Who is the big shopper during your vacation?
 

Hi, women usually get the rap for being the naughty shoppers but when we are on vacation my husband is out of control!! I am happy to soak up the atmosphere and I dont have much interest in shopping unless I happen to come across something that I love but its like he goes on a mission. He is not like this at home at all!

We were recently in Florence and hubby did one of his disappearing acts into a clothing store on that nice shopping street. 20 mins later he comes out with 2 suits, 2 shirts, 3 ties and a pair of shoes! All gorgeous of course but probably spent as much as we did on the vacation! THEN, he manages to pick up a kind of large painted roof tile that hangs up on a wall and a necklace for me (hmmm... clever)! I am aghast at him but feel its slightly my fault, years ago I told him he was not allowed to buy "junk" while on vacation. He just upped his standards!

I am afraid to even admire something in a shop window when he is with me - its as good as in the bag.

Anyone else have a partner who goes nuts??

Nope. It's all me. :)

How sad. But cheer up. He sounds like a very good canidate for a Retrosexual Return Program. I can provide more info on costs and locations if he really wants to get his self-respect back.

My wife has this "need" to purchase everyone in the family some sort of souvenir from wherever we go on vacation. Drives me crazy because sometimes it seems like we are spending so much time just doing that.

This last trip to Tuscany was easy. I got wine, and everyone else got olive oil. ((a)) ((b))

Ha ha Jocelyn - its all HIM. Degas - Self respect "back"! He is birthsign Leo - its self respect, self love ALL the time. Budman, I remember you saying about your wife shopping before, but at least she thinks of everybody else, you reminded me of our vino purchases, we visited Montalcino - we now have 6 bottles, we also have about 5 bottles of olive oil from God knows where - and he does not waste time - He is fast! he has stuff bought and sometimes packed away before I even know it!

I am a sightseer, not a shopper, but DH wants to buy everything that isn't nailed down. He's better than he used to be, but he is still the big spender in the family. About the only things I buy anymore are calendars and chocolates. Both of these things make great gifts, and if I can't give them away, I am happy to use them myself. (especially the chocolates)

Aine--Take away all his credit cards. If he realizes he is in need of therapy, he will give them up willingly. If not, you will have to steal them from his wallet at night. And make sure he doesn't have some hidden away somewhere, sorta like the alcoholic who always has a few bottles stashed.

When we go to Europe, my wife always wants to buy stuff for others, but never for herself. She is too generous to others and too restrictive of her own shopping predilections. Still, she manages to exceed our budget on every trip.

One of us is as bad as the other, though my husband specializes in big ticket items like paintings, and I like lots (and lots) of inexpensive things. Funny thing is, Aine, that he doesn't care for shopping at home but thoroughly enjoys it elsewhere. That sounds familiar to you, doesn't it!

It seems like I am, but then if I think about the things he buys, gifts for Me :) and for ourselves and we both do justice to shopping for our new wardrobes, etc.
I think we might be tied in the Big Shopper Dept :)

I am laughing thinking about other trips and the "nailed down" comment! Thats just how he is. A few years ago we went into a really cool store in Thailand - he went off on his own looking around and then I saw him in deep conversation with the owner. He came back and said "We can have it all shipped - in a container!" I just burst out laughing in his face and managed to put him off by telling him there might be problems with Customs when it enters the U.S.

However, this is how bad it gets, 9 times out of 10 we have to buy at least one extra suitcase!

He works internationally and travels a lot for work, he was recently in the Congo and came home with 9 huge wooden tribal masks and a 4 foot high wooden kind of stick figure statute thing! (I might be able to open a store soon).

Wayne, sneaking away his credit cards while on vacation!?! Yikes, I can see him now - in a cold sweat at the American Express office getting his immediate replacement card. He has all the bases covered.

Next time we go away I am just going to say beforehand "You are forbidden to buy even ONE thing you cannot consume here."

Neither Mrs. Fly nor yours truly is a big shopper whether at home or on vacation. Shopping is not something we consider a pleasureable vacation activity. Leaves more money for restaurants and travel upgrades.

I'm finding I'm changing as I get older. When I was younger I felt I had to buy everyone "something" - and usually ended up frazzled when I couldn't find just that right bauble! Thing is, it was usually something the other person didn't want anyway and only cut into my budget.

Now, there are only about 2, maybe 3, people I will buy something for. And if it can't find comfortable in the suitcase, I don't buy it. For myself? It really depends. Most times a t-shirt/hat of some place I particularly liked. (After all, I have the photos to remind me of the place) Otherwise, it has to be something that really grabs my interest, and that is rare.

My boyfriend? Not a shopper at all! Hates it and considers it a waste of time unless it is a necessity.

Uh, that would be me. Unless it is wine, then hubby doesn't care how much he spends or lugs around.

ME, ME, ME!!!!!!!!!!!!! Some people dream of the Eiffle Tower...I see visions of all those shops still unexplored!!! By the way, there is nothing worse than arriving in Paris on a Sunday afternoon and standing at the closed and locked doors of Galerie Lafayett, nose pressed against the glass, going "open, open, open"!!!!

I admit to thowing off the itinerary by stopping in just about every store with a charming window display. Our deal is simple: as long as the store has a comfy chair for my BF to sit and wait, I can shop as much as I want. The only exception seems to be Christmas presents. For some reason, my BF bought gifts for his entire family while we were in Europe this past summer. It was great lugging them home with us :)

Oh Jeeze Crefloors, Galerie Lafayette - 4 E120 ties later . . . . thank God we had to get out of there fast for a reservation.

Meanwhile I was agonizing over a teeny can of foie gras downstairs!

LoriNY, that sounds very much like my DH. He would throw aout all our clothes and just pack wine;-). I used to do more shopping but the falling dollar makes me just a bit more discriminating (and poorer in Europe).

I always shop more. My girlfriend is always very careful with her money, and ends up regretting not have a good souvenier, so I always make sure to secretly buy a gift to give to her on the flight home.

Just so you all don't think I'm awful, I don't just shop, but the Louve does have a great gift shop!!!! LOL

It's moi! I have dragged my darling over hill and dale for many things over the years. This year in Paris it was a hat(Marie Mercier in the 6th is fabulous and worth the "drag"). We stayed in Isle sur la SOrgue for two nights just for the Antiques and Brocante Market which was reviewed by same darling as "this is the first time I've enjoyed doing this with you":). We were in Paris for my birthday. We went to the flea at Vanves and I was could linger at each and every stall as my heart desired. It was part of my bday present.

I'm definitely the shopper. I go armed with a list of things I want to buy in each city. For our honeymoon trip, I wanted to buy a tablecloth in Venice, olive oil and wine in Tuscany, a briefcase in Florence, and a rosary at the Vatican. I would have been in a state of near panic had I not been able to shop enough in each place. I admit that it is a sickness.

My husband did go a little nuts buying ties in Venice, but then he was pretty much done.

How can you ever complain. My husband and i are leaving for Italy next week. It's been like pulling teeth to even have him consider the fact that i buy a purse, let alone a piece of jewelry. I am so jealous. I wish my husband would enjoy the shopping as much as me. That's exactly why we're not going to Milan during our trip. He believes there's nothing for him to do in Milan. And the only reason why I want to go is to spend our money and shop all day. Not that I want to spend my whole Italian vacation shopping, but i would like to pick up say, a purse, pair of boots, leather jacket, and some gold. What more can a girl ask for?

Aine, get an e-bay account and start selling. And continue selling for as long as he'll be shopping. And whatever you gain by selling will go toward his next shopping, err... I mean toward your next vacation.

thats an idea better than the large heavy duty trash bags I have been using! We go to Venice soon and I know he will be drooling over the ties. Im going to make a deal with him, one really nice exceptional tie and thats it.

Its not like he steals time away from us or sightseeing or anything he is just really really stealthy at buying (I guess like most men they dont deliberate - they just see what they like and buy it). With him, its in and out and nobody but the credit card gets hurt! He could have this done while I am looking at postcards.

My dear, all the men in my family love to shop. I remember as a young child walking into my grandfathers' dressing rooms packed full with clothes, and not just conventional suiting either.

My father has enormous wardrobes packed to bursting with current fashions, as well as vintage pieces.

I've continued the tradition, and always update my wardrobe with plenty of key and classic pieces from the current season's offerings. Shopping abroad is very meaningful, not only does one purchase pieces at a discount, and also unique ones too, wearing them invokes memories of one's travels, and becomes a piece of useable history.