Aspie guys and shopping.

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Do any aspie guys know how to shop well? I definitely don't. I realized that aside from grocery shopping, I don't know how to do any other types of shopping. If I lived on my own, I would either have to learn how to shop or get someone to shop with me. Of course, a way to avoid shopping often is to be cheap and make sure nothing wears out or breaks down.

Shopping for what?

Clothes? Heck no.

Car insurance? Not really.

Food? I can do that.

A new graphics processing unit? Please, I don't need any encouragement to upgrade my computer hardware.

I could care less about clothes or whatever, but I like looking at video games and books.

I'm not sure how to define 'shopping well' but I think I am okay at it. I am an extremely picky shopper when it comes to almost everything, very utilitarian I suppose. I am told I can be pretty frustrating when shopping for food... I always read the ingredients, compare prices, prices at different stores, etc. Electronics stuff I usually buy online where I can compare everything I want, read reviews, etc... I can't stand going to places like Best Buy where there is always someone trying to 'help' you. The only time I go shopping for clothes is when my mom takes me or I might occasionally go to a thrift store. I always read clothing tags to check the material types and such (its not that crazy... I love the outdoors and the right clothing can make all the difference!).

So do I shop well? Maybe... I always buy exactly what I am after without compromise, never really waste money on impulse buys, when i go to a store I come out with what I went there for and nothing more. Shopping isn't fun though and I never go out to the store to find new things to buy like the rest of my family seems to do. When I am in a store I think I kind of have tunnel vision or something lol.

well, the typical 'shopping' is something i can do for eletronics/gadgets, but i usually do put on my own music to block the one in the store; and tell the personell i dont need any help: just watching; food i can get, but i make a list beforehand.

shopping for clothes?:
i walk into a store; grab the first item that matches what i need (shirt, pants, undies...), check the size and walk out (to pay), any more time spend is asking for a meltdown...

As a kid I absolutely hated shopping for clothes. I felt my skin hot and irritated the moment I stepped into a shop with one of my parents. It's still rare I shop for clothes alone, and even then I only care for shoes. Either I get clothes as gifts or I have to be grabbed and taken for shopping.

Shopping for groceries is ok with me. A shopping list helps a lot. I don't like crowd but I can deal with it.

I absolutely don't like loud and crappy music played in a lot of malls and shops. They can drive me crazy. Nobody asked for it, then why can't they just turn it off?

Easy:

1. Decide what I want

2. Decide where to get it from

3. Go and get it

Main thing is to do step 3 with the minimum of fuss and bother. Shopping isn't a potentially wonderful experience, it's just a necessary evil like going to the lavatory only less private.

Shopping with others is theoretically possible but at its best it's still going to increase the time spent dodging cars and people....if I take one companion shopping, then on average I'll be stuck in crowded shops for twice as long as I would be if I were on my own, with no more stuff to my credit when it's all done. And that's assuming they'll be fair-minded enough to limit themselves to commandeering half the time to get what they want.

Then there's the extra difficulty trying to walk around with another person in a crowd.....if I stick to the walking protocols I use for solo shopping, then I'll look very rude and we'll soon get split up and maybe not find each other again. Just simple things like I'll see it's safe and expedient to cross a road, but they won't notice in time so I'll have to do it in their inefficient way. Or they'll "drag" me into ridiculously crowded, noisy and squalid places I'd never normally go.

Even the little bit of pleasure I might otherwise get from shopping can be lost - e.g. when I suddenly see something interesting, I'm very mindful of the companion(s) waiting around for me (I can barely contain my boredom if they do that to me), and it spoils the fun.

Theoretically I could go shopping with others, but I have yet to find anybody who is prepared to declare accurately what shops they want to visit, how long for, and to plan the excursion with me in a way that won't stress me out. I like company, and it would be nice to find somebody to shop with who made the company worth the extra effort. But they'd have to be very thoughtful, understanding people.

I'm able to do shopping for groceries and other small goods, all using cash or debit card. I've also done online shopping for other things (eg books and vitamins) from America, which including shipping, is still cheaper than buying locally in Australia!! !

I have never done a major purchase such as a car or a large TV entertainment system, and would require assistance for that.

I find deciding what groceries to buy easy as I like to eat the same type of foods each week, so my shopping list is the same each time I go to the supermarket. The problem is locating the items in the supermarket, so the grocery items would have to be searched in a systematic manner. And sometimes the supermarkets change the positions of their products which can be frustrating.

I think clothes shopping is also easier for HFA/Aspies as we tend to care far more about comfort than about appearances. What's the point in buying something expensive or "pretty looking" if you can't even stand the texture of the fabric? There have been occasions where I prefer to go to an Op-Shop (Charity store that sells 2nd-hand clothes/items) to buy used shirts and pants that are still in good and clean condition for under $AU 10 each, because the fabric has been softer from previous wear.

I hate most shopping. Stores are loud, malls have too many people in them and there are too many choices. It is often like I just get lost.

I buy the same kinda of clothes, so I know where to go in the store or shop an Lands' End. My wife gives me and explicit list of things to get at the store when I buy food.

I do like shopping for tools and car part, however. But I go at off times, like early in the morning, when I know fewer people will be at the store.

According to the following diagram, I must be a man.

I find that slightly disturbing.



I hate shopping. I especially hate clothes shopping with other women. I hate that most women spend time dithering around and browsing and walking around slowly. I just want to go into a shop QUICKLY, get what I need QUICKLY, pay for it, and get out of there ASAP.

I now do all of my shopping online. It's much better that way.

I don't like clothes shopping, and I usually go to places which sell "last year's" or slightly imperfect, etc. Better selection, and very affordable. I never set foot in places like department stores, or Abercrombie, etc. I also buy a lot of clothes on eBay, from people who got something impulsively of for a gift, and didn't wear it. All I wear is Levi's jeans and T-shirts, so it's easy.

I do like shopping for electronics and tools, and stuff like that. Groceries are good to shop for too, since I can plan meals as I go along.

Charles

I hate shopping for anything specific, since I won't find it or if I do it will be too pricey. No-pressure shopping where I might "discover" something I'll inevitably need some day is much more to my taste, as is trolling discount, close-out and thrift stores. I've even learned to troll for groceries, going listless to the smallest retail store I can find, then letting what I see as I go up and down the aisles remind me of what I need. Yes, I'll miss one or two essential grocery items and at the discount houses I inevitably buy things I'll never use, but for me there is no better feeling than ripping my "last" pair of jeans, then remembering there are a couple of spare pairs tucked in a box under the bed.

shopping for clothes sucks. shopping for weights, computer parts, guns, etc... is fun. why, i don't know. well, computer parts can be frustrating if you're trying to be cheap, or waiting on new processors to come out :/