USA trip - what don't I know I need yet??

[PurpleWhirple]

I'm off to the states next week for the first time in nearly 20 years. I used to fly to New York regularly for work and would stock up on things I couldn't get at home in the UK.

My favourites were bar soap, which for some reason seems to smell stronger over there, and I would always buy high SPF, oil free neutrogena facial sunscreen. Thankfully oil free suncream is now a thing in the UK. I'm racking my brains for the other things I used to get but nothing is coming back to me.

So what's changed in 20 years? I'd be grateful for your must have shopping lists and suggestions.

I think it was $2 to the pound when I was in Arizona, 2008, we felt so well off, DH still has a couple of pairs of $10 Walmart jeans he bought 😃

I always get the powder butter milk to put into cakes and pancakes etc. It's so convenient. But that's about it now. Years ago it used to be so much cheaper but prices have gone up there and you can get lot's of stuff here you couldn't years ago - ranch dressing I'm looking at you. I used always get Old Bay seasoning too but I saw it in my local Aldi recently! I'm originally American but have lived in the UK for over 30 years now.

Ahhh...two dollars to the pound...I miss those days. We're going to Floriday in May and Melatonin is about top of my wishlist and also Nyquil (?) for sleep.

Of you're interested in food cheez its snack crackers are great

Also trader joes has some great rubs and ingredients. We loved it in there and quite reasonable prices

The first time I went (I'm old!) it was well over $2 to the £ 😭
I haven't been for a few years now but I would get Secret anti perspirant & liquid soaps & hand sanitisers from Body & Bath works. I don't like to buy them on line as some of the "flavours" are sickly sweet & over powering. And pots of naproxen, ibuprofen or paracetamol simply for the convenience rather than the price.

I always buy Secret and bought about 6 in August. Sadly, I have become allergic to it.

I used to buy Elf brushes and makeup in Target, but it’s here now. You can get pretty much all US stuff here, but I still buy Tide with bleach, Clorox wipes and Bounty tumble dryer sheets.

Thanks all. I'm looking forward to a scout around old navy and a few other places we don't have here but consider my expectations managed on the prices

Price that I remember that horrified me

$57 for two plates (paper) of pasta and a beer each
$9 2 x share bags m and ma
$4 box of cheez its
$14 two ice creams
$4 coffee - although that standard uk price

Bath and Body Works Spearmint cream is amazing

Naproxen is prescription only for a reason..

NyQuil is wonderful
Also large bottles of ibuprofen
Peptobismol

Maple sugar candy my all time favourite treat
Sourdough pretzels
Trader Joe's snacks- some of my favourite things, but that is personal... have a look

The reason naproxen is Rx only in the UK has nothing to do with medicine if it's available otc in the US.

There was once a time when Clarityn was otc in the UK and Rx only in the US.

Different regulation but it can be dangerous for some people.

“This medicine may raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke. This is more likely in people who already have heart disease or in people who use this medicine for a longer time. This medicine may cause bleeding in your stomach or intestines. This problem can happen without warning signs.”

Stove Top stuffing, sachets of Ranch Dressing to toss in the slow cooker with chicken and vegetables, boxes of Zatarans red beans and rice. 🥰

US and UK standards + regulations re: medication are very different. The UK takes a far safer approach to things whilst in the US far more medicines are available OTC as an increasingly large amount of the population simply can’t afford to see a doctor, therefore self medicating out of need.

I think you'll find the UK has a reputation for being on the cutting edge of switching from Rx only to otc. One of the reasons for this is keeping NHS costs down and reducing reliance on GPs and other HCPs for conditions that can easily be diagnosed and self medicated, like period pain. It was available OTC as Feminax Ultra from 2008 to 2018 in the UK, (250mg formulation), but it was discontinued because of supply chain issues. You can buy it online without a prescription.

In the US, Aleve is sold in 220mg tablets. When it was first made available otc it had 18 years of solid data contributing to the risk benefit analysis that went into the decision. Midol Extended Release tablets for period pain also contain 220mg naproxen iirc.

It's also available in the Netherlands in 220mg and 275mg formulations, afaik, and in some Canadian provinces - overall in about 50 countries worldwide

I’m in the US. Look out for Owala water bottles. Way better than Stanley and I don’t think they are available in the UK. Target sells them, among other places.

I would avoid the sunscreen. The higher SPF is not really a thing. They have different rules around it over there and it's quite misleading. My in-laws buy from the UK or Korean brands and live in a permanently sunny state.

Crest whitening strips!

OP I would be cautious buying melatonin if you don't really need it. Taking it can inhibit the body's natural production of melatonin (hormone that helps you sleep) so if you don't actually have any sleep issues you could end up causing yourself a problem.

My list would be:
Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix.
Louisiana Hot Sauce.
Yaucono brand Puerto Rican ground coffee.
Maple syrup.
Pecans.
Swedish Fish candy.
Jars of peanut butter with grape jelly all in the same jar, can't remember the brand.
Peanut Butter M&Ms.
York Peppermint Patties.
Smuckers Naturals Peanut Butter.
Jars of proper salsa. Avoid Old El Paso.
Cinnamon flavored chewing gum - Big Red. It will cure mouth ulcers. Also cinnamon Tic Tacs and Altoids.
Graham crackers.
Flavored Oreos.
Fudge mint cookies - a Girl Scout Cookie dupe found in Walmart.

Crest whitening strips.
Large containers of Tylenol (acetaminophen) or other otc pain/ fever relievers (check the expiration date though).

Check out Sephora for makeup and skincare.

The only things I buy are

• Trader Joe's snacks
• Paydays
• Swedish fish tropical
• Snyders buffalo wings pretzels

Yumb!

I really like Bliss Body Butter but I think Bliss pulled out of the UK so it’s not as widely available now. Was always about £20-25 for 200ml, but cheaper in the US, especially when buying gift/multipacks which you could never get here. Last time I was there they had it in Target for $10 - 8 left in stock, I bought the lot!

Clorox? Why?!!. I live in the States and don't use that toxic rubbish.

Food from Trader Joes!