Shopping with mother-in-law is NG.

• Position: YOUR LIFE

While Facebook would love to make waves as a primary source of inspiration in the online shopping world, people really do not look to the social media site for shopping ideas--and they barely look at Pinterest, either, maintains a study by Tada.com, Los Angeles, Calif., part of a porifolio of shopping sites operated by Shopzilla, Inc., and owned by Symphony Technology Group.

While Gen Y is most inclined to turn to social media--Instagram, Facebook, Pinterest, etc.--for inspiration, it is retailers that dominate across all generations. Whether it is online sites or brick-and-mortar locations, shoppers usually go straight to the source to begin their path to purchase.

In the study--which surveyed consumers immediately after they checked out from online retailers--it was revealed that more often than not, shopping is a solo activity; for women in particular it is an opportunity to get some alone time. Gen Y is the most inclined to shop with friends and significant others, while men are far more inclined to rate their spouse as their favorite shopping companion. Not surprisingly, no one likes to shop with his or her mother-in-law.

Meanwhile, a majority of shoppers believe that they are the best deal-hunter in their family...