Ping for the list.
Well, for some reason, you have hit a point that I have a lot to say about.
I HATE grocery shopping It’s a pain. The reason it is a pain is because I have almost always done it once a week and that is why it is such a terrible chore. During the rare times in my life when I wasn’t overwhelmed with so much to do, I could shop three times or more a week and just buy what was needed - that is so much more enjoyable.
I think the Europeans have it right - they shop daily - it is something they do on the way home from work - it is leisurely and they buy just enough for a meal or two or what they need.... it is so much more enjoyable to pick out a few things and head home.
I do not understand the people who shop at Costco and places and buy enough for a small army. People who live an hour or more from a store and need to shop in bulk - or who have extraordinarily large families - are the exception. However, I have a sister-in-law and they buy huge packages of junk for a family of three. It is wasteful and I don’t think they save money. I think Costco, Sam’s and the other places really don’t offer much savings since I look at price per oz., lb., or by weight.
Every other day for me.
My parents went to two different grocery stores when I was young. They had one grocery store that they went to once per week to replenish storable staples. Then there was another smaller store closer to home that they went to maybe twice per week for fresh stuff.
An hour every day?!? That must have been your parents’ version of socializing. I do the big hauls about every three weeks. Any more often is a waste of time and gas to the only grocery store within 20 miles.
My wife’s paycheck is bi-weekly, my income monthly. So we shop bi-weekly. But that doesn’t include picking up things we run out of when needed. But those are small purchases.
I would love to be able to run to a store or market every day to pick up dinner. Maybe I’ll do that again when it’s just the two of us at home.
Right now I go every pay day which is twice a month. I’m a Costco person because I have a large family and it makes more sense to buy the 3 pound tub of sour cream verses three smaller ones. I buy paper products and cleaners in bulk as well as some snack items like cheese sticks, etc. I know I can get things cheaper at a grocery store and I do go to both places each pay day but I can’t go to four different stores just to save a dollar. I just don’t have the time or patience to pull that off.
I can’t drive. So I stop off pretty much every weekday and buy a little. That way I never have to carry too much.
Live outside a rural town of 4000, hate to do groceries and will sometimes pay more at the party store for something just to stay out of the supermarket...
I scour the ads every week. But I’m soo stocked up, that unless it’s a great deal price, I don’t shop. And if it’s a great deal price, I buy lots.
Have my own garden, and apple trees, grapes, peach and pear. Men in the family hunt deer and squirrel.
I can, freeze and/or dehydrate...
Have 5 freezers and lots of canned and dehydrated foods. One freezer for fruits and veggies, one for beef, one for pork, one for poultry, one for odds n ends such as deep fryer foods, frozen bread dough, pizza etc...
Yes, you can buy milk and cheese and freeze it. You can even can butter!
Once a quarter to replace a rotational stock of store bought needs. We use a list.
Early, every Saturday morning before the masses awaken. (except during deer season or when paddling)
It really helps cut that down
It has been several months for me, when I can I prefer to buy at least a years supply of some things like grits, toilet paper, rice, canned goods and such.
Even eggs and milk and bread, I may go a month or more, I freeze some milk and the bread and the eggs I buy as fresh as possible and keep them as cold as possible with out freezing them.
Once a week — but you always forget something or run out of something you thought you had more of, so it’s actually twice a week.
I enjoy the art of cooking healthy, interesting meals for family and friends. The only time the kids ate exotic foods such a Hamburger Helper, Hawaiian Punch, or Prego was at their friends' homes. Our sons grew up and married wonderful women who had grown-up in heat-n-eat households. Nowadays the 'boys' do most of the cooking, and the 'girls' do most of the washing up.
Sweet Hubby and I have retired to Northern Nevada. Twice a month we drive an hour into Reno to do our major shopping. We purchase most of our bread, dairy, meat, and produce at Whole Foods. Wal-mart is our store of choice for stock items. A favorite feature of our new home is our 6'X8' pantry.
Since I buy perishables and produce, I generally take a several small trips a week.
Another good topic would be...
How often do you shop for ammo?
One of the reasons I shop at Walmart. I can do both at the same time.
Once a week on Tuesday. I hit Target, PetSmart and CostCo in that order. I get very little in Target, mostly cleaning supplies. I get special Dog Food at PetSmart for my terrier with allergies and the bulk of goods are purchased at Costco. I hit up Trader Joe’s once or twice a week for less than $20 of goodies. If CostCo would sell some of their stuff in reasonable (i.e smaller) quantities they could probably run a bunch of the others out of business.
/johnny
Every couple of days. If I didn’t have other things to do I would probably go almost every day. I like shopping small and buying what I feel like eating day to day.