9 things people over 65 do at the grocery store that drive younger shoppers crazy but actually make sense - Silicon Canals

"Last week, I found myself stuck behind an older gentleman at the checkout line who was meticulously organizing his coupons while the cashier waited patiently. Behind me, I could hear sighs and see eye rolls from other shoppers. But as I watched him carefully match each coupon to its item, I thought about my grandmother, who used to do the exact same thing. She'd spend Sunday mornings clipping coupons with surgical precision, and I never understood why until much later."

"Many people over 65 have been burned by identity theft or credit card fraud. Writing checks gives them a paper trail and a sense of control over their finances that digital payments can't match. One retired teacher I spoke with explained that she'd had her debit card number stolen three times in two years. Now she uses checks for groceries because she can track exactly when and where each payment clears."

"The more time I spend observing different generations navigate everyday spaces, the more I realize that what looks like inefficiency to younger eyes often comes from a place of wisdom, experience, or simply different priorities. After interviewing dozens of people across age groups about their shopping habits, I've discovered that many behaviors we find frustrating actually make perfect sense when you understand the reasoning behind them."

Older adults often use practices that seem slow or inconvenient because of practical priorities such as financial oversight, health scheduling, and established routines. Many over 65 use physical checks to maintain a paper trail after experiencing fraud. Seniors may shop during peak hours due to medical appointments, transportation schedules, or fixed daily routines. Coupon clipping and careful checkout behavior stem from habit, saving strategies, and risk aversion. Understanding the motivations behind behaviors reveals that apparent inefficiencies can reflect safety, control, and lifetime habits rather than mere slowness.

Read at Silicon Canals