Would you take your child's friends to Aldi?

[Temporaryname]

I posted the other thread below about running out of money, and I'm determined to stick with a budget for a long while to get myself out of this hole. I also know that the hardest thing about it, for me, will be kid activities. We've always been an "on the go" type family, and my biggest budget buster is definitely things like movie tickets, and other activities. That's going to be a hard habit to break.

So, I was thinking that a trip to Aldi's to stock up would be worth the $ spent on gas, because the groceries in my new area are super expensive. Then I looked at a map and realized that Aldi's is right by a fun free community pool with waterslides etc . . . So, I think I can justify driving those extra 4 blocks roundtrip, and we can make a day of it.

Then I was thinking that maybe I could pick up some friends (twins) of my daughter who live between here and Aldi, and bring them to the pool. I know she'd love to see them, and they could spend all afternoon at the pool, and then shop on the way home. It would be a fun, essentially free (except the gas for total of about 6 blocks that this would take us out of our way).

Would it be totally weird/rude if I took all 3 girls grocery shopping on our way home?

 

[pixiechick]

If you don't mind keeping an eye on them while shopping, and their parent doesn't mind, it's no one else's business.

I would prefer shopping without the hassle of watching extra kids, but I tend get annoyed by even DH when food shopping!

 

[meliss8599]

Of course! If you want, just mention, "Hey girls, we'd love to take you to the pool as long as you don't mind making a quick grocery trip on the way home. Sound good?!" I'm sure they won't mind.

 

[okeydokey]

I take my DDs friends with me shopping all the time. I just make sure the other parent knows about it before we go.

 

[Hannathy]

Am I reading this right? you want to drag 3 tired kids along grocery shopping to save driving 4 blocks? I thought you were going to say 40 minutes and then yes it makes sense but no I think you are thinking about saving gas a bit toooo much if you are worrying about 4 blocks......


so no in your case I would not take 3 tired kids grocery shopping to save a whopping 4 blocks of driving!!!! Heck I wouldn't take mine to save 4 miles of driving.

 

[LAH LAH]

Am I reading this right? you want to drag 3 tired kids along grocery shopping to save driving 4 blocks? I thought you were going to say 40 minutes and then yes it makes sense but no I think you are thinking about saving gas a bit toooo much if you are worrying about 4 blocks......


so no in your case I would not take 3 tired kids grocery shopping to save a whopping 4 blocks of driving!!!! Heck I wouldn't take mine to save 4 miles of driving.

I understood her to mean the girls only live 6 blocks out of the way while on the way to the Aldis/pool.

 

[daughtersrus]

Am I reading this right? you want to drag 3 tired kids along grocery shopping to save driving 4 blocks? I thought you were going to say 40 minutes and then yes it makes sense but no I think you are thinking about saving gas a bit toooo much if you are worrying about 4 blocks......


so no in your case I would not take 3 tired kids grocery shopping to save a whopping 4 blocks of driving!!!! Heck I wouldn't take mine to save 4 miles of driving.

My thought was that the friends are somewhere between the OP's house and Aldi and the water park is 2 blocks (4 blocks round trip) from Aldi.

I don't see a problem with taking them. Plus, Aldi is pretty small so it's not going to take a lot of time going up and down the isles.

 

[sookie]

If your budget busters are outside activities... Water park would include this... Then why are u considering taking your kids and some others to this? Just saying... Seems backwards.

 

[southern_redhead]

Yes, I'd take them. My mom never did anything like that when I was growing up (she is one of those "I can't handle this" people) but I had a BFF whose mom always grocery shopped on Saturday and, if her dad was gone (which he was a lot), then we went with her. It was a Sav-A-Lot, very similar to Aldi's concept, and we had fun. We were probably between 8 and 11 when we did that. We trailed along after her mom, or thought it was fabulously funny to be an aisle or two over "stalking" her. We just made sure not to be in the way of other customers and not to bang into or touch the displays. I've taken my kids friends with me on occasion, I prefer not to but it has nothing to do with the friends (more to do with my kids they aren't "shoppers" by any means.)

I would do like a pp and propose the trip as "I'd love for you guys to go to the water park with us, I can run you home afterwards...just need to stop by the store first." I have to say, though, that would just be to let them know a trip to the store is "in store" (pun intended) because I couldn't care less whether another parent takes my kids to the store with them. We don't exchange that kind of information, I trust my kids with them or else they wouldn't be going to their house.

 

[crashbb]

If your budget busters are outside activities... Water park would include this... Then why are u considering taking your kids and some others to this? Just saying... Seems backwards.

The OP says that it is a FREE community water park.

 

[Mom2Ben02]

If you did not read the OP's other thread - she is having a very rough month. The point of this post is that she is trying not to drive and waste gas, but has choice other than shop at Aldi. She found out the water park is very close to Aldi and free - normally she would not be able to spend the money for gas, but since it is on the way she wants to take DD and her friends (who are also on the way, and, thus, will not cost her any additional money to pick them up). Did I get it right, OP?

Go to the waterpark, take the friends, stop at Aldi, and have a GREAT time. The only problem I see is the "gimmies" at the grocery store if the girls are hungry.

 

[Cindy B]

4 blocks of driving with gas.. that would almost be negilible in terms of gas usage. (depending on the size of blocks of course) I will echo another PP, if the OP is worried about that little amount of gas NOW, how tight are they?

I also wonder why the OP is thinking about the summer time grocery shopping when winter or spring isn't completed.

As for taking kids to Aldi, our Alid's is always crowded, super busy and not the greatest crowd of people. (for example, I saw a guy with handcuffs on once in line at Aldi!--) However, Aldi is a small store and while the shopping itself might not take long but the wait of cashier always is. Plus you have to bag your own stuff.

Are you sure the waterpark is free? Sometimes it says free, but there is a guest fee, waterband free, swimming test fee, fee for ID cards, etc. I'd check that out.
I personally wouldn't worry about this NOW.. but later.

 

[Carina]

How old are kids, I dump mine at pool and shop while they play. They can swim without parents from age 10 up (At that pool)

 

[allison443]

Have you been to Aldi's before? I don't think it's worth traveling very far, I can do better with the "loss leaders" at my local supermarkets. Even expensive supermarkets have sales, plus you can use coupons.

Also, if you have three kids at a waterpark all day, at some point you are going to have to provide some kind of drink or snack...do they have concession stands at the park? If it's hot and the kids want ice cream, are you prepared to say no? You could bring your own snack I guess.

Is the community where the park is the same one you live in? What about your dd's friends? Sometimes those type of places are only free for residents.

I do think it's good to start looking for free activities. I know around us, many towns have things like "movies in the park" during the summer. Free, bring a blanket and snacks, it's fun!

 

[melissapealo]

As long as you don't mind taking 3 kids to Aldi's with you then I don't see a problem at all. I'm sure they'd have a blast at the water park. I say go and enjoy yourself.

 

[DisneyCowgirl]

Would it be totally weird/rude if I took all 3 girls grocery shopping on our way home?

My answer to this question is no. Other posters have taken your thread down a path you did not intend.

I would not think twice about stopping at the store with my kid's friend on the way home from an outing like that. I don't know how old the kids are, but I assume we're talking about old enough to walk through a grocery store with a little sanity (as opposed to my 2YO--I think I'd rather go hungry than bring him and 2 of his friends to the grocery). And as for the friends' parents, if they trust you to bring their daughters to a water park, certainly they would be OK with stopping by the store on the way home. Just let them know your plans for the afternoon and have fun!

 

[Planogirl]

Take them and get them something to drink too. They are probably going to be thirsty after playing at the waterpark. Aldi's is pretty small so it shouldn't be much of a hassle.

 

[disneychrista]

I am sure many familys with 3+ kids take the grocery shopping. I wouldn't even think twice about it. Is Aldi's that special?

 

[walkdmc]

If you don't mind keeping an eye on them while shopping, and their parent doesn't mind, it's no one else's business.

I would prefer shopping without the hassle of watching extra kids, but I tend get annoyed by even DH when food shopping!

Ditto

 

[marlynnp]

As long as everyone knows ahead of time, I see no problem with it.


And as to some of the other comments. Could you people be any ruder?

Yes, your ARE reading it wrong. The OP stated the park was an additional 4 blocks from the store. She never said how far it was from her home, it could 20 miles for all we know. Obviously it's far enough for her to be concerned about her gas usage.

You do realize that although YOU may live where it's cold int he winter there are plenty of other areas where it is warm year round. The OP didn't say where she lived so there's no need to say she's crazy because YOU are projecting your circumstances on her and assuming that she's planning for something 4 months from now.