One in two adults can’t bear shopping with their other half, research has revealed. A study found disagreements over spending and friction over time spent making decisions mean one in three of us will do all we can to shop alone.
Around one in six of the 2,000 adults polled admitted their relationship has ended – or come close to ending – over a mid-aisle bust-up.
One in four said they have stormed out of a 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.”
The study, which involved only people in a relationship, found 61% have had a disagreement while shopping with their other half, with 48% putting the rows down to whether or not the item was ‘essential’.
Four out of ten blamed them on one person taking too long to make a decision, while 35% struggle agreeing on how much to spend.
Other causes of rows include disagreeing on a brand, appearance and even size of an item.
Clothes were found to be the shopping item most likely to lead to couples falling out, followed by food, a new sofa and where to go on holiday.
New TVs, what films to watch and bedroom furniture are among other items likely to ignite a flare-up between couples.
A more private 42% try to buy as much as they can over the internet so they can keep their disagreements about what to buy within their own home.
But it seems some Brits give into the rows and end up buying something they don’t really want, only for 24% to secretly return it when their partner isn’t with them.
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.
Almost a quarter of couples also solve the rows by shopping- buying two similar items after struggling to agree on one.
The study also revealed that money and spending is a major cause of rows between couples, with 48% saying they often argue about their cash-flow.
64% have such different opinions over what is a necessity and luxury that they end up arguing over whether they should really need it or not.
Because of this, 47% say getting money off their purchases could save a few of the cash-related rows they have when trying to agree on what to buy.
Top 10 shopping triggers
1 Clothes
2 Food
3 Sofa
4 Holidays
5 TV’s
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
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