There is nothing more frustrating than when you’re trying to shop and your other half is trudging along behind you with a face like thunder.
Relationships on Female First
For half of Britain’s couples, they become so frustrated that they would actually go so far as to say they hate shopping with their partner.
For one in four couples, it has got so bad that one of them has stormed out of the store and left their partner standing alone after an argument!
Andy Oldham, of Quidco, the UK’s number one cashback site which commissioned the research, said, “It can be easier to shop on your own, especially if you and your partner have a different approach to making purchases.
“It can be difficult to agree with your partner on everything, especially when you are planning to spend a lot of money on something for your home that you are both going to share.
“No-one wants to give in and end up with something they don’t actually like or want, but it seems this is leading to a lot of very public and awkward rows in front of shop assistants and fellow customers.
“Perhaps couples need to spend a bit more time doing their research before they head to the shops, then they can both have a clear idea of what they both do – or don’t want.
“Doing your research might also mean you find better deals or money-off codes which might help save a few more rows about how much to spend.”
Out of all the couples surveyed, 61 per cent admitted to having a disagreement when shopping and 45 per cent said the rows were due whether the item was essential or not.
Four out of ten blamed them on one person taking too long to make a decision, while 35 per cent struggle agreeing on how much to spend.
Incredibly, one in six couples said that their relationship had ended, or come close to, whilst having a row mid-shopping trip.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, 42 per cent of couples resort to shopping online to avoid arguments.
A quarter of us have admitted to buying something to avoid an argument and then returning it behind our partner’s back.
A cheeky one in twenty even owned up to ‘accidently’ breaking something because they had to buy it when they didn’t want it in the first place.
Top 10 shopping triggers:
1. Clothes2. Food
3. Sofa
4. Holidays
5. TVs
6. Films
7. Carpets
8. Bedroom furniture
9. Curtains/blinds
10. Kitchen/car
Top 10 reasons behind a shopping spat:
1. Is the item ‘needed’2. Taking too long to decide
3. Spending
4. One wants it, one doesn’t
5. Visiting numerous stores, only to return to the first one
6. What brand to go for
7. Appearance / look of something
8. Size of the item
9. Colour of item
10. Bored partner
tagged in Money Love relationships relationship advice Partner Couples Partners