A Typical Essentials Shopping Day
I'm happy to be back in Tamworth since it's a market town with a wide variety of small shops, a huge retail park, and a shopping centre, that's cycle-friendly. Today I went for a 15-minute bike ride to the town centre, to purchase some essentials.
I find it liberating to ride my bike across towns and do my shopping especially when traffic is chock-a-block, and I love the independence and find that cycling is a great activity for a confidence boost.
Also, being on two wheels with a front basket and double panniers, helps me to be disciplined and stick to my planning, so this is what my basic shopping list looks like. I compile my lists over an extended period, and sometimes I find that I can eliminate things and substitute or find dual purposes for things that I already have here on the boat.
Today's priority was a large sack of wood and some kindling since I rang out completely, and my firelighters then were running low.
However, if you peruse my shopping list above, you'll probably figure out exactly how they relate to my life on my boat; no extravagance, just simple.
My small living space on my narrowboat forces me to be shrewd about my purchases and is a beneficial minimalist hack for living more affordably, simply because there's no place on board to keep stock.
These are general items that can be found in pretty much all major supermarkets. However, I prefer to shop at small inventory stores like Lidl and Aldi, that rotate their items, so they might not always have these items on the shelves. So today I went to a couple of my usual bargain shops to get these.
So it was annoying that I found myself in the middle of the Christmas Shopping chaos, as the queues were long, shops were redecorated, and items reshuffled and I had to walk through all the aisles to find exactly what I was looking for. It's all sales tactics you know? However, I feel a deep sense of satisfaction when I do not deviate from my shopping list and return home with the specific items that I went to purchase.
I call this practice mindful shopping, and I tend to have a rolling shopping list and bring items that I didn't get forward, for my next shopping day. This helps as it's a way for me to reaccess if I still need the items, and it helps with budgeting and keeping stock to alleviate hoarding and accumulating unnecessary stuff.
It's been a while since I last went out on my bike, carrying the sack of wood, a bag of kindling and the other items. All combined, I was fully loaded, and fucking knackered when I returned home. The slight uphill route riding against strong winds had me gasping for air as if I was suffering an asthma attack. So I drank several glasses of water and managed to cook a simple meal, and I slept soundly!
Happy Monday peeps and have a great week ahead. :)
All the images included were taken by me.
December, 2024
Shopping can be fun, but it will be different if there's a long line and waiting just svcks! Lol. But anyways, that bike with a basket is a perfect companion when grocery shopping. At least you don't have to carry heavy stuffs. Hehe
100% I was thinking the same on my way back home. I'd have needed to take a taxi because I would still need to walk a distance from the bus stop.
It's super convenient and I get good exercise.
Happy Monday:)
Cycling isn’t just a mode of transport... It’s a lifestyle that brings freedom, mindfulness, and sustainability together.
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100% You've said that so well:)))
Well done sticking to your list! That bike ride sounds tough, it made me remember my bike but it's no more. I’m sure the meal and good sleep after did the great job for you.
😊🤗
😂 I typically avoid going anywhere near Christmas, it's always a shopping chaos. I learned my lesson well hehe so I tend to stock up until it's the first of December. I can resonate with how fun shopping can be and Happy Monday!
Hehe!😆 It's funny to watch people in the aisles contemplating buying trash that they would never do normally. However, what irks me is their piggish mentality and how rude they are to other customers.
Have a happy week ahead:)))
🤣 Me too! like chill, it's not like they'd run out of it. So yeah that's why I avoid it like plague. Sometimes they even go further pushing you around just for some useless stuff they'd want to buy
100% The old ladies are the worst!
I once saw an old lady in Woolworths at easter pick up the last of a specific brand of chocolate egg and another old lady swiftly snatched it from her and ambled off leaving the first old lady looking bemused and pissed off. She wasn't too sprightly either so she was never going to give chase. I stood there in shock
You can encounter some disgraceful old ladies.
One attempted to jump the queue at Poundland, I didn't even look at her, I just stepped forward. She got frustrated and went to the self-checkout.
I would have been so happy to let her go before me if she was civil, but not a chance on that day.
I'm actually chuckling cos I can picture that scene in my head. I know you well
I adore old ladies, not old dragons!
I held the door for one the other day and she could not stop blushing and was so polite... the way old ladies should be.
love it 😀. Yup this is the way.
😆🤗
Good morning dear friend @millycf1976
How great that you can go shopping on bicycles and not depend on anyone to get around
You tend to buy in convenience stores and not in large supermarkets that are almost always a monopoly
How good that you have a shopping list and stick to it, avoiding impulse purchases
Have a happy start to the week
Hey there!
Yeah, I can't beat the convenience of shopping via bike and I love the challenge of sticking to my list.
Happy Monday:)
I hate shopping period, no big surprise I'm a guy, haha. I defintely try to avoid it during the Holiday season. Large lines and weaving through crowds raises my blood pressure.
It's always good to get what you want and get out without buying unnecessary things. I like Aldi's too simple and small set up, ours usually have 4 aisles I believe. Sometimes I end up getting a few unplanned snacks from there because the prices are favorable. Funny there always in first aisle when you first enter store, haha. Happy Holidays enjoy it across the pond :)
It's dreadful! #SaysTheReformedShopoholic
I'd love to see the Aldi's in America, although I figure they are pretty much the same internationally.
I know that the average American loves shopping and tend to have big gift exchanges at Christmas. The thought of it alone gives me stress and anxiety.
It's people's mentality that I find most sickening though, as they go around shops like greedy pigs...
Anyways, Happy Holidays to you too:)))
It use to be that way for me when I was younger. Now everyone is older and have families of thier own so the whole get everyone a gift has went to the waste side. No complaints 😁
It's good though, cos Christmas is just way too commercialised and here in the UK the crime rate is a lot higher at Christmas.
There are several burglar warnings for people to take extra precautions when leaving their homes on Christmas day.
That's just sad 😏
Yes that is sad that thiefs take the Holidays as opportunity 😔 Recently here thiefs have raided professional athletes homes on game days.
Yeah, that's been happening here in the UK too, with footballers.
England is better than many places I've lived, but it's not a safe place anymore.
I try to be vigilant but not let it deter me from leaving home though 😁
That's awesome that you are able to bike to get supplies and fit everything in the basket. Impressive that you were able to stick to your list. That's easier said than done a lot of times
Thank you 😊
I was determined not to get caught up in the hype when I saw how gravalicious (avaricious ... wow I learned this word now, and I figure that's where the Jamaican gravalicious comes from 😆) people are.
I have no idea what either of those words mean lol
🤣
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How good it is to sleep after a tired bike ride, huh? However, it's not good to feel like you're having an asthma attack while cycling. Where are you going in such a hurry, stop, catch your breath and continue. Don't forget to always carry water to hydrate yourself.
I can't stand wandering around places where they sell things... I always go with a clear idea in my mind of what I need, just like you. Well done!
Hehe! I like it when I'm able to stop and ride leisurely, but a storm is coming as well as nightfall, and I want to be home quickly.
I do have a water bottle that I plan to take with me.
Also, I purchased the puncture kit today and I plan to do the repairs tomorrow:)))
😄
Never go cycling without water. About disassembling the tire and then the rubber I can show you on a video call, just my English is really bad hahahaha... that would be hilarious to watch. Joke.
I hope you had a nice evening with your husband. 🌲🙃🥂
I plan to take photos and probably videos for my blog... I'll check to see what time it is for you.
We sometimes forget that not everyone on here is a native English speaker. Being multi-lingual is such an asset 😍
Unfortunately, hubby is far away in another city working. He's off tomorrow, but no trains are running, so I'll be alone tomorrow. It's okay though, since none of us celebrates Christmas:)))
I am home alone with my pets as well. And I think every day is the same. Any day is a good day to celebrate whatever we want to celebrate... hahaha... to be healthy, for example, or to have energy and be happy even with the sunrise. Today my friends Eddy and Mary (eddyss and mdrguez) were here and we had a nice time, with a cup of coffee. We talked about our successes in the year and everything we can do to improve. That's great for me and made me happy.
And my neighbour invited me to have dinner with her and her family a while ago. I had planned to make some spaghetti with tuna for myself and bought some goodies. The plans changed, as you can see ;)
It's good that you have good friends and neighbours, and also good that you're flexible.
I agree!
I don't have any pets with me on the boat, but I have the wildlife. I feed the swans and ducks when they come around:)