Posted on 11/21/2009 10:33:48 AM PST by franksolich
How often do you shop for groceries?
I don't mean for the last-minute half-gallon of milk or package of cigarettes from the convenience store, but the heavy-duty grocery shopping.
All the older siblings and their spouses appeared to shop once a week, filling up the automobile or van to the rafters.
I on the other hand have always emulated the parents, who shopped for groceries every single day excepting Sundays (but then and again, it needs pointed out franksolich has no spouse and dependents, so it's a somewhat different sort of thing).
In the town of circa 3,000 alongside the Platte River of Nebraska, where I spent my childhood, and in the town of circa 3,000 in the Sandhills of Nebraska, the routine of the parents never changed; they went to the grocery store every day (excepting Sundays), usually about 5:00 p.m., and until we were teenagers, hauled my younger brother and I along with them.
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Ping for the list.
Well, for some reason, you have hit a point that I have a lot to say about.
I HATE grocery shopping It’s a pain. The reason it is a pain is because I have almost always done it once a week and that is why it is such a terrible chore. During the rare times in my life when I wasn’t overwhelmed with so much to do, I could shop three times or more a week and just buy what was needed - that is so much more enjoyable.
I think the Europeans have it right - they shop daily - it is something they do on the way home from work - it is leisurely and they buy just enough for a meal or two or what they need.... it is so much more enjoyable to pick out a few things and head home.
I do not understand the people who shop at Costco and places and buy enough for a small army. People who live an hour or more from a store and need to shop in bulk - or who have extraordinarily large families - are the exception. However, I have a sister-in-law and they buy huge packages of junk for a family of three. It is wasteful and I don’t think they save money. I think Costco, Sam’s and the other places really don’t offer much savings since I look at price per oz., lb., or by weight.
Every other day for me.
My parents went to two different grocery stores when I was young. They had one grocery store that they went to once per week to replenish storable staples. Then there was another smaller store closer to home that they went to maybe twice per week for fresh stuff.
An hour every day?!? That must have been your parents’ version of socializing. I do the big hauls about every three weeks. Any more often is a waste of time and gas to the only grocery store within 20 miles.
My wife’s paycheck is bi-weekly, my income monthly. So we shop bi-weekly. But that doesn’t include picking up things we run out of when needed. But those are small purchases.
Junk or not, when the poo hits the fan, you'll have nothing in your pantry and be sidling up to your sister-in-law.
I would love to be able to run to a store or market every day to pick up dinner. Maybe I’ll do that again when it’s just the two of us at home.
Right now I go every pay day which is twice a month. I’m a Costco person because I have a large family and it makes more sense to buy the 3 pound tub of sour cream verses three smaller ones. I buy paper products and cleaners in bulk as well as some snack items like cheese sticks, etc. I know I can get things cheaper at a grocery store and I do go to both places each pay day but I can’t go to four different stores just to save a dollar. I just don’t have the time or patience to pull that off.
I can’t drive. So I stop off pretty much every weekday and buy a little. That way I never have to carry too much.
Sams club is a ripoff. Even if you don’t factor in the yearly membership fee, it’s still a ripoff. With the yearly fee factored in...
I’m lucky enough to live within a couple hundred yards of a really great grocery store. excellent prices, good quality stuff. I’m spoiled now and I don’t think I could live anywhere where I couldn’t just pop in and buy fresh meat or fresh made deli items any time of day. THey even have lunch counter.
I surreptitiously buy extra toilet paper and canned food to prepare for the Coming Dark Times.
Drives my wife crazy. To defray the cost we only get our wine in box form. Tastes like swill, but mixes well with Powerade and Crysral Light, uck.
If you want "convenience," you can stock up on processed foods and shop less often. You'll save time and gas, but your health will suffer. IMHO, it's not worth it. As my grandma used to say, "If you don't have your health, you don't have anything."
I decided to look at it differently...
Shopping is now daily exercise"...very safe...small loads to carry and a bit of fresh air.
The store is bout a mile away...closer than our local "Y" or Senior Center.
Bonus...People always let someone with two items "cut".
Live outside a rural town of 4000, hate to do groceries and will sometimes pay more at the party store for something just to stay out of the supermarket...
Twice a week for me, the bf, a dog and a cat.
Wife and I go to Costco 2 times a week to get milk..its usually between .35 and .50 less than the grocery store and is actually more convenient to get to than any of the other grocery stores around. But then we are the type Costco doesn’t like. We go in for a set list of items usually milk, lettuce, cereal and ground beef (we know all of those are less expensive per unit than even wally world) and leave. We don’t browse. All I know is that the membership has been paid for less than 6 months into the year the rest is actual savings
JM2B
I scour the ads every week. But I’m soo stocked up, that unless it’s a great deal price, I don’t shop. And if it’s a great deal price, I buy lots.
Have my own garden, and apple trees, grapes, peach and pear. Men in the family hunt deer and squirrel.
I can, freeze and/or dehydrate...
Have 5 freezers and lots of canned and dehydrated foods. One freezer for fruits and veggies, one for beef, one for pork, one for poultry, one for odds n ends such as deep fryer foods, frozen bread dough, pizza etc...
Yes, you can buy milk and cheese and freeze it. You can even can butter!
Once a quarter to replace a rotational stock of store bought needs. We use a list.
I am like your parents and do a stock up trip at the big grocery store on weekends and stop at the small IGA that’s on my way home from work for fresh items.
Does anybody else live alone? My problem is waste. I get sick of the food before I eat all of it, or it spoils before I can get to it. I sold my big freezer last year because I didn’t keep enough in it to justify the electricity it took to run it. I eat almost all of my meals at home. Work is close by so I even run home for lunch and brown-bag breakfast. I do consulting work afterhours and on weekends so like to keep something here to save time. Sometimes I think it might be cheaper for me to do take out.
Early, every Saturday morning before the masses awaken. (except during deer season or when paddling)
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