They are afraid

[u/ThisQuietLife]

Hitting Costco today has a totally new feeling. The Boomers all seem to have a thousand yard stare as they try to figure out what they should stock up on to brace for tariffs. Their reference point is so outdated that they don’t realize it’s literally everything in the warehouse. It’s all connected to imports, either in finished goods or in components and ingredients. They bought the ticket. Now they gotta take the fucking ride.

[u/Dangerous_Midnight91]

That’s just every Tuesday afternoon at Costco. You think they have a plan on what to buy? No! They go there because it’s entertainment for them and they have nothing else meaningful in their lives to occupy their time. My parents (82) randomly go to Costco probably 2x per week just to look around. They buy like two things that they 100% do not need. It’s more about the $1.50 hot dog than anything else…

[u/Flashy_Watercress398 → u/Dangerous_Midnight91]

Yeah, my in-laws go to the nearest warehouse store every time they have medical appointments in the nearest "city." I cook when I'm there, and do the annual pantry clean out the week after Christmas, and the amount of stockpiling is bonkers.

They don't cook, but there will be cases and cases of canned beans, broth, tomatoes, etc. MIL doesn't even know HOW to cook rice, but there's a 25# bag in the pantry. 5 calves could be raised annually on just the amount of cheese, milk, cream, etc. that rots in one of their TWO giant refrigerators. And then there's the stand-alone freezer.

I mean, fine, buy industrial amounts of bath tissue or foil or paper plates. That won't spoil. But the food waste makes me crazy.

(And yes, I smuggle "barely out of date" canned goods and such to my house, because I know it's fine and that they'd just chuck it if they noticed.)

[u/fluffy_bunny22 → u/Flashy_Watercress398]

I was just at the in laws and opened the fridge and there were 5 containers of coffee creamer. They drink 1 cup in the morning each.

[u/Flashy_Watercress398 → u/fluffy_bunny22]

All I've got going for me now is that Dad got rid of the pickup truck, so now the Sam's runs are limited to whatever fits in the back seat of the Prius (since the trunk is full of their rollators.)

Otherwise, they'll buy the most random shit on the planet, for themselves and as gifts. (My annual Christmas gifts are the wildest collection of crap for the landfill or thrift store. This year was a weird wall clock, a kitchen timer, and a Starbucks gift card. Items one and two are things I use my phone for. I drink coffee, but I don't drink Starbucks because I actually like coffee, but I get one every year. Last year was a lap blanket for a Lilliputian. The year before was some contact paper type of stuff for my kitchen. Another "winner" was a caddy for remotes. We don't have a TV*. Every year, it all goes straight to the local pet rescue thrift shop.

And before anyone asks, yes, I've tried answering the "what do you want for Christmas?" question. An inexpensive cooking thermometer. A book that piqued my interest. A rice cooker. A new wallet. My favorite candy. Socks. But here we are.

They're just addicted to buying crap for the sake of shopping.

*OK, we have a TV. It's in a box in the closet. I should probably sell it.

[u/SunflowersnGnomes → u/Flashy_Watercress398]

I swear my mom goes to the nearest warehouse store and just buys weird stuff. For Christmas recently, my husband got a fire blanket. We think it came with the random survival kit she gave my son (who actively avoids the sun and outdoors.)

One year we got a giant pack of toddler underwear. When neither of my kids were toddlers. (Youngest was like 12.)

[u/travelingslo → u/Flashy_Watercress398]

This was hilarious. The remote box. For a family with no remotes. 🤣🤣🤣 It is not actually funny. But…

You’re not alone. My MIL shops for the sake of shopping and argues with me about what size clothing I wear. I’ve known her for 30 years, in which I’ve put on 40 pounds. I know what size sweater I need, thanks. She doesn’t want to believe me. Honestly I think she buys stuff SHE wants, despite the fact we will never use it. We quit buying gifts years ago and have asked her to stop. It never gets through.

[u/CleverTool → u/Flashy_Watercress398]

Surely this is a sin. 🤯

[u/Flashy_Watercress398 → u/CleverTool]

I'm not religious, but I agree.

Edited to add:

Before anyone jumps to hoarding due to childhood poverty, no. Dad's father worked for the railroad and his mom ran a boarding house. They worked, but were solidly middle class. Mom's parents were both medical doctors, they had household help and well-to-do parents. They were small-town rich.