SO grocery changes thread…How do you grocery shop?

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

We primarily shop at Walmart and majority of the time via online ordering grocery pick up at the store which we've been doing for probably more than 10 years now. If it's a handful of items we'll go in the store (you need a $35 minimum to have free pick up).

We also get certain things at Costco but majority of that is household items like toilet paper, paper towels, etc.

We did used to shop at Aldi a lot more in the past when we lived close to it and a Hy-Vee (where we also used to shop a lot more) but only go there every now and then. A newly built one is now next to the main Walmart we go to but there's not many items we opt for there vs Walmart.

Once in a great while we'll shop at Price Chopper especially if we need broccolini as Walmart doesn't carry that. Sometimes they'll have something that Walmart is just out of stock on. However, Price Chopper is expensive in comparison in addition to that location in particular being also 1% more in sales tax due to it being in a special tax shopping area.

The only time we go to Whole Foods is to get decalf whole bean coffee.

I've gotten a few herbs at Target but otherwise don't grocery shop there (I'll get a few apparel items and sometimes home decor).

 

[fla4fun]

I do probably 95 percent of my shopping at one store. I occasionally go to Target or Walmart if they have something I can’t get at my regular grocery store, or if they have a really good sale on something I need. This usually happens in November and December when stores get competitive about holiday meal supplies. My local grocery is across the street from the entrance to my neighborhood so it isn’t worth driving miles away to save a few cents.

 

[nene0182]

Most weeks we get Wal Mart delivery. I meal plan on Saturday and they get delivered Sunday mornings. About one a month we will go to the actual store and we go to Sam’s and ALDI about once every 3-4 months. It’s just my husband and I so we don’t need too much.

 

[soccerdad72]

Costco for the majority of stuff, usually once a week, with occasional trips to our local grocery store (Giant Eagle or Meijer) for items that we don’t need Costco sized versions of.

 

[RangerPooh]

We go to Costco almost weekly. I try to not bring DH any bill will triple. For weekly grocers I start at Aldi then move to Kroger.

 

[LilyWDW]

I shop weekly.

Usually I do just Jewel. It's a 7 min walk from me so I grab my backpack and some other bags (cause I always buy too much) and go there. Of late I have been getting it delivered. I have free delivery over $30 and even with the tip I end up spending less because I reduce last minute purchases. Plus it is a lot easier to get my flavored sparkling waters delivered then to drag them home myself even with a cart.

I do check the Aldi ads weekly and will take a bus there if I see something good. The bus ride is about 15 minutes.

I go to HMart like once a month for specialty items like noodles, sauces, and produce. This is like a 40 minute bus ride.

Then, if I have the energy, I will go to Trader Joe's like once a month for snacks and a couple stock up items (like the yellow curry sauce). It is about a 20 minute walk or a 7 minute bus ride.

 

[disneyseniors]

I consider doing pick-up at Walmart when it's a really busy week, but they told me I can only do this if I have a cell phone/text and... I don't. Sure would be convenient for staples, though, and save me a lot of time. Good thing I like to grocery shop.

I have a cell phone but choose to go into Walmart to shop. I like to pick up items, especially fruit and meat, and check them out. I guess I just like to shop and go to other stores for certain items.
My daughter and son both use pick up at Walmart. I can't blame them because they both work full time. If I had this service available when I worked, I would definitely use it. Now, I have the time to be picky

 

[barkley]

I consider doing pick-up at Walmart when it's a really busy week, but they told me I can only do this if I have a cell phone/text and... I don't

is it that you have a cell phone but no texting on it? did Walmart tell you this? if so I would check again b/c I've used it in 3 different states/multiple different locations and texting has never been necessary let alone required. I go online and make my order, get an email confirmation that it's ready (and if any items were unavailable-i opt not to allow for substitutions). when I pull into one of the designated pickup spaces there's a phone number to text OR CALL. I call and identify myself along with the space number.

 

[mjkacmom]

I’m lazy, do an online order once a week, Costco every 2 months and also online. In 5 minutes I can get to ShopRite, stop and shop, target, stew Leonard’s, Trader Joe’s, plus a lot of smaller independent stores.

 

[MICKIMINI]

DH and I typically go out Saturday or Sunday. We mostly shop at Market Basket and concentrate on loading up on whatever their deals are for items we use on a regular basis. Hannaford does have some aggressive deals on meat which we follow. BJ's is a 4-5 times a year trip when we buy large packages of frozen chicken, pizza, granola bars etc. We built a good size pantry with many shelves, baskets and a rolling rack in our new home and designed it so we can easily find items (well, DH tries!) We bought a freezer after covid and brought it to this home. It is 7 CF and we stock vegetables and meat which we vac/wrap for the freezer. Aldi's is on our list when we are near one (we are an hour from the nearest!) Those trips are pretty random but we always feel it was worth it. Trader Joe's is an hour and fifteen minutes away and my favorite items to buy are fresh flowers! We do shop farm stands (not markets) in the summer.

We spent $85 a week almost without fail until covid and then it went up to $100 and now if our combined monthly tab is less than $500 it is a good month for two people. I was shocked at how much we spent around the holidays when our son, DIL and her Mom were here for three days plus my folks were here for a big meal. I haven't actually added up the receipts, however I suspect that was an additional $400-500 weekend (we don't drink) not including our trip to Friendly Toast which is a tradition. I can't say I've ever thought a thing about buying extra food for company that I can remember. It was an eye opener to anyone who has a large family! Goodness gracious...

If we weren't careful in stocking up, I suspect our $500 a month would be $700 a month. You have to run your household like a biz (which I have always done).

 

[John VN]

I’m lazy, do an online order once a week, Costco every 2 months and also online. In 5 minutes I can get to ShopRite, stop and shop, target, stew Leonard’s, Trader Joe’s, plus a lot of smaller independent stores.

r.e. bold -- It's 1.25 miles to Walmart or up to 6 miles for Publix #3 riding my bicycle and I'm food shopping. Home Depot is 4 miles away on bike.

 

[LoveSpringsteen]

We have a Walmart, Giant Eagle and Aldi all within a 10 minute drive, so we’re fortunate. However, we do most of our shopping at Meijer about 20 minutes away because I find their produce and meat quality is better, they have good weekly sales and online coupons and it’s not far from my in-law’s house and we do most of their shopping too.

 

[Kitty 34]

We have a grocery store in a nearby small town that I ( or DH)try to go to once a week. I go to Meijer about once a month in the winter. I got to Walmart probably more once a season or around certain holidays.

 

[Simba's Mom]

Boy, I envy the people who have so many choices! Around here, HEB has about 95% of the business. I used to shop only there-there really wasn't much other choice. But now that DH is retired, he found the Walmart in the next town is a Superstore, meaning that it has a big grocery department. So every few weeks, he goes over there to pick up what we need/want that HEB doesn't carry, but Walmart does. And every few months we'll go to the Dollar Tree and check their food items-that's the only place I can find Mrs. Paul's Pierogi's and Chester's Puffcorn.

 

[Dan Murphy]

I always do Walmart pickup or delivery. I hate going into stores. Marie usually does Jewel (Albertsons). Costco now and then also.

 

[CGB]

Let's see... 4 adults. We do our shopping early on Saturday mornings. We hit Sams and then Aldi. Occasionally I stop at one of the other local grocery stores for specific items like eggroll wraps or manicotti noodles. I keep a rotating pantry so I mainly shop sales and fresh produce. During the summer, I garden and hit produce stands to preserve fruits/vegetables.

 

[georgina]

A lot of my shopping I do at Aldi, I am in the vicinity a few times a week so just stop in for what I need. Once a month Costco. Aldi doesn't carry some things I prefer, so I can walk to a small Safeway or Whole Foods for those items. Sometimes Safeway has things on sale that I like so I stock up on them (usually my preferred ground coffee and yogurt brands). The local farmer's market is open year round on Saturdays; I go weekly and buy their lettuce and broccoli, squash, whatever else.

 

[tinkerbellandpeterpan]

2 adults, no kids. We shop at Aldi and Shoprite primarily for groceries. Acme very occasionally for loss leaders. CVS and Walgreens fill in with coupons for certain things (mostly toiletry kind of stuff). And BJs with coupons for paper goods that last us several months. When I shop I use lots of digital coupons and follow couponers on Instagram to try to stretch our dollars as far as I can.