How do you grocery shop? (Insp. by ilovedizney)

[piratesmate]

Reading the responses to Diane's question about menus got me wondering......how do you grocery shop? By list, by whim, by sale?

Occasionally we plan a particular meal & will shop for ingredients, but for the most part we buy things that are "on sale" and create menus from that. Of course there are some things that we keep stocked for our favorites, but even those we tend to buy when they're on sale.

We don't shop for only a week or two at a time. We buy large quantities of stuff when it's on sale - sometimes causing problems in finding storage space for it! One time I stopped & bought 8 boxes of Chex (for Chex Mix) and DH stopped the next day & bought another 12 boxes! We had to store it in the coat closet.

So..... how do you shop?

 

[pattyT]

I buy what looks good at the moment -
or is on sale - I love a sale - even if those cans of beets sit in the cabinet for 6 months - I got em on sale! LOL

I am a horrible planner of meals - it doesn't help that I have house full of picky eaters!

 

[nicki dahling]

I have "staple " items that we get every month . I hate cooking and so my meals are pretty basic ( can, box, take-out ). No fancy recipes here .
Cyndi

 

[Spinning]

I knew there way a reason I love this place! You are all like me! I buy what ever strikes my fancy! and of course on sale or I have a coupon!

 

[beansmom]

I buy large quantities of sale/or whatever I get cheap with coupons. If hamburger is on sale, we eat hamburger. If it's chicken, we eat chicken.

 

[firstmickey]

I shop monthly because my husband gets paid monthly.
I try to stock up on my usuals for the pantry and then just go every week for bread, milk, produce.
I have a detailed computerized list with Walmart stuff on one side and grocery store on the other side. (my friends make fun of me and my list ) I can't help it I'm a list person!

Besides it saves me time to just print it and circle things I need during the month. But I do occasionally buy sale stuff if it is an expensive cereal that my kids eat, etc.

 

[inky dinky doo]

Our grocery store's sale paper comes out on Sundays (wish it came out on Saturdays like it used to), and I look through it before planning meals for the week. I don't necessarily say, "I'm going to have this on Monday, this on Tuesday, . . .," but I do know what I plan to eat that week. Then, I make a list of what I need, trying to take advantage of the things that are on sale.

I also do a lot of "cooking ahead" on the weekends. My job is pretty demanding, and it just makes things easier through the week. Plus, I'm doing low carb, and it's much easier when you have things ready "to grab" and don't have to resort to things that aren't "legal."

I love your idea of a list, firstmickey!! I think I'll try that . . . especially for the staples. It sure would save time!

Pat

64 days and counting . . . again!

 

[OurDogCisco]

I plan my meals each week. It seems like by time my dd5 gets home from school there isn't much time to make dinner. So, I plan meals around schedules like if we have soccer practice I make sure I have something easy to make for afterwards. Of course, my dd wishes I still worked full time outside the home because we basically ate out every night !!!! NOw, we only go out once a week.

However, if there is something on sale that we use, I definitely stock up. Part of my list involves going through my cubbers and Xing out the items I already have on hand. I don't want to have 20 cans of pumpkin in the pantry....

Tina

 

[yummy72]

I have soooo many cookbooks (although it seems like I always use my favorites...) I try to pick out two or three and plan 2 weeks worth of menus from them...That way I only have to make 2 HUGE trips the grocery store each month (going in between for fresh dairy and produce) I always save the recipes from here on the Dis and also the things on Food Tv that look good. Then I sit down to plan my menu, I look through all my recipes and pick 14 meals that sound good and make a grocery list from that. I also add in fun recipes for snacks and desserts I like to try too. DH and DD love that stuff in their lunches.

Candi

 

[PigletsPal]

Originally posted by pattyT
I buy what looks good at the moment -
or is on sale - I love a sale - even if those cans of beets sit in the cabinet for 6 months - I got em on sale! LOL

I am a horrible planner of meals - it doesn't help that I have house full of picky eaters!

I'm right with you Patty.................

 

[Pat]

I generally buy what I want, but if it is on sale and I have a coupon I will buy more than one. My cubbards and freezers are always full. I try to make meals out of whatever fresh meat I bought.