I am the same, although nowadays I have found the out of town retail parks with free parking. That plus online shopping is far better than queuing to get to the town centre and then paying through the nose for parking. Using the main dual carriageways I can be at whichever retail park I need for the type of shopping to do in minutes and the choice of shops is wide. Enjoying that fast drive is also very nice, far better than sitting in traffic jams first to get to the town centre and then into the multi-storey car park.

When I used to go with my daughter to the nearby town centre she's paying out anything up to £5 each time she shops so that's all coming out of the household budget, making her cost of living higher. I asked her why she does this, the answer was that there is no choice. Thirteen years' on I have found the answer and it seems others have too as, like most towns, it's showing signs of slowly dying. Maybe it's not good that we should find alternatives but when all those concerned with the finances and well-being of local shops and town centres stop ripping us off things will change. Until then I reckon the internet and out of town retail parks will only benefit.