Do you shop at Walmart monthly?

**SHOPGIRL** · 08-04-2005, 01:03 PM

O.K. What do you all think, is Wal-Mart really the best place to buy groceries, cleaning products?  From what I can tell, most people seem to post that they get a lot of their purchases from Wal-Mart.  Is Wal-Mart usually the best place to purchase items?  They seem to have competitive prices all the time.  If something isn't on sale, is it usually cheaper at Wal-Mart?

What do you buy at Wal-Mart on a regular basis?  I'd like to stick with 2-3 stores to do my grocery shopping at. Should Wal-Mart be in my top 3?

**tbs727** · 08-04-2005, 01:07 PM

I shop at Wal-Mart for most of our food, some of my cleaning items, and pet food. Also most of my personal care items come from Wal-Mart. I buy some produce there, but I really don't care for it. I have limited time to go shopping and I like getting everything in one place.

If I have time, I like to go to big lots for shampoo, condition and some pantry items. I buy my meat (beef, pork and chicken) from a local grocery store that has a butcher. I can get the meat on sale for cheaper that Wal-Mart sells it and it is much better quality. I hate WM's ground beef...

I am allergic to what ever they put on their apples, etc. to keep it fresh longer so I can't buy produce there that doesn't get peeled first. So sometimes I buy oranges, limes, potatoes, and bananas. As well as green onions and some herbs.

**Kimberlina** · 08-04-2005, 01:08 PM

Well, as much as I hate shopping at Wal-Mart, I do most of my grocery shopping there. The few exceptions are things that are cheaper at BJ's and some produce. I can't afford to buy things at the more expensive stores. Around here, Wal-Mart is almost always cheaper for the exact same items. Someday when I have money again, I am going to stop shopping there....

**SHOPGIRL** · 08-04-2005, 01:11 PM

Tiffany,

Thanks for sharing. I do the same thing as you do with the meat and vegetables. I go to a local market and buy produce and meat. When I'm working full-time, I just don't have the time to be stopping at a zillion stores to buy their loss leader items, free with rebates, and etc. . . So, keeping the shopping to just a few stores is a time saver for me. In the past, I haven't used Wal-Mart as one of my top 3 places to shop.

I think sticking to 3 main stores will make a difference. So, for me, it will be: Wal-Mart, a local meat and produce market, and either Kroger or Meijer.

**homesteadmamma** · 08-04-2005, 01:11 PM

I don't like Walmart so has much as possible stay out of their stores. I also found that Superstore is cheaper than Walmart.

Make sure you have a pricebook when you go in. The prices always look good. If you take a closer look though you might just find better prices elsewhere.

**QuilterMom** · 08-04-2005, 01:58 PM

I shop at WalMart very little. They do carry a few organic items, but recently stopped carrying the organic cheese we use. They were by far the cheapest place to purchase it so our grocery budget will take a big hit as a result. As far as other organic items though, I can find them cheaper on sale at one local grocery store and the health food store so I just stock up at sale time.

The only other things I tend to buy at WM are the adult toothpaste we use and the deodorant we use. Both are cheaper there than at the health food store. Otherwise, I don't find WM to be such a bargain. I can do better elsewhere.

**Missy** · 08-04-2005, 02:19 PM

I shop there all the time, for just about everything. I like the "everything under one roof" convienience, and the prices are just about the best around. It also helps that they are not even a mile from the house, so i can get there with a van full of kids easily.

**mom22grls** · 08-04-2005, 02:26 PM

I mostly shop at walmart superstore. They're the cheapest around here & they price match compediter's ads. I like to get it all done in one place.

I DON'T like their produce....it's terrible! Lettuce is always yucky inside...potatos only last a few days and they're green......onions are rotten inside........yuck! If I get to a different local store, that's where I get fresh produce.

Their meat is expensive & not the greatest quality, either.

H&B, cleaning, and most groceries are cheaper there. Plus, I can get socks, gifts, paper products, school supplies, etc while I'm getting groceries.

Of course, sometimes that's not such a good thing.

**YankeeMom** · 08-04-2005, 02:51 PM

I hate Walmart

Add to that we only have a regular Walmart (supercenter coming this fall). I avoid that place like the plague. I'd say we probably go there once or twice a month...but not for anything in particular. Dh likes to look for Hot Wheels there...

**tnmimzie** · 08-04-2005, 03:13 PM

I try to stick to one Wal-Mart trip a month, less if we can get away with it. We buy our 2L soda, baking soda, vinegar, napkins, laundry and dishwasher detergent, motor oil, oil filters and sometimes my husband's deodorant there. I've noticed lately that they've been raising prices in the grocery department, so we just stick to the items that are always cheaper there. Almost everything else we get at Kroger with double coupons.

**immy4950** · 08-04-2005, 04:00 PM

We don't have a Walmart superstore near us, but we do have a regular Walmart not too far away.

My mom and I don't go that often. We usually go when we have a purchase that will probably be cheaper there. It isn't always.

i think i place like walmart is one of those impulse buy places. It seems like everything is so cheap so u buy it and more of it there u need.

Not to mention that i don't like how Walmart has taken away the small businesses of America and use Foreign labor so things are cheaper, thereby limiting the competition.

We don't have the large food market in our Walmart, but they sell a lot of junk food, and recently put in a frozen section full of forzen convience foods. Being that it's cheaper it just tempts more people to buy it, and more of it. Chips, Soda, Candy, frozen dinners...

But i do like getting stationary suppiles as well as hair care and other personal suppies there. I don't like the clothes as they aren't very well made, and don't seem to last long.

i like Target better

**SHOPGIRL** · 08-04-2005, 04:08 PM

I agree. I do like Target better than Wal-mart. I'm really looking at Wal-mart as a place to buy paper products, cleaning supplies, and some grocery items. That's what I'm curious about; is Wal-Mart a better value than most places.

**dndylfe** · 08-04-2005, 04:11 PM

The only thing we buy at Walmart is dh's deodarant---he only likes clear stick and they only carry it there. We used to buy our diapers there, but cloth has saved us from visiting Wallyworld.

Anytime we visit a store that big (especially like Home Depot), dh and I always joke about it raining over in housewares.

**karnic3881** · 08-04-2005, 04:17 PM

I do my filler food shopping there - soda, juice, tunafish, pasta, pudding, snacks, cat food, house items, etc. It is cheaper and it saves me money - got 48 items for $45 recently... all stuff we needed. Then I go regular food shopping.

**woreoutmommy** · 08-04-2005, 05:07 PM

It's OK, but I have found that their price matching isn't all that, They will not break down 3 for $5.00 or 2 for $3.00 or such ( even if you break it down for them) Produce last 1/2 the time as elsewhere. I find if I shop the Kroger sale paper and use my coupons ( they double up to .55c) I come out better @ Kroger than at Wal-mart. I go look around in the clearance sections every so often, when it is time to have the oil changed in the Van or the truck, but other than that not too much. I will admit to getting all the kids school supplies there this year cause they were cheaper than I have seen any where in years on everything we needed.
It is alright for Paper good and certain things. But groceries are far better just about any place in my opinion.

Just my 2c worth

woreoutmommy