus or walking to the supermarket it’s fucking miserable getting wet, sloshing round damp, then getting wait again on the way home.

I avoid other people's ill-mannered off-spring like the plague, that includes Saturday and any time around school starting or finishing/ not to make life easier for their parents but because it suits me.

FFS - so do stop this ageist claptrap. We’re all people who need food. You’ll be older one day (sooner than you think - time goes quickly). I often shop at the w/e for a quick whizz round if my kids and grandgirlie come round - sometimes at short notice. I’m a fit, active 71 year old.

It isn’t ageist to ask a question!

That’s the second reason why I do my shopping online - because of the avoidance of impulse buys!