Do women really spend 8 years of their life shopping?

[davidn3600]

While men may dislike malls, the average 63-year-old woman has spent eight years of her life shopping, according to a study done by GE Money. The researchers also found that the average American woman shops for 399 hours and 46 minutes each year; about 10 percent of that time (36 hours and 17 minutes) is spent buying gifts for family members and friends. At least some lucky ladies have partners to hold their things while they browse. Having free hands can definitely speed up the process!

http://shine.yahoo.com/photos/miserable-men-of-instagram-shows-dark-side-of-holiday-shopping-slideshow/men-shopping-9-photo-1387826328008.html

No wonder that dude in China jumped to his death when his wife wouldnt stop shopping.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/12/09/boyfriend-suicide-shopping_n_4414873.html

[Shrike47]

1. The lucky ones.

Obviously, some people shop a lot more than others.

[NoOneMan]

2. Most humans spend ridiculous amounts of time doing relatively unimportant things

Sitting in traffic. Working overtime. Fighting. Wasting time on the internet. Not enjoying Christmas. So yeah, that's what it is.

I don't think shopping is any more trivial or less worthy than watching a football game. I'd prefer to do neither and enjoy nature personally

[gollygee]

3. Does this include grocery shopping?

If so, I believe it.

[Iris]

33. That was my first thought. n/t

[el_bryanto]

38. And if it is I'd doubt that men are that far behind. nt

[nadinbrzezinski]

50. That is what came to mind, exactly

[doc03]

4. Come on, only 8 years? n/t

[bettyellen]

5. what are the estimates of men watching sports? I'd guess 10- 12 years.

at least shopping is productive, and keeps lots of people employed aside from millionaires.

[Pretzel_Warrior]

18. way to go! counter a stereotype with a stereotype!

I see it is not stereotyping in general you are bothered by--just stereotyping of women.

[bettyellen]

49. It's exactly as valid a Q. As this OP is..... Lol

[WinkyDink]

59. Guess what? Most everything in life depends upon who was the initial aggressor.

[madinmaryland]

21. Hey wait a second...

I support the beer, snack food, restaurant industries and keep a lot of people employed. Especially the local breweries, pizzarias....

[Le Taz Hot]

6. I'm assuming they're including grocery shopping here.

It seems to me they're using that stupid stereotype that "all women like to shop" when, in reality, most women I know, including myself, HATE to shop, or are at least indifferent to it.

Interesting timing on this OP, btw.

[Neoma]

48. It depends on the type of shopping.

I could spend all day in book stores.

[JI7]

7. probably because they were more likely to shop for kids, food, etc

especially in times when those women were raising kids or even when they were younger and went with their mothers.

[davidn3600]

8. According to the study, only 10% of the time they are shopping for family/friends

[gollygee]

9. That was only 10% for gifts for family/friends

they are probably spending most of the time buying stuff for their own family - not gifts but groceries, clothes for the kids, etc.

[JI7]

12. exactly, and simple things take a lot longer when they have young kids with them also

getting kids to try on pants, shoes etc. making sure it fits but still big enough to fit whatever they might grow in that year .

[hfojvt]

56. sorta funny how those things are not counted as gifts

If somebody bought me a new pair of shoes, I would think that was a gift, but if a kid gets shoes, clothes, and supplies for school, those would likely NOT be thought of as gifts.

[gollygee]

57. Well if you buy it for someone who is your dependent

it's part of your job to clothe them.

[JI7]

62. providing for kids with basic needs is not giving them a gift, it's part of being a parent

[hfojvt]

63. most kids today

get far more than "basic" needs.

[JI7]

64. yes, but this is about the OP and women shopping

spoiled kids getting what they want like the latest iphone, ipad , whatever doesn't take long at all .

but buying basic things like clothing, shoes etc takes a long time so it adds to the amount of shopping a parent will do.

[JI7]

10. it says 10 percent is on gift buying,shopping for kids is not always gift buying and same with food

[nomorenomore08]

11. Are stereotypes and overgeneralizations really the best usage of a political message board?

And yes, I know all "sides" do it. Doesn't make it any less misguided.

[seabeyond]

13. no. i do not shop. do not like it. hubby son and brother are much more into shopping.

i take it we are not counting grocery. that is a job

[Aerows]

17. My first thought was groceries

They don't get in the damn house by themselves.

Merry Christmas, Seabeyond

[seabeyond]

25. hey woman.... and with love, to you and yours.

[Aerows]

29. Back at you :)

I hope you and yours have a healthy, beautiful and fulfilling year!

[Pretzel_Warrior]

19. what you do or don't do has no bearing on the study itself

I know many women including my wife who LOVE to shop.

[Aerows]

20. Probably 99% of my shopping

is for groceries. If you can live in a house without groceries, well, you are doing without on an extreme level. Nearly everyone wants coffee or tea at least.

[boston bean]

22. and your wife LOVING to shop has what bearing?

does it show seabeyond is a freak of womanly nature?

I guess if one thinks, notice I did not say you, that woman are gatherers and it's built into their DNA, like I have heard on DU, that might have some bearing on the study. No?

[seabeyond]

39. meh... told you, i am no woman, i am man. oooops, got xmas shopping done.

i get to be woman again? lol

[seabeyond]

40. i know many men, including husband, son and brother that LUV to shop. just sayin'. nt

[adirondacker]

45. I'm guilty. I blame it on my Grandmother and Mother taking me along during childhood, but I don't

mind it in the least. It's an exploratory and social experience.

[surrealAmerican]

14. Perhaps it only feels like that much time.

I hate shopping.

[LumosMaxima]

15. Not me.

I hate shopping, especially for clothes and shoes. I'd rather have a tooth drilled than shop for shoes. No, actually, a standard filling isn't even close. I'd rather pass a kidney stone. Seriously, I despise shopping.

[Aerows]

16. Because groceries come into the house

by themselves.

[boston bean]

23. You can order groceries on the internet and have them delivered to your home.

[gollygee]

24. Would the time ordering them online

count in the time counted in the survey?

[boston bean]

26. I don't know. But it probably should if it doesn't.

[Aerows]

27. Maybe in Boston

Here in the sticks, you have to actually go out and touch the items before purchase LOL.

[boston bean]

28. I don't use the service, but I could if I wanted to pay a bit more. There is a premium with it.

Plus I prefer to pick out my own items and read labels and look at dates.

[Aerows]

30. How on earth

could you buy cheese and a chicken without looking at them? Never mind stuff like eggs and sour cream... It just seems odd that someone would shop "for" you. I'm WAY to anal-retentive about what I use to cook.

[boston bean]

32. That's a downside to it. One that keeps me from using the service. nt

[WinkyDink]

60. Spoken like a person who has NEVER SHOPPED FOR GROCERIES. Yeah, order me that fresh celery, OKAY?

Don't forget the eggs, almond milk, bananas, the bread I prefer from the store down the street, .................

Don't you care to LOOK AT what you are buying to consume?

[mathematic]

31. 8/63 = 3 hours PER DAY

That's 4 hours per day if you just consider adult lifetime.

It also finds that currently the average is about 1 hour per day. This should strike everybody as a remarkable change in lifestyle over the last 60 years. Is this a hidden positive externality of modern retailing?

[WinkyDink]

34. You'd know the answer, if you stopped watching televised sports for a minute. Heh.

[Hekate]

35. Yeah, those groceries get to the fridge on their own, leaving me time to contemplate my belly button

Entire families are clothed and fed due to women shopping on behalf of their loved ones. For every woman who gets addicted to HSN there are millions who simply plan out what's needed for their households and see that it gets done.

[madrchsod]

36. i guess i`d spent at least 8 years too....

really dumb survey

[treestar]

37. Not me

I hate it. I did all my Christmas Shopping last Sunday. One trip.

[eridani]

41. If you think women spend too much time shopping--

--I suggest you take over the meal planning and buying the necessary ingredients.

[KitSileya]

42. Great comments on this thread.

Another thing that drives shopping-hating me crazy, is that unlike most men, I cannot go into a clothing store, check the waist/inseam measurement, and buy a pair of pants without trying them on. The same with shirts. I thought I had achieved that ease with bras...until it turned out the chain store had measured me incorrectly (most likely to make sure I thought I could buy their bras) and I went from 40DDD to 34J. Shirts, pants, skirts, dresses - everything must be tried before buying, and you have to try a whole damn lot of them to find something that fits.

I think that that, in addition to being in charge of grocery shopping and for any other shopping needs other than car buying explains the findings amply.

[uppityperson]

43. wtf is it with the stereotyping threads on DU recently. Seriously, wtf.

[countryjake]

44. Nope, not this woman...

and, especially, not at this time of the year. They couldn't pay me enough to voluntarily walk into a store at Christmastime!

As someone posted above, I'd rather have all my teeth pulled than shop for clothes and I consider myself lucky to have a man who actually doesn't mind browsing thru stores. While he's the "shopper" in our family, we both absolutely despise malls. If he brings me something home, whether it be new or more often, a prized "find" from a thrift store, I am most grateful for his efforts and will wear it with pride. He also happily makes a list and heads into town for our groceries, a chore we plan for, bulk buy, and conserve both gas and energy by doing it about once every two months.

[Raine]

46. Not me, I do most of my shopping online or out of catalogs. I really hate looking for things, though

I enjoy having new things it's the search I hate.

[MadrasT]

47. Obvious flamebait is obvious. n/t

[Fawke Em]

51. Not me!

I hate, hate, HATE to shop.

Wouldn't catch me dead in a store on "black" anything after Thanksgiving or after Christmas (other than Walgreens or, possibly, the grocery store - but those can't be avoided). I shop in-store before Thanksgiving and then online after.

Did I mention I HATE to shop?

[Cerridwen]

52. I guess if you believe a poll GE Money did back in 2006

and being rehashed (it appears) today via dailymail and yahoo.

I did find this article on a blog complaining about women complaining about all they have to do; the blog was very anti-woman so I won't link here. I found a 2006 version of this same article on an blog out of India.

This wasn't a "study." It was a poll. I haven't been able to find the actual poll GE Money did.

When it was first "reported" back in '06, it ended with a request that perhaps British men could help with some of the shopping as a gift to the women in their lives.

[Iggo]

53. My guess is No, they don't.

[alphafemale]

54. I hate malls, outlets and big box stores.

Except for grocery stores which rarely have that frenzy feel-except around holidays.

I order online mostly.

[Historic NY]

55. Modern processed food, its been all down hill since the TEE-VEE dinner....

Who hunts and gathers every day any more.

[PasadenaTrudy]

58. Gawd. Not this one

I hate to shop, especially for clothes....

[Zorra]

61. 6 months of my life, at the exaggerated most. I'm the marketer's worst nightmare. nt