How do you buy groceries?

[Mrs. Bradbury]

I also shop once a week at Publix. I would have to go out of my way to go to Walmart or Target, so I generally don't go to either. If I watch the Publix sales I can buy everything for almost the same prices as my local Walmart, without the blood pressure spike (I HATE Walmart!).

Unless it's an urgent need I only buy what's on sale.

 

[erinmomof2]

My favorite place to shop is a Kroger about 20 minutes out of my way. They are the only store remotely close that doubles coupons up to a $1. So if they have a decent sale I shop there. If sales aren't so good I shop at Meijer since Krogers regular prices are much higher. I also like Costco but find that their prices are geneally higher than everywhere else. I buy a few things from there though and usually go once a month or so and spend about $40.

 

[Danibelle]

I also shop once a week at Publix. I would have to go out of my way to go to Walmart or Target, so I generally don't go to either. If I watch the Publix sales I can buy everything for almost the same prices as my local Walmart, without the blood pressure spike (I HATE Walmart!).

Unless it's an urgent need I only buy what's on sale.

I am so lucky. I have a Publix and a Walmart Supercenter across from each other. I don't have to even leave the parking lot. I prefer Publix but Walmart has better prices on paper goods, cleaning supplies, etc.

 

[mrsklamc]

OP here. I was just wondering because when I first moved here years ago I decided the best pricing was Meijer; I'd pick up the specials and then fill in a few items here and there. Easier than going to multiple stores.

I happened to be in the Super Target (which I just knew to be not the place to score a deal on groceries, and noticed that a few items I regularly buy for around a dollar were $.80. So I price checked at Wal-Mart (I usually try to avoid them) - $1.50. I was shocked that Wal-Mart would be so much higher than Target. So I'm going through the list and evaluating whether I think it's worth changing up the routine, or if those few items are an anomaly and not worth shopping two stores for.

 

[mrsklamc]

Wegmans has free child watch

Wait, like, drop off the kids and they play while you shop?!?

 

[mousiemom]

i plan out my meals for the week and i do shop @ walmart for canned goods, etc, and i go to another store for my meats, and the local fruit stand for fresh veggies and fruits. i have to make a list or i would just go crazy!

 

[cluvsdisney]

i plan out my meals for the week and i do shop @ walmart for canned goods, etc, and i go to another store for my meats, and the local fruit stand for fresh veggies and fruits. i have to make a list or i would just go crazy!

I have come to live and die by my grocery list. If I don't write it down, I will completely forget to pick up that item. It has also helped me keep on point and not buy too many impulse & duplicates purchases - I used to end up with a basket of crazy things when I just shopped off the top of my head.



OP...I found that Target has some good prices on groceries...$1 or better than my grocery store's non-sale prices on certain items. I should browse their to get a better idea but I am not a big fan of the store.

 

[QVCshopper]

Wait, like, drop off the kids and they play while you shop?!?

Yes! Or, if I want a break, I have been known to drop them off, grab a coffee, and read a magazine in their cafe. And they have a restaurant inside that you can eat at without the kids. Honestly, I love love love Wegmans!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I so wish we had a SuperTarget. I have been in one in Birmingham and their prices were so much better than Walmart and I love the store anyway. They alos have items I haven't seen at Walmart. I am very lucky that I can shop at the Commissary, and it is 20 miles from our house, but so worth it, they also have new items that I can't find most other places.

 

[mousiemom]

Yes, i was in target today cause i like to buy dogfood there and i always look thru their store coupons and a lot of times i get good deals on their chicken breasts, cheese, and today they had some of their groceries clearanced and picked up some digorno shredded cheese, flavored creamer, just be sure and look at expiration dates.

 

[My2Pixies]

I have recently switched from shopping at the Commissary and Costco, which are both a 20+ minute drive from where we live, to shopping pretty much exclusively at Super Target and Sam's Club which are both less than 5 minutes away. The cost of gas to drive out to the base is just not worth what I saved shopping there, plus I've personally found that I save more $$ sticking with Target and Sam's store brand items.

 

[jm-mom]

I do most of my shopping at one store and often plan meals around what is on sale that week or what I may have on hand from the week before. I do find myself buying more and more at Target. They always have a good price on things like lunch meat, cheese, yogurt, cereal, etc, often better than my regular store. Some things are more expensive too and I have to pay close attention to the expiration dates on stuff at Target. If my regular store has something like chicken breast on sale for a good deal I'll buy several packages and then repackage them and freeze them. Some weeks grocery bills are higher than others but it all evens out. I also make pretty much the same dishes month after month so I shop for those ingredients regularly.

 

[wishesuponastar]

I split my shopping between Costco, Shoprite and farmer's market. As far as list making, I make all my shopping lists in my cellphone notepad. I never forget to buy any items anymore since whenever I remember something to buy I pull out my phone right away and add it to the list.

 

[JLa01844]

I shop Aldi for my dry goods, milk, eggs and whatever the produce sales are. I fill in the gaps at my local grocery store (not a national chain) and also a local butcher (monitor the sales flyer when chicken goes on sale).

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I use one store for all my shopping except for produce, and that I go to the local farmer's market for. Except I still have to get "basic" produce like potatoes and onions at the store.

Once in awhile I'll go to Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, but they're about an hour away from me, which is probably a good thing, since for me, Whole Foods really is Whole Paycheck.

 

[Eeyore98]

I have found that the longer I wait between shopping trips, the more we save. I try to shop only once every 2 weeks, planning dinners with frozen veggies and such for the second week.

Mainly I shop only at one store (multiple stores again tends to drive the bill up). That said, the only decent quality meat around here is at Costco, so I will go very occasionally and get the big freezer packs of chicken and ground beef. All of their perishables come in too large a quantity for our small family to use, so they aren't a practical choice for our normal shopping run.

 

[Judique]

I have found that the longer I wait between shopping trips, the more we save. I try to shop only once every 2 weeks, planning dinners with frozen veggies and such for the second week.

Mainly I shop only at one store (multiple stores again tends to drive the bill up). That said, the only decent quality meat around here is at Costco, so I will go very occasionally and get the big freezer packs of chicken and ground beef. All of their perishables come in too large a quantity for our small family to use, so they aren't a practical choice for our normal shopping run.

I buy chicken packs and various meat packs at Costco with the exception of ground beef! I like to use freshly ground and don't wish to freeze it. We divide up the chicken and beef into many smaller packs and usually go back for meats every 3 weeks.

Bagels from Costco - freeze in individual baggies and take to work with an individual cream cheese.
I buy multi packs of bananas, onions, peppers and the huge container of dried mushrooms. I'll share bananas at work as too many ripen at once but still cheaper to buy for what I use. Frozen foods in multi packs are fish products, pizzas (cheapest I've found without coupons), the large container of mixed frozen sugarless fruit.

Milk and shredded cheeses, and some fresh fruits - if it costs 3.50 for 1 lb of grapes at the grocery store and $6.99 at Costco for 4 lbs, I'll buy and share also. Raspberries are always cheaper and we eat the whole pack.

Paper products and garbage bags and ziplock bags all from Costco.

Then off to local groceries for 'small' size items - usually cereal with coupons, smaller size frozen veggies, breads.

I have stopped adding a $8-$10 frozen snack item at Costco - great price per serving but they are eaten too fast by the occupants of this home (me included) - too many treats equal weight gain and fast!

 

[Buzzsgramma]

Costco !!!!!

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

I buy chicken packs and various meat packs at Costco with the exception of ground beef! I like to use freshly ground and don't wish to freeze it. We divide up the chicken and beef into many smaller packs and usually go back for meats every 3 weeks.

Bagels from Costco - freeze in individual baggies and take to work with an individual cream cheese.
I buy multi packs of bananas, onions, peppers and the huge container of dried mushrooms. I'll share bananas at work as too many ripen at once but still cheaper to buy for what I use. Frozen foods in multi packs are fish products, pizzas (cheapest I've found without coupons), the large container of mixed frozen sugarless fruit.

Milk and shredded cheeses, and some fresh fruits - if it costs 3.50 for 1 lb of grapes at the grocery store and $6.99 at Costco for 4 lbs, I'll buy and share also. Raspberries are always cheaper and we eat the whole pack.

Paper products and garbage bags and ziplock bags all from Costco.

Then off to local groceries for 'small' size items - usually cereal with coupons, smaller size frozen veggies, breads.

I have stopped adding a $8-$10 frozen snack item at Costco - great price per serving but they are eaten too fast by the occupants of this home (me included) - too many treats equal weight gain and fast!

I buy large quantities of grapes, considering I can buy them for $1.89 a pound at the Commissary, but I pull them off the vine, wash them, put them in a ziploc bag, and freeze them, I like them much better this way and they last so much longer.

This has also gotten me away from eating junk, which I hardly ever buy anyway, but sometimes, I just want something sweet in the evening, this is the perfect solution, and then I don't feel guilty.

 

[Judique]

I buy large quantities of grapes, considering I can buy them for $1.89 a pound at the Commissary, but I pull them off the vine, wash them, put them in a ziploc bag, and freeze them, I like them much better this way and they last so much longer.

This has also gotten me away from eating junk, which I hardly ever buy anyway, but sometimes, I just want something sweet in the evening, this is the perfect solution, and then I don't feel guilty.

So simple and I've always heard of freezing grapes but have very seldom done it. I think I will add this to my list of things that I package into individual servings and freeze!