Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Covid

Mumsnet doesn't verify the qualifications of users. If you have medical concerns, please consult a healthcare professional.

Original poster

So all the 'non essential moaners' what do you class as non essential

477 replies

HoppingOnSteppingStones · 13/01/2021 09:42

Because I've just been to tesco and brought a kettle. I've just had a bloke when I was stood in front to pay. Mumble about an 'essential kettle'

Did he know why I had to buy it. Did he plums!
It's not so I can go home and have a relaxing cuppa. Its so I can make formula for my baby. Because last night our kettle went bang!
We had to get hot water off the neighbour for this mornings bottle so I could then run to grab one.

What's essential to some isn't to others.

Yes I think there's prob a fine line but I wish people wouldn't judge

OP posts:
Thread gallery
7
kimlo · 13/01/2021 10:32

I would have bought one on amazon. But I don't have a baby and I have a coffee machine.

You went to a shop that is open and bought something they sold. Would it have been better if you had ordered one and then went out for ready made formula? No.

Buzzinwithbez · 13/01/2021 10:34

Our kettle went bang on new year's Day with no shops open. You can bet we rushed out to buy one the next day.

We also bought a none essential toaster. ( Except I have a kid who I'm worrying is developing an eating disorder and I wanted them to be able to make snacks quickly) Actually we ended up back and forth for 3 different models, as the first one blew the electrics, the second the timer didn't work and we were lucky with the third.. I'm glad we bought in-store as that would have been such a faff to sort out ( and I really don't have the energy for that with everything else going on) and would have necessitated 2 trips to the post office as well.

LiverColouredBitchPointer · 13/01/2021 10:34

@KatherineJaneway

Some prat on MN told me during the first lock down that milk and bread were not essentials.

Ignore him, your purchase sounds essential to me.

Well, I suppose if you're in Japan or China, perhaps not...but I'm guessing you're British, so pretty much essential!

Now OP, was it a luxury Tesco Finest kettle? (Non-essential) or Tesco basics? Wink

Mrsjayy · 13/01/2021 10:35

My parents TV died recently I mean they could do without a TV I suppose they could just sit and sneer at each other but we went and bought them a non essential Television!

Iknowwhatudidlastsummer · 13/01/2021 10:36

Essential: reducing your shopping trips as much as you possibly can.

Non essential: popping to the shop for every little thing and snack you can think about.

Buying your kettle in the morning and going back at lunch time for a sandwich, then in the afternoon for your pint of milk: non essential.

Buying your kettle whilst you do your shopping, or using your trip to the supermarket to buy the rest of your food shop of the week whilst you are there: essential.

HTH

but you know that already.

MessAllOver · 13/01/2021 10:37

@Buzzinwithbez. It just gets worse and worse on this thread. A non-essential toaster...Angry.

What is the matter with an open fire and a toasting fork?

Carrotcakeforbreakfast · 13/01/2021 10:37

I would go out to buy a kettle. Especially with a baby but even if it was for a cup of tea.
I bought a friends print from aldi a couple of days ago for my dd1 room. Absolutely not essential but I was in there getting bread, milk and fruit. It was 9.45pm and there was nobody in there.
It didn't delay me in anyway
And I cheered my daughter up briefly.

WalrusWife · 13/01/2021 10:38

I couldn’t bring myself to care about what other people are buying.

Treasr · 13/01/2021 10:38

I wonder if a vibrator would be classed as essential. Quick google search shows they’re still available.

Buzzinwithbez · 13/01/2021 10:38

Buying your kettle and dashing back with it to feed your baby, rather then delaying further and doing a full shop, also essential. Though I hope you grabbed yourself some chocolate on the way out.

1990shopefulftm · 13/01/2021 10:38

My son's steriliser broke during the second lockdown, I had to do a couple of bottles with boiling water in a pan as my husband was working until later in the day and that really isn't that safe to do as a sleep deprived parent so trying to do actual milk without a kettle and then trying to pour the water from the pan certainly isn't safe.

Fizbosshoes · 13/01/2021 10:39

@KatherineJaneway

Some prat on MN told me during the first lock down that milk and bread were not essentials.

Ignore him, your purchase sounds essential to me.

That wasn't the infamous suggestion to put grated cheese in your coffee was it? Confused Grin

I bought hair dye in Tesco yesterday. I admit there was nothing essential about it at all but its one of the few "fun" things my teen DD can do at the min.(and I was in the toiletries aisle anyway)

MaddeningtheUnhelpful · 13/01/2021 10:39

was having this conversation with my husband last night. On the surface most things are non essential, until it breaks then it is bloody essential. Think its something Westminster privilege doesn't understand. Shoe shopping, non essential, until your only shoes break. Buying a brand new state of the art cooker non essential, until your old faithful breaks and you've got 3 kids to feed.

FatCatThinCat · 13/01/2021 10:41

Circumstances can make anything essential an nobody can really judge that without knowing the circumstances.

I went out the other day and bought a nintendo switch. Clearly not essential right? All I can say is come and spend a few hours with my autistic 7 year old when he doesn't have a working games consol and I bet you'd be outside waiting for the shop to open like I was.

Belladonna12 · 13/01/2021 10:41

Buying a kettle in essential because it is required to make some drinks. If food is essential then so is anything that is required to eat or make the food .I don't quite get people's point that it isn't essential because can be ordered online because you can also order food online but supermarkets are still open for shoppers.

letempsdescathedrales · 13/01/2021 10:42

I definitely think that a kettle is an essential and I would not judge you for going out specially to buy one and the man was out of line.
But if I were your neighbour, I would wonder why you hadn't just used a pan that morning to boil the water. (I'd have give you the water though).

CornishYarg · 13/01/2021 10:42

@RaisinsRuinEverything

Expressing your opinion on other people's shopping is definitely non-essential.
Grin I'm going to keep that remark ready in case I encounter any "that's non-essential" moaners!
MarieIVanArkleStinks · 13/01/2021 10:42

His baggage, OP. Don't pick it up and carry it for him. He owns his own shit and it's none of his business what's in other people's shopping baskets.

Ori2021 · 13/01/2021 10:44

@HoppingOnSteppingStones

A kettle is absolutely an essential item. I get the chills just thinking about not having one. It's up there with toilet roll and wine, surely?

J101112 · 13/01/2021 10:45

Everything has a different idea of essential. A kettle would be very essential in this house too. Anything can be essential imo! We don’t know what everyone has going on in their lives right now.

Buzzinwithbez · 13/01/2021 10:45

His baggage, OP. Don't pick it up and carry it for him

Oh I like this. Thankyou. It's one to remember..

Mousehole10 · 13/01/2021 10:46

[quote MessAllOver]@Buzzinwithbez. It just gets worse and worse on this thread. A non-essential toaster...Angry.

What is the matter with an open fire and a toasting fork?[/quote]
I’d still have to go out to buy my essential fire and toasting fork Grin

kirktonhouse · 13/01/2021 10:47

Not disputing the need for a kettle, but why on earth did you go to a neighbours for hot water? Why not boil some in a pan?

Affor · 13/01/2021 10:47

@letempsdescathedrales

I definitely think that a kettle is an essential and I would not judge you for going out specially to buy one and the man was out of line. But if I were your neighbour, I would wonder why you hadn't just used a pan that morning to boil the water. (I'd have give you the water though).
Yes, me too!
MessAllOver · 13/01/2021 10:48

Expressing your opinion on other people's shopping is definitely non-essential.

Well, given there's nothing else to do at the moment, I'd say it's pretty essential Wink.

Covid and lockdown have been a godsend to those of us who like to judge others. I'm thinking of retraining and making a career out of it.