SO grocery changes thread…How do you grocery shop?

[tvguy]

Two stores, every Sunday morning.
Walmart Neighborhood Market at 7 am.
Local Chain Grocery store at 730 am. Used to be for produce and meat. Less and less for produce. We started shopping early Sunday morning at the beginning of the pandemic. That is when they are restocking everything and we realized both stores were getting the same produce at the same quality level from the same distributors only Walmart sells it for a lot less.
Used to belong to Sams Club, but that was before there were any Walmarts here. Same stuff at almost the same price so no need to pay for a membership anymore. Finally went to Costco for the first time about 6 months ago with my daughter before she canceled her membership. With just two of us, just not worth the 12 mile round trip drive.

 

[BayouQueen]

Before pandemic, I used to shop three different places every week -- Costco for staples, regular grocery for odds and ends, and then a health food kind of grocery for organic stuff and other healthy choices.

During pandemic, we subscribed to a meal kit service and DH made big Costco runs because he has a good immune system. This routine has stuck, and I love it. I basically just go to a regular Vons type store about once a month to get the odd this or that -- like a jam I want or something. Omg after 50 years of shopping, I love not doing it!

 

[Kathryn Merteuil]

I TRY to get everything under one roof, that is IF I am lucky enough for the store to have everything I need in stock at any given time. That is a pretty big IF.

Meijer is my "go to" under regular circumstances. When I do work from home, I rely on Walmart Plus delivery (again them having everything in stock can be quite a challenge). If I have a lot of extra time on my hands, I will go to Aldi.

I don't really do specialty stores.

 

[jo-jo]

I look at sales. At some cases, the sale price is the regular price at another store. We shop at lidis , aldis, giant, shoprite, bjs, walmart. Once in a blue moon, redners.

Shoprite closed the local store , so the sales have to be worth it for me to drive 9 miles. They have lots of ditigal coupons and if it's out of stock, you're out of luck, Say an item is $5, but with a coupon , you can get it for $3. This store will not give you a rain check for the $3 price if it's out of stock. However if it's an item that is $4 regular price, but it's on sale for $2 (no coupon needed, just shoprite card), and it's out of stock, those you can get a rain check .

BJs is about 6 miles away and try to plan a visit when we are in that area for another reason too. Redners in close to bjs. All the other stores are within 2-3 miles of home. At times, we stop at Lidis for fresh veggies, walmart for staples pick up and then Giant for sale items . I've found with our walmart, it's best to plan ahead. Don't wait until mouthwash is almost empty to order more. When we "only" have one bottle left in closet (we buy packs of two) we put in order. Many times, it's out of stock, we it may be a few weeks before we actually get it..

I have tried giant pickup a couple of times. By the time you make the list, put in subs, add notes, I don't know if I'm saving much time. Becasue I shop the sales......if I want something that is $2 each but buy 6 for $5, I need to put down what I want but I'd take 2 of those and 4 of those or 3 and 3, but I want the 6 total .

We don't shop all those stores every week. Some weeks we don't shop at all. But from the list, I'd say we'd go to 3 of them per week.

 

[Moliphino]

I do most of my grocery shopping at Big Y and Stop & Shop. I'll go to either or both weekly depending on the sales.
Every couple months I'll tag along with my mom to Costco and stock up, too.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Once a month-at the beginning-I go to ShopRite. I'm the family cook in our household of five, and I plan out a month's worth of meals because I buy all of my protein there. We have a chest freezer. I usually plan according to what's on sale the week I go. The rest of the time, we have a smallish neighborhood supermarket around the corner that we like to support by giving them our business. I get my produce and vegetables and stuff there, plus we make flying trips there to pick up milk or cases of water, bread and such.

 

[cabanafrau]

I shop at a local chain for basic groceries, Meijer. I also frequent Trader Joe's, Aldi and Costco according to what I need and how much time and stamina I have to make rounds. I pick up most meat from my local butcher or from a large local specialty produce market when they have a good sale going or something strikes me when I check out the meat counter. When local produce starts becoming available in the summer season I frequently make the trek to a farm stand market I've found that surprisingly manages to have quite a bit of what weekend farmer's markets carry, often at a better price, and with much less hassle.

 

[LoveDaisy]

Once a month-at the beginning-I go to ShopRite. I'm the family cook in our household of five, and I plan out a month's worth of meals because I buy all of my protein there. We have a chest freezer. I usually plan according to what's on sale the week I go. The rest of the time, we have a smallish neighborhood supermarket around the corner that we like to support by giving them our business. I get my produce and vegetables and stuff there, plus we make flying trips there to pick up milk or cases of water, bread and such.

I am so impressed you do a monthly meal plan! I can barely get through a week. You are an inspiration!!

 

[sasywtch]

Two stores, every Sunday morning.
Walmart Neighborhood Market at 7 am.
Local Chain Grocery store at 730 am. Used to be for produce and meat. Less and less for produce. We started shopping early Sunday morning at the beginning of the pandemic. That is when they are restocking everything and we realized both stores were getting the same produce at the same quality level from the same distributors only Walmart sells it for a lot less.
Used to belong to Sams Club, but that was before there were any Walmarts here. Same stuff at almost the same price so no need to pay for a membership anymore. Finally went to Costco for the first time about 6 months ago with my daughter before she canceled her membership. With just two of us, just not worth the 12 mile round trip drive.

The 12 miles would be by my house (unless it's expo). Since I live extremely close to Walmart and Costco and Sams Club, I go to Walmart very often. I buy the produce at Walmart that I know I'm going to eat right away as it seems to go bad quickly. I might go to Costco or Sam's Club once a month just to see what looks good. Buying bulk isn't for us. I prefer to go to WinCo but it's a little drive so I usually just say, forget about it and go into Walmart. If I was still shopping when my 4 kids were younger, I'd make the weekly 8 mile trip to WinCo.

 

[Ricguz]

Within a 5 mile area, we have Target, Walmart, Wegmans, Stop and Shop, Shaws, Price Chopper, Roche Bros, Whole Foods, Market Basket, Hannaford’s and 2 BJ’s. So lucky. I preferred the last three for any shopping. Prices at Market Basket and Hannaford’s are competitive with a slight edge to Market Basket but overall quality is Hannaford’s. BJ’s has great produce and bulk item selection. Wegmans is just so big and pricey if you don’t buy their store brand. The others are expensive. Hannaford’s brand names are great and offer double back guarantee if you don’t like them so that’s a great selling point and they do give double your money back.

 

[Suger Mag]

I tend to shop often through the week. I have to shop sometimes for my job (buying various supplies for the science lab classes at a community college) so I am often at the supermarket a few times a week and will throw some milk or bread etc. in my cart for us and multitask

My go to stores:
Big Y (Massachusetts supermarket)
Trader Joe's
Aldi's

Once a month or so I will do a Target order, usually to get some rewards.... and I will get the big bulky stuff... toilet paper... paper towels... GoGoSqueeze delivered

during the summer I will take advantage of local farm stands

 

[tvguy]

The 12 miles would be by my house (unless it's expo). Since I live extremely close to Walmart and Costco and Sams Club, I go to Walmart very often. I buy the produce at Walmart that I know I'm going to eat right away as it seems to go bad quickly. I might go to Costco or Sam's Club once a month just to see what looks good. Buying bulk isn't for us. I prefer to go to WinCo but it's a little drive so I usually just say, forget about it and go into Walmart. If I was still shopping when my 4 kids were younger, I'd make the weekly 8 mile trip to WinCo.

That would be it, Auburn Boulevard. Years ago we used to shop at that Walmart, until they opened the neighborhood Walmarts. Other than medical stuff my life now we are retired is largely within three miles of home . Medical stuff is getting to be a huge pain. I have one specialist who was on Coyle Avenue across from Mercy San Juan, and they moved the office to FOLSOM! Another specialist has office hours on Greenback Lane, but only 4 hours a MONTH. And those are booked more than six months in advance, and when you are on six month rechecks, that doesn't work. So my options are downtown, Roseville, or Auburn!

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I don't really have time to go from store to store in search of the best deals. In fact, I often don't have time to go to the store. I do 99% of my grocery shopping at Kroger. If I'm strapped for time, I will submit an online order. On one hand, fewer things seem to be available for their pickup service (even though I know they're in store) and you never get to see the manager markdowns if you don't shop in person. On the other, it's much easier to shop and see online coupons for what you need and plan to buy via the app. I may hit HEB or Aldi for some specialty things from time to time, and occasionally Walmart market for a soap I like for DD16s uniforms. Beyond that, DH goes to Costco once a week for bulk items. I am not a huge Costco fan, but he loves it...so that's his shopping!

 

[mylilnikita]

I just want to add that I also have Kroger boost . I got an email saying in April the fee is going up $10. Sorry but nope

 

[AustinTink]

I only go inside the grocery store for emergency last-minute shopping these days and that is very rare. I do all my shopping online through our local grocer and pick it up curbside. It’s so nice to have them shop it, bag it and load it in the car for me.

 

[Smugpugmug]

Most of my shopping is done at Giant but I will go to Costco for vitamins and non perishables such as paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags, etc. Lately Giant's produce has been pretty subpar so I'll go to Safeway or H Mart to get those.

I only go to Walmart, Wegmans, Whole Foods and Aldi for specific things - they're not stores I do normal shopping at for various reasons (location, prices, cleanliness of the store and chaotic parking situation).

 

[Uk145081]

I wish I had the time to hit up that many stores. I mostly stick to my local supermarket for convenience, but I do love hitting up the farmer's market in the summer for fresh produce. That Japanese grocery store sounds amazing, though

 

[barkley]

Costco for vitamins and non perishables such as paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags, etc

costco and target used to be my go-to for paper goods and garbage bags depending on who had the best deals but then last year our health insurance added a quarterly over the counter benefit ($70 per insured per quarter) and by accident I found out it covers these items so since neither target or costco participate walmart has gotten all of these purchases.

 

[babydoll65]

Household of three adults (Rhode Island)
I do some shopping at Walmart using my Walmart + grocery pickup and the rest at Aldi since there Aldi products are mostly dye free, non gmo and love there grass fed ground beef. I buy my dogs dog food from Target since they are the only one that carries the brand and size i need. Save 5% plus free delivery too

 

[NYCgrrl]

Currently, I’m ordering a lot of my daily groceries from Whole Foods. I like the specifications of much of their foodstuff and it’s really easy as long as I buy a minimum that gets me free delivery. Still, it’s difficult to get eggs right now so it’s the walking distance local markets: Key Foods, Food Bazaar, etc; as well anything they’ve a special on.

I often get fish/shellfish, either walk-in or online at Citarella, a fishmonger from my old neighborhood. I’m trying to eat down my freezer goods right now so less meat purchases but when needed I like to buy from Stew Leonard’s.

I suspect that my grandmothers would still see aspects of their influence in my food shopping today.