Just wondering

[Syn D]

How many of you include the gas it's going to cost in with what your saving going to different stores for a sale??

I have a friend that use to go to a store at least 15 minutes away to save $2 on an item, that's after she went and did most her shopping at a different store... I finally convinced her she was putting out more in gas than she was saving on that food item..

I have always included how much gas in with a sale or this store has it cheaper item..

[mauimagic]

It's always a good thing to consider traveling expenses when figuring savings for sure. I guess we're fortunate because our shopping area is very close and the bigger stores are on the other side of the island - 45 - 60 minutes away - I always plan for those trips.

[Neeley]

Since I have a CVS, Walgreen's, Rite Aid, Publix and a Winn-Dixie within 1 mile of my house, plus 8 Super Wal-Marts, 4 more Publix, 3 more Winn-Dixies and a Save-a-Lot within 10 miles, no I do not count gas. I use less than a gallon to hit every single store and do not make a trip to the farther away stores for only one item.

[Judi Dial]

My dad talked about his mom sending him across L.A. to save .02 on onions, which he thought was nuts. Mind you, Dad started driving in 1911 and L.A. was a lot smaller then!

Judi

[Spirit Deer]

We always factor that in, the same way we factor in shipping costs when doing any internet shopping. It wouldn't make sense not to, when the round trip to town costs a gallon of gas plus wear and tear on tires, engine, increased frequency of oil changes, etc. Although we usually only factor in the cost of gas, to make things simpler.

We rarely run to town for one item, unless it's a crucial item in the middle of a project that must be done immediately. Sometimes there's just no choice, but those instances are rare.

If we go out of town shopping, it's a MINIMUM 100-mile round trip, more likely 140 miles or 220 miles, plus mileage driven around the towns, which in the case of the larger town, can amount to another fifty or so miles, more if we end up in Wisconsin. So those trips are carefully planned and we avoid them as much as possible. Sometimes it's worth it, even multiple trips out of town in a short time, such as last winter when we had to make four 140 mile round trips to buy our kitchen cabinets. It was cheaper to make those drives than pay delivery, plus we were able to pick up other needed items at other stores while we were there. But the fuel costs were factored into the bottom line when we calculated the final cost of the kitchen remodel, as well as when we started talking about doing the job in the first place and adding up the projected expense.

[RaineyDaye]

I take the cost of the trip into account when there is a no reason for me to go to a store other than picking up a few sale items. One store I used to do my normal shopping at is a 12 mile round trip, so that's about a half a gallon to get there and back. So the savings would have to more than make up for that cost for me to make a special trip.

[thefrug]

I go to another state for groceries. They have no food tax like we do. Also their gas tax is much less than ours here. I drive an economy car ( 36mpg) and the savings from not paying the taxes on things over there more than pays for the gas. I'm not sure what the cut off limit on the price of gas will be for me, to just buy everything here. I haven't decided yet.

[shoiji]

I get a ride to the grocery store each week. Basically that is where I shop. Any other place I might purchase groceries from is in walking distance or I take the bus.

Really I only shop for groceries at one place. I find that what might be on sale one week at a store will be on sale the next week at a different store so I never feel as if I am going to miss out on a good sale.

[peanut]

I sure do! It's $2-3 in transportation costs (gas, maintenance, depreciation, etc. - we figure it out based on everything combined...or did at one time) to go either to the shopping district north or east of us. Only $1-2 to go to the one south of us. Thankfully, the way the city laid everything out, we can get almost everything we want either north or east. South is a problem. They don't have a cheap grocery store.

We have a Safeway within walking distance, but their prices are often 50 cents more or even higher per product. It doesn't take long to make it worth it to get in the car and go.

[Debbie-cat]

I always factor in gas since we live out of town. I plan my trips so I get the most out of each trip.

[Syn D]

Thank you all!! Good to see that a lot more people consider it... I used my friend as an example, but I know many that think their saving, but aren't..

When I worked (Walmart) 15 miles away from home, I always did my shopping before I came home, or had hubby pick things up on his way home.. Wasn't an option to just run to town for milk..

[Ramona]

I'm pretty careful about running errands. I stay in/around town and can shop at two supermarkets, two CVS, three Walgreens and a Rite Aid. Then there's the bank, post office and library.

I start at one end and make a big loop.

[qtkitty]

thefrug~ *lol* cut over to Maryland ? I live close to WV and that is a common occurance.

I do calculate gas, because if I didn't I would be traveling to an Aldies ( 1+ hour drive one way ). I think our local stores prices are crazy. Walmart or foodland thats it. Walmart raised its prices after choking out the other grocery stores in the area.

[Spirit Deer]

I have my husband pick stuff up often, too, since he's in town every day to work. It doesn't make sense for me to drive in to get some little thing when he's already there.

[Judi Dial]

None of our markets are < 30 minutes away, but neither is anything else, so we combine getting groceries with other stuff whenever we can.

In the town 30 mins away there's CVS, Rite Aid, and Shaws. In another direction Rite Aid, Shaws. Two or three towns an hour away or a little more have multiple markets, farmer's markets, etc. although there's a farmer's market in the next town over (5 miles) on Sunday I found out yesterday.

Judi