shopping as a family event

i have a theory that shopping has become a family event. when my mom and my mother in law shopped for household items they just went to the store when we kids were at school or when our dads were home to get what we needed. well that family dynamic has changed - two working parents, single parents, cost of childcare increased and so more and more parents are splitting the responsibilities. that then turned into the entire family going to the store. i get it if you are a single parent and can't get childcare that you have to take the kids with you but other than that...leave them at home. ikea actually has a logo - ikea family. on advertising standpoint, that is brilliant. plant that seed early. ikea is the place for everyone. ikea also pipes in the smell of Swedish meatballs and cinnamon buns. this is similar to las vegas piping in oxygen so gamblers don't get tired...create the environment that everyone wants to stay and in both places spend money. again brilliant. but you know what happens? shopping becomes an event. in today's society a family going to the store now is similar to going on adventure where are pretty much guaranteed to get a treasure.  you know what happens, a whole lot of stuff gets purchased. going to the store means coming home with stuff and we all know...we have too much stuff. 

if you don't want all the stuff - stop making it an event. i know some people that go to target every day. suggestion - pick one day that is chore day. yep, shopping for household stuff is a chore. make a list of items NEEDED. one parent does the shopping (if you have a teen bring one to help with lifting, putting stuff in and out of car). the other parent stays home with the kids to take care of household chores - laundry, dishes, picking up bedrooms. then when parent gets home with NEEDED items they are put away by everybody.  the entire family going to ikea takes way longer than what i just described. now not only do you have what you need, the house is also a little cleaner and all of you just might have some to have...

go to the park, take a walk in the neighborhood, play outside. 

let's have less stuff and more experiences instead...that is way more fun then being pushed around in a shopping cart.

ii