When I first set up my own place after leaving home, I loved to go grocery shopping – it was so much fun to buy all the products and the food that *I* wanted!
And when I started going out with the hubster, he felt the same way. He was still living at home and grocery shopping was a bit of a novelty for both of us. (Mind you, at the time we were both pretty strapped for cash so doing the grocery shopping together was a very cost-effective date night!)
We continued doing the groceries together right up until our first child was born, and for a while afterwards, until it got a bit too much to juggle and it was just easier for me to go at night by myself. I must confess that in those days I enjoyed the “time out”, and being able to shop in peace!
But over the years it became a real drag …
So about ten years ago now, the hubster took on the weekly grocery shop – and what a brilliant arrangement it’s been!
How He Learned to do the Grocery Shopping
It has to be said, at first he wasn’t real great at it. He’d try to economise and neglect to buy important ingredients, or he wouldn’t buy my preferred brand. I’d carefully prepare a shopping list, and he’d come home with about half of it. He couldn’t see *why* I needed things like french onion soup mix, or frozen spinach – so he just didn’t get them. He didn’t realise that they were essential ingredients in many of the meals I cooked, and that not having those items at the ready severely limited what dinners I could produce!
Over time though he got much better, even buying women’s sanitary products without batting an eyelid. Nowadays he does a fantastic job and is much better at sticking to the budget than I am!
I’ve read that women are more likely to pre-plan their grocery shop – but my hubby must be the exception. He loves to go through the junk mail, circling any specials before adding them to his shopping list – something I never had the patience to do.
So what’s the difference when a man is doing the grocery shopping? Hubster’s trolley will usually have:
- more home-brand items;
- more chips and savoury snacks;
- more convenience meal items;
- and definitely more soft drink;
than if I was the one doing the shopping, but I can live with that. (If it was up to me for example, I’d never buy fizzy drinks – not only are they bad for you, but I just can’t drink soft drink.)
The only thing I could complain about, is that I think he is allergic to the fruit and vegetable aisle. But I don’t, because I appreciate that since he takes care of the bulk of the shopping, getting a bit of fresh produce is the least I can do 😉 .
A Man Doing the Grocery Shopping?! Well I never!
So yes it’s true, real men can do the grocery shopping, which I think is fair enough. We both eat the food, use the toiletries etc, so why shouldn’t our men be the ones to go and buy it? It works for us and we’re happy …
However, I’m amused by how people are often shocked to learn that in our household, it’s the man doing the grocery shopping. They clearly think that I’m shirking my womanly duties! Exactly where is it written that I, as the woman, have to do it? And do they even stop to notice that *I* am usually the one who mows the lawn?! (Because I enjoy doing it, yes I know I’m crazy).
It’s quite surprising the reactions we get, considering we live in the 21st century. Newsflash: REAL MEN DO THE GROCERY SHOPPING!
Who does the grocery shopping in your house?