How often/how many times do you shop?

[PoorRichardsGirl]

I was just looking over my past month's spending in Quicken, and I noticed I made an awful lot of different stops for groceries--26!

Some of them make sense, but I'm not sure if all of them do, even if I'm following sales. Not only does it use gas, but I think I'd do a better job of keeping track if I had fewer things to keep track of. (I am short $7.31 from what I should have left, and have no idea why.)

Just wondering how many stops other people make in a month, even if it's just for milk at the corner store.

Thanks!

[britbunny]

I know what you mean, we were getting to a stage where I seemed to be living at the grocery store!

So now we go shopping every 4 days, which means we go about 8 times a month. this is because it coincides with when we buy milk. Luckily our local store has just started to price match from any store so we don't have to drive all over anymore.

It makes it easier for me to stick to my menu plan, as I only have to thing four days in advance and it makes it easier for me to take weekends into account. (ou know how you always think you'll be in the mood to cook x but by the time Saturday night arrives it's out of the window?)

It cuts out the need to go to the corner shop , where that carton of milk ends up bringing friends home with it!

[Layne]

I make a weekly menu and shop once a week for groceries. Once a month I shop for bulk items but I usually combine this with my weekly grocery trip.

I think living and working 30 miles from town is good incentive to only go weekly. I have considered going every two weeks but then we would still need milk and fruit/veggies and I would miss some sales.

[seadream]

I go grocery shopping every 2 to 3 weeks but I do have to make weekly trips for bread, milk, etc

[cozyquilter]

I shop once a week, this includes ALL shopping....grocery and otherwise....

I also get gas regardless if I need it or not I fill up once a week..I also stop at the post office for any need stamps, and mail bills and letters.

This once a week has really simplified my life. I am flexable as to what day I go, usually Wednesday or Thursday..but I stick to one day a week.

[PoorRichardsGirl]

It sounds like you all are shopping on a schedule, which I ought to do better on too. But are you just going to one main store, or making several stops on one shopping day? Last Saturday I went to Acme, 3 dollar stores (first two didn't have the envelopes I needed), Pathmark, Petsmart, Sav A Lot (it was near a dollar store) and IGA. Eek!

It seems like one place has a sale too good to pass up, one store has something DH or I likes and nobody else has, another store has something on sale but they're out of it and I have to get it somewhere else.

Would I do just as well at one store all the time? Or do you shop multiple stores, too, on your once a 4 days/week/month trips?

[cozyquilter]

I routinely hit only 2 stores, Aldi's and Super Target. I work at Target HQ so I also get a 10% discount on groceries. The 2 stores are just blocks from each other, and the gas station is inbetween. The BIG Grocery Discounter is also across the highway from Aldi's....but unless they have a SUPER deal, I don't go ( always check the add in Sundays paper though)....I find by shopping wisely and stocking up from Aldi's and Super Target sales with my discount I don't have to go to the BIG Grocery store.....just one way to simplify and not make frugality a chore...

[thrifty gal]

I try to shop once a week, but always end up going to the store once or twice a week. I'm trying to get myself out of that habit.

[Michele Annette]

We normally shop once a week, but I'm trying to extend it to once every two weeks. I do spend more money, but I end up getting more for my money by buying larger quantities of things. I end up saving more money on my grocery bill this way. If I need something like milk and bread, I will then only have enough cash in my wallet to purchase those items.

[i.m.cheap]

I usually go to the store about twice a week. I go to Aldi's about twice a month. It is hard to get enough milk and fresh produce to last us for one week. We use four gallons of milk a week. Some fruits don't keep well, either, like berries and bananas.

[dmvezina]

I go no more than once a week.
If there isn't any good sales and I don't need anything, then I don't go at all.

[Jerrie K]

Once a week for regular shopping. I combine any other errands on that day also. If someone has a dr. appointment, etc. I will shop on that day. Aldi's once a month. Sometimes every other month. If I need to make an extra run for milk, I have dh do it on the motorcycle or now that dd is in beauty school I can do it when I drop her off since it is on the way

[pip]

I usually go to Aldis once a week, and sometimes Cub foods or Super Target the same week. I buy 5-6 gallons of milk when I'm at Aldis, so I don't get lured back into the stores and spend even more on stuff I see and want. But, I do like to grocery shop and we have way too much food stockpiled in the house. I really should try to get through the food that is already here.

[Lori Biever-Launder]

I am the weird one here. I go on a big trip once a month and then fill in about every eight or nine days with fruit, veggies, milk, etc.

[AmyBoz]

I go every Sunday. I buy three gallons of milk, two loaves of bread, bananas, apples, grapes, carrots, and then whatever else might be on the list for that week. Sometimes it's meat or poultry, or maybe not if I've bought and frozen a lot because it was on sale another week. Sometimes I'll add diapers to the list if we're about to run out. If I can get stuff for free or close to, then the list will have those items on it, based on the sale flyer and my coupons. But, once a week is it. If we're out, we make do until the next Sunday.

For example, I totally forgot to buy peanut butter and jelly this past Sunday. (I'm not sure HOW I forgot those two, most important items, but I did.) So, dh is taking leftovers for lunches and the kids are eating cheese sandwiches all week. No biggie. Julia even said, "I like peanut butter and jelly better, but I know we have to wait until Sunday." Good girl!