Wow! I totally missed any celebration over #200 or even #300 ... maybe I'll mix it up and celebrate on #347? Well probably not, don't hold your breath ;).
So remember yesterday's teaser about grocery talk today? Well it's late, I'm SO ready for bed and almost forgot ... and then I remembered I worried you'd all stay up late hitting refresh over and over until your head hit the keyboard.
I'm just curious about some of your grocery "habits" if you will ... so if you want and you're not to shy, please let me get to know you better, even learn from you when it comes to this love/hate thing I have with grocery shopping.
First, how much do you spend? Is that too personal ... Hmmm, maybe how much do you budget (since we all know that doesn't mean anything ;)? I'm just curious because I think this is so across the board and obviously depends on your family size.
Second, do you use coupons? Do you really, really, really enjoy seeing that total saved? I do ... and I treat myself to Starbucks if I saved more than my drink will cost. Free money I say, oh yes, just ask ... I say free money all the time.
Do you organize your cart by "sections" if you will? For example, boxed items, canned items, produce, cold/freezer, etc? And then, do you bag your own groceries? And if yes, do you unload said sections just so for faster packing and un-packing? Please tell me I'm not alone.
And last, how often do you grocery shop? Weekly, Bi-Monthly, Monthly? Do you stock up on things like meat and laundry soap, etc. once a month?
Seriously, I have no idea where this post came from. If you're rolling your eyes, hitting close on this window and wondering what has happened to me ... cut me some slack, let's blame it on the sinus headache/pressure and a husband who's only been home 1 out of the last 8 days. Lets just say I don't have all my where with all right now ;). And if you're sympathetic then chat a little with me about groceries, okay?
More fun tomorrow, like all the "festive" things we did today ... Happy Tuesday!
6 comments:
As for budget, I'm still trying to figure out what is enough to not have to skimp, but not too much. I try to use coupons, but am not in a very good habit of using them yet... but I'm working on it.
Yes, I have sections in the cart. All my produce is farthest to the front of the cart (farthest away from the driver) so that nothing large shifts to the back and smashes it. I place meats and dairy at the very back left and boxes to the back right. Cans go in the center and then anything else is a free for all on top.
I normally shop at WinCo, but regardless I always place the items on the belt as if I were. Milk first ( I never bag it) and anything else that won't need bagged. Then boxes, then cans, then meat and dairy, then produce, then bread and eggs. If I have non grocery items they are very last, I don't like them to mix with the food.
I generally shop once a week. Any more often takes too much time, but any less and your produce is rotten... besides, there's not enough room in the fridge for more than that. I will stock up on some items if there a good Costco buy, but if I do too much stocking up I forget I have it.
And, this is a far from silly post. I take my grocery shopping very seriously. I think all of us type-A people do :)
Great topic!
Well I do a big shop every two weeks...each costing around, can I say it $200. That includes diapers, yep still in diapers! But of course I still have to run back in between for fresh fruits and veggies or items I forgot. ;o) Oh and I never use coupons. Maybe that will be my New Years resolution.
I shop at Winco or Walmart. Just depends on what I need...like hair product or odds and ends for the girls, I'll go to Walmart. If nothing extra is needed I'll go to Winco.
I always group similar items together, then they fit in the bag better and are easier to unload at home. Sometimes I find myself wanting to take over the bagging at Walmart. ;o)
You can't leave out Costco. I like their frozen items. It's nice to always have something in the freezer that you can make on those nights you don't feel like cooking.
I love grocery shopping...if it's by myself. The girls make it very intersting if I take them.
As a fellow first-born type A person you can be sure I have a system. I actually haven't been real grocery shopping since before Graham was born and it's driving me crazy!
Anyway, here goes...
We have a loose budget when it comes to grocery shopping just depending on what we need when I go. It's between $160-200 I'd say. Definitely under $200 though. I know that will change with three boys. :)
I do a big grocery shopping trip every 2 weeks but like Amanda said usually have to make quick trips (or send Mike :)) to get milk, fresh veggies, etc.
Yes I use coupons whenever possible! I love seeing the total saved. That goes for any store though.
You better believe I have my cart sectioned out. Even worse is how I put them on the belt. I did a post on that before though so you already know that. Similar items must be together.
I don't think it's a silly question at all. It's nice to know there are others as anal about grocery shopping. :)
I hope you're feeling better and get to see Matt soon.
I'm not sure why I decided to leave a comment on this one since I generally put grocery shopping right up there with scrubbing the toilet as one of my "favorite" things to do. I probably feel like commenting because I went to the grocery store today. I spent the most I have ever spent on groceries $107. That does include a huge box of diapers as a gift for a baby shower though... The first year Micah and I were married I went to Winco once a week and spent under $30 every week! Don't ask me how I did it, I'm still trying to figure that out :) It was all we had to live on then though.
As far as items in the cart, the only things I really don't like is when raw meat touches other non-meat items. If you have a way to be able to do this and still fit a bunch of other stuff in your cart let me know.
The other thing I have to do when I grocery shop is go down the isles in order. It bugs me when I don't need something from a particular isle that I usually need, because then I go down all the other isles the wrong way. Weird, I know.
Wow, that was a lot of information from someone who hates grocery shopping! Oh well, there are lots of things in life that I do but don't like...
ok, so here's the deal with my grocery shopping. I hate it...but now that I have super target it's a little bit better. I always bought household things and tolietries at Target anyway. I probably spend too much money on groceries, but this will likely change when we have kids and the budget gets tighter.
I usually go once a week on the weekend. If I don't I end up needing to go after work which I absolutely hate. I do use coupons and love to save money. However, I buy lots of produce, often times organic and I buy organic milk and eggs...a bit of a splurge every week, but something I feel is important. Also, I tend to buy a bit more convenience food like microwave lunches for Shawn than I used to. Other wise he'd never eat lunch. These things add up.
I sort my items in the cart by how they get put away. I also write my list based on the store layout. I certainly have a system and don't like to go shopping with Shawn, because he messes with my system.
I've also been ordering a box of organic produce about once a month from a company that delivers fresh, local organic produce to your door. I love this idea, but can't afford to do it every week.
Ok, so this is the kind of post that just makes you want to comment.
Let's see we spend somewhere around 6 hundred a month which includes 2 in diapers and all cleanning supplies. I don't seperate those out. Some months it's more some less. Regardless it's a lot! I don't think that's too personal I've always wondered what other people spend and if i'm way overboard or what.
I shop weekly, produce reasons mostly.
I organize my cart like the above comments. If i'm not bagging myself it drives me nuts if they don't take advantage of the order i've put my things in. I mean come on it's so obvious how it should go!
anyway, i've been inturrepted by family.
my last thoughts are i always shop alone or us fred myers b/c they have child care. i know i spend a bit more but it beats going with 3 boys!!!
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