Grocery Shopping Is Not For Sissies
March 7th, 2007 by FiddledeedeeI’m awakened by the witty repartee of two unknown disc jockeys who have had far too much caffeine. It’s 5:30 in the morning. I shut off my irritating radio
alarm and I rise from my warm soft bed, pull on semi-clean probably-not-matching sweats, grab my purse and shoulder bag, and head out the door. It’s still dark, and the cool air hits me in the face, helping me to awaken. I climb into the car, alone, and put the radio station on whatever I want.
It’s early Saturday. Time for my bimonthly pilgrimage to the 24 hour Super Wal•Mart. I leave the house armed with my trusty coupon box, the preprinted grocery list that I compiled the day before, and a cheese stick. I pull into the brightly lit parking lot, and claim the parking space closest to the door. Because I can. I pick out the least wobbly grocery cart, nod a good morning to the door greeter (who seldom meets my eye), and I’m off and shopping.
I begin to remember why I get up at that ridiculous hour to do my grocery shopping. It’s just me and the stock clerks, many of which I know on a first name basis. They are an unusually friendly bunch at that hour. I can fly around corners at break neck speed with no worries of crashing into any electric carts or lingering shoppers. With my cart stuffed to the rim, even the child seat, I head over to the lone cashier stationed at the tobacco aisle. There’s usually only one clerk available in the 10 or more aisle. It’s an unfortunate event if you happen to get in line behind me.
Ladies, I’ve just completed my grocery shopping for the next two weeks in under 45 minutes. And I stick to my list as to avoid unnecessary spending. I load my bags and turn the car towards home. When I arrive, my children are just getting up, and my husband has punched the button on my coffee pot, so the wonderful aroma of coffee hits me as I walk in the door.
It takes a little discipline, a little preplanning, and a very large capacity pot of coffee to get me through the day. But by golly, every time I think I want to sleep in every other Saturday (which around here, is only 6:30 anyway), I attempt a grocery run during normal hours with three children in tow. Then I mutter incoherently, “Never again,” while banging my head on the steering wheel.
Another perk that I discovered to changing my weekly grocery shopping to an every two week trip, is that I’ve shaved off at least $200.00 a month from my grocery budget. Some months it’s more. I supplement these trips with an every 6-8 week trip to Sam’s for all of our meat. And a quick weekly trip to Publix to combine deep discount sales with my coupons to stock up on items for the pantry. What I discovered is that I no longer overbuy, and tend to get creative and use up everything in the pantry in-between grocery trips.
Even if you don’t have the luxury of an all-night grocery store, most grocery stores open by 7:00. Maybe you could sweet talk your husband into wrangling the kids, so you can get the shopping done early on a Saturday.
And who knows, with all that extra time on your hands, you just may have time for a bubble bath! And with all that extra cash that you’ve just saved, throw in a pedicure.
Head over to Shannon’s at Rocks In Her Dryer for the special “Kitchen Tips” edition of Works For Me Wednesday.
Coupon/Shopping Links:
http://www.thegrocerygame.com/ (There are terrific print out coupons here. I’ve done the “4 weeks for $1″ promo, but may not continue because I can compile the list on my own using the stores’ websites.)
http://www.publix.com/ (go to “Services” pull down menu for weekly specials)
Posted in Works For Me Wednesday | 22 Comments »
March 7th, 2007 at 5:09 am
I too value the opportunity to grocery shop alone. It brings me joy to push around a cart that actually has room in it for food. Normally mine has 3 toddlers hanging over every rail screaming for Dorito’s at ear piercing levels. I don’t know what I would do if I was able to shop without picking up an item off of the ground every 5 seconds as one of them tosses something to see if it will splatter, or roll away under the shelves. And the shopping in sweats, well that’s just almost beyond my wildest fantasy. Comfort, AND silence. Heavenly.
March 7th, 2007 at 5:37 am
Oh how I love shopping alone….and I got to do it last night. I’m not much of a morning person but I can handle the night time (not talking 10:30 or anything though – LOL). So I was there at 8:00 last night and out in 40 minutes. I was sooo excited!
March 7th, 2007 at 7:28 am
Any time I have to grocery shop on the weekend I’m reminded of why I usually go before noon on Monday’s. Even though I have Little with me. It’s just me and a few of the older generation; if need be I can always outrun them to the checkout.
March 7th, 2007 at 10:34 am
Grocery shopping alone? Hmmm… that might be worth getting up for. I’ll have to try it. I find I buy too much and never the right stuff to complete my meals with the kids in tow. Great idea!
March 7th, 2007 at 10:35 am
Where do you get your coupons? I can never find them or when I do find some I forget to take them or give them. Darn.
Hey I blogged about you yesterday.
March 7th, 2007 at 11:05 am
Now why didn’t I think of that? This is literally the best idea I’ve heard in AGES. Can you tell that I recently took my two kids grocery shopping at our local discount food store where you BAG YOUR OWN GROCERIES!
Thanks!
March 7th, 2007 at 11:19 am
I too love the allure of “alone” shopping. However, since I value my sleep too much, I’ve managed to figure out when the Walmart’s restocking time is and therefore every Tuesday night from 9-11 pm is Walmart time. No crowds, my husband has alone time since the kids are asleep, and my shopping is quick and efficient. I get my coupons from the Sunday paper, or this website I found http://www.couponmom.com/index.php?cid=4. It’s a pretty good one..also mommas take note!!..Walmart will match any same brand, valid coupons or prices from other stores. Just bring the paper with you and prepare to save big on items like chicken breasts and canned goods!
March 7th, 2007 at 11:33 am
You and I are on the same page. Before I had my little one, my grocery shopping routine was eerliy like yours…minus the cheese stick and coffee. I had my preplanned list in store order and including estimated prices wo/ coupons figured in… that way the bill would be a little less than what I estimated. I’m kind of crazy like that. Now that I have my daughter, she comes with me but we still go early Saturday mornings. Ah, the simple pleasures. Never EVER go during noon on any weekday, even just to pick up a “few” things. I have never wanted to ram an elderly person with a buggy more than I did last week!
March 7th, 2007 at 12:17 pm
Will you chat with my wife about this strategy? She has become so terrified of arriving at Safeway with 2 young kids that she would rather clean all the bathrooms in Grand Central Station with her tongue. Further, she refuses to get up before 9:30 on any given morning…especially on Saturday.
Me? When it’s my turn to buy groceries I enjoy a nice, quiet, shopping experience around 10 pm on any weeknight. Ahhhh…peace.
March 7th, 2007 at 12:57 pm
Ah, yes. I haven’t taken my kids to the grocery store with me in 2 years. I never thought I would enjoy grocery shopping, but now it’s one of my most valued times. Granted I have to go in the afternoon on Saturday or Sunday (which I hate), but given the alternative it’s a concession I’m willing to make. I look forward to the time when they are both in school (they are 4 and 2 now) and I can go during the day, during the week. It really is the simple things….
March 7th, 2007 at 1:22 pm
I absolutely DESPISE shopping on weekend afternoons. I prefer to wait until the evening, post-dinner. I don’t think I could muster the strength to rise from my warm bed at 5:30, especially on a cold winter’s day. Perhaps during the summer. Sleeping in around here is 7am, at the very latest, but we like to hang out in our jammies and drink coffee.
March 7th, 2007 at 1:32 pm
Now that my kids are all in school, I enjoy shopping by myself on Monday mornings. I remember when my oldest was an infant, putting her to bed late and heading out the door to get groceries while hubby stayed with her. I know what you mean about it being “just you and the stock guys.” They would crank up the music and shopping was fun, albeit very late!
March 7th, 2007 at 2:56 pm
I always tell myself I have to start doing this and never get around to it, then I pay the price with the store full of pushy people at a time I call “nightmare shopping hour.” I’m definitely going to give your method a try, it sounds great. Thanks for sharing! =)
March 7th, 2007 at 4:54 pm
I’m impressed you can do bi-monthly trips. I’m there every week. I try and plan but there’s always something that comes up–this week it’s Science Fair stuff.
March 7th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
Awesome plan, and I agree about the grocery game. You can definitely do that yourself.
March 7th, 2007 at 9:47 pm
Oh. My. Lord. I am all for grocery shopping alone. Seriously. I refuse to do it with my children. Now, I have learned to never say ‘never’. But, I have to tell you, Dee Dee….in all honesty….I can see myself forcing my children to dig for worms in the backyard to satisfy their hunger before I get up at 5:30 to go to Super Wal- Mart. I applaud your effort! Heck, I’m going to have my husband send my Mother’s Day gift to you!
March 8th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Wow. Really impressive. I’ve never thought about going that early before – but I’m sure it would be a lot more pleasant than the usual Walmart run. To be able to concentrate on what I’m buying, I also try to do my “big” shopping alone – if I don’t, I come home with a random assortment of stuff and have to go back again.
And that is NOT GOOD. At all.
March 8th, 2007 at 8:48 am
That is a great idea! I have an early morning Saturday meeting each week, and when we don’t have sports, I love to stop in ALONE to pick up our weekly groceries. It’s still pretty empty at 9am.
March 8th, 2007 at 12:08 pm
I too thrive on shopping alone. But usually end up taking at least one of the kids with me or most times we just grin and bear it by taking them all with us..sometimes its good..and well a lot its not. Thats the joys!
March 8th, 2007 at 12:23 pm
I am one of those horrible morning people who wake up bright eyed at 5am! My poor husband can’t stand it but I am up and have a load in the washer, dog, cat, fish and turtle all fed, showered and make up on by 6:30am EVERY DAY. I love hitting the food store by 7 am where I met up with 4 other morning people who have also been up for a at least an hour and a half like me. We all wait by the door smiling and comparing shoping list to be greeted by Sam, the guy who unlocks the door and calls us all by name as we walk in and head over to the deli where Gus greets us with ” The coffee is expecially good today folks – hope you enjoy it”. We all get a cup and head out to gather our goods. After about 45 minutes, we meet at the only check out to pay for our goods, say a final good by and head home to houses full of still sleeping members of our families. It will be a few more hours before they get up but oh what a loverly morning it has been so far!! So much nicer to talk to other “Morning People” than my husband who I love but only grunts in the morning.
PS At 8pm don’t ask me my last name because I’m asleep on the couch. I don’t do evenings.
March 8th, 2007 at 12:40 pm
I think Lynn Marie just hit the nail on the head. It helps if you’re a morning person. Which I am. Usually. When Junior doesn’t keep me up all night. Like last night, sadly.
March 19th, 2007 at 2:23 pm
I’m not sure how I got here…I linked and linked and linked…but I’m glad I found you! Great posts!
I have a 1 year old and 4 year old. The last shopping trip included a major meltdown. I’m thinking an early morning trip is sounding pretty good!