Table of Contents

• Parenting Manga “Tips to Eliminate Forgetting to Write”
• Leave the shopping to me! Dad is a good shopper

Parenting Manga “Tips to Eliminate Forgetting to Write”

Profile
Eiichi
After working for a design company in Tokyo, he became a freelance illustrator. He is a hard-working father who creates animation, manga, and illustrations, including winning the Yubari International Fantastic Film Festival’s International Short Film Showcase Division Excellence in Animation Award.

Leave the shopping to me! Dad is a good shopper

Shop around to understand what your household needs!

　Let’s consider what we should be aware of in order to prevent mistakes such as buying the wrong items. We spoke with Keiko Kubo, a specially-appointed professor at Wayo Women’s University who has been conducting research on the division of housework and childcare between working couples.

What are the common differences between couples that tend to occur when shopping?

　Although couples usually casually go shopping together, there are a surprisingly large number of people who, when shopping alone, end up buying something different from what they were asked to buy. For example, choosing the wrong kind of meat or the wrong size diaper, buying sashimi soy sauce when asked for regular soy sauce, or choosing liquid hand soap instead of the foam type you usually use.
Since these occur due to ignorance of the differences between products, they can be prevented by matching the couple’s perceptions of the products to be purchased in advance. For example, if information on product packaging and labels is shared as images on smartphones and other devices, it would be possible to shop without making mistakes.

　In addition to product knowledge, it is also important to be aware of shopping mistakes caused by a lack of financial sense: the approximate monthly food budget will determine a shopping budget, and if the couple is not aware of this budget, mistakes can occur, such as buying groceries that are more expensive than the market price. To prevent this, it is a good idea to discuss this with the couple and set a maximum amount based on the market price (e.g., 200 yen for 100 g of chicken). If you have bought slightly expensive food, instead of blaming each other, you can make it a luxurious day by saying, “Well, let’s make today our 00th anniversary,” and then think positively and happily, “Let’s be thrifty from tomorrow on. I think you can build an amicable relationship if you look at the situation in a positive and fun way.

Communication is the key to shopping

　For those who rarely shop alone, couples are encouraged to take the initiative in selecting products when shopping together. How about this soy sauce, which is the cheapest?” “This soy sauce tastes good, so is this okay?” By sharing detailed information together, you will be able to know what products to choose when you shop alone.
Also, at home, it is good to incorporate shopping topics into daily conversation by looking at the package and talking about where it comes from, the manufacturer, and how long it has an expiration date.

　To begin with, shopping is a part of household chores, but it can only be done if one is aware of one’s life as a whole. It is also important to increase your awareness of the household by checking the stock of daily necessities and other items in the house on a daily basis, and by knowing what foods your children are allergic to and how much they can eat.

　A husband and wife are a team. It is good if the couple can share the household situation with each other, and if both parties can take responsibility for household chores, including shopping.

Shorten and streamline your shopping! Take advantage of online supermarkets!

　The use of “online supermarkets” has been increasing in recent years. Many parents may be reluctant to pay for the shipping costs of online supermarkets, even though they seem convenient.
What is an online supermarket really like? We asked Shihomi Shimomura, a life organizer and expert on shortened housework.

Are online supermarkets efficient and easy on the wallet?

　Net supermarket is a method of selecting daily necessities, foodstuffs, medicine, etc., through an app provided by a major supermarket or via the Web, and completing the shopping by picking up the items at a store or having them delivered to the customer’s home. Many people are surprised at how convenient it is once they use it, and it is becoming increasingly useful in the Corona disaster, where outings are restricted.

　The first advantage of online supermarkets is the time-saving effect. For example, if it takes 10 minutes each way to walk to the nearest supermarket and 30 minutes to shop, the total time required is about 50 minutes. In the evening after work, for example, the store and cash registers are extremely crowded, and it often takes up to an hour.
However, with an online supermarket, you can shop from your phone at home or on the way to work in about 10 minutes, and there is no congestion. This alone can save 4 or 50 minutes of your time.

　Internet supermarkets also have the advantage of saving money in the long run. For example, shipping is often free over a certain amount, and many services offer discounted shipping when you are raising children. In-store pickup does not charge shipping, so you can simply stop by and pick up your purchase after work. You can order while checking the inventory at home, preventing double or impulse purchases, and avoiding unnecessary costs in the long run.

　Other advantages for busy families raising children include the ability to shop even when the child is sick and unable to go out, the elimination of the burden of taking the child around the store, and easier household budget management because the shopping is recorded.

　However, since you cannot see and select products at online supermarkets, we recommend that you use online supermarkets in combination with shopping at physical stores instead of trying to complete everything at online supermarkets, such as going to actual stores if you want to select fresher products or are particular about the place of origin. Also, you need to be home at the time of delivery, so discuss with your partner which of you will be home to handle this.

　Many moms and dads may be reluctant to use online supermarkets, but they are extremely convenient services that streamline daily shopping and reduce stress, so why not give them a try?

We found that daily communication is important for couples to make mutually satisfactory purchases.
Why not take the first step toward becoming a better shopper by sharing the shopping with your spouse and making good use of convenient services such as online supermarkets?