I had no idea how stimulating shopping could be! I remember years ago, going to the corner shop for groceries and having to ask if I could pay at the weekend. Giving me a sympathetic look, the shopkeeper would, write my name down in her Tick Book (as it was called) and . This, I tried not to do very often. Tick, higher purchase, and weekly payments, were amongst the unmentionable subjects such as Divorce and Sex. Such was the way of thinking in the 1950’s.
The other day I was out with my daughter, in her car and she wanted to call for her weekly shopping. “Do you want anything Mother?” she said. “Yes, I do but I haven’t brought enough money with me though”. “Never mind money - you can use my Credit Card”, I weakened “Go on then” I said.
We walked into the Supermarket, both pushing trolleys. Everywhere was lovely and bright, so welcoming and inviting. I noticed all the staff seemed very cheerful, smiling pleasantly at customers. They were so helpful too - nothing seemed any trouble to them.
I was soon putting goods in my trolley: surprised by my own actions. Usually before I buy anything, I remind myself of all the reasons I can do without it - before I part with my cash. Yet, here I was (a willing victim) it wasn’t like the shopping experiences I had known years ago. No! It was like an exciting adventure. Before I realized it, I had collected a lot of goods; many more than I would have, had I been watching my money.
We strolled over to where the Cashiers were. My daughter started placing her goods on the checkout desk.
Immediately, it seemed, as the goods were being totalled, an assistant was packing them into a bag. The same thing happened to me. My daughter produced her Credit card and she signed for the goods. The cashier then said, “Do you want any Cash back Madam”. To which my daughter said, “Yes, £50 please!” The cashier handed her the crisp notes. This flabbergasted me, not a bit like my experiences years ago when I had to look at my money twice. I thoroughly enjoyed my modern Supermarket experience. Not that I will be doing it very often!
Later, when my daughter and I were sitting at home, drinking our coffee and enjoying the expensive cakes we’d bought, I asked, “When does your Credit card bill arrive?” To which she replied “Oh, Mother! Don’t worry about it”. I’M NOT! AND I WON’T.
Kathleen Turton
