How many stores do you shop at?

Ami · **How many stores do you shop at?**

I'm new. Sorry if I chose the wrong forum for my question.

My husband says that since our oldest is in school all day I can now take the other two and shop for bargains...
Take a shopping list from Save-a-Lot to the dollar store and finally to walmart and go down the list picking things up the cheapest I can.
My thoughts: I do a pretty good job taking my 3-year-old to walmart one morning a week while the baby is at Grandma's getting everything we need. Keeping a mental list of what's cheapest where would drive me bonkers. What if for dinner I need five things, two of which are still sitting at walmart because I couldn't get my kids out of the dollar store in time to pick up my oldest from school?

I overthink and analyze everything so I need some input because I'm very biased here. Does he have a point?

Does anyone store-hop, and how do you make it work? Thanks.

periwinkle · 09-04-2007, 01:46 AM

I go to as many as i need to, in order to get the cheapest price on certain things. Some weeks I only go to one, and thats my regular grochery store (meijers). BUT I only have 1 toddler. You really have to take into account if the time, gas money and added stress would make the savings worth it.

stephpook · 09-04-2007, 07:45 AM

I typically go to between 3 and 4 stores on my grocery day (BJ's, an organic grocery store, Weis for general grocery shopping, and if needed, Walmart and/or Target). BUT they are different types of stores. I have a general idea of what is cheaper where and try to stick with that...although it doesn't work every time. I have an almost 2 year old and a 4 year old and by the end of the morning I'm done for. Going to that many stores in one day EVERY WEEK isn't necessarily ideal, but it works for me. They're all fairly close together so I'm not wasting a lot of gas and I can usually finish my shopping in an hour and a half to two hours.

Honestly, if I had a Super Walmart near me, I'd probably be tempted to do most of my shopping there too though

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stacia · 09-04-2007, 08:20 AM

I would think that with the time it takes up, the gas money it cost and the mental frustration, the penny you save wouldn't be worth it. I think there are better things you can do with your time!
I go to Target b/c it's right by my house for diapers and bread, any personal products. Costco for almost everything and Giant or Whole Foods for my produce. That's it. I don't go to every store every week, just when needed. We don't have a superwalmart or supertarget here.

I would bring up the time it would take and ask your dh if he wouldn't rather that time spent on his children, playing with them, teaching them, etc since that IS the reason you stay home!

Spoodler · 09-04-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stacia

I would think that with the time it takes up, the gas money it cost and the mental frustration, the penny you save wouldn't be worth it. I think there are better things you can do with your time!
I go to Target b/c it's right by my house for diapers and bread, any personal products. Costco for almost everything and Giant or Whole Foods for my produce. That's it. I don't go to every store every week, just when needed. We don't have a superwalmart or supertarget here.

I would bring up the time it would take and ask your dh if he wouldn't rather that time spent on his children, playing with them, teaching them, etc since that IS the reason you stay home!

Aaaah! I just hit edit on Stacia's post instead of quote...sorry!

That is what I finally realized about "store hopping". I was spending so much time looking at the ads, cutting coupons, organizing coupons, going from store to store, etc. that It was like a job. Now, it really has to be worth my time to go to more than one store...notice I said TIME, not money. I won't do it for just one or two items.

Happymom · 09-04-2007, 09:26 AM

Once a month I do a big shopping trip hitting Sams and Aldi's (30 miles away) and then HyVee (right in town) and Family dollar (also in town). For quick runs I always go to HyVee. It seems to be working pretty well and since I only do it once a month it is not bad. Last time I took my 4 boys with me and they did really well.

ember15 · 09-04-2007, 10:29 AM

I rotate stores, So I got to several stores over the month, Winco (cheep), trader joes(variety), costco(stocking up), Albertsons(so close I can walk), fred myer(has everything I am looking for). Depending on what I need. It works Its hard enough shopping with a young child. If DH wants me to shop around then hehas to watch DD

mommy&wifeisme · 09-04-2007, 10:46 AM

1. I make a menu up for two weeks, I take an inventory of what I need to get me through two weeks
2. I get the Sunday paper and get my circulars and coupons out for Super fresh, CVS. & walgreens

3. I check the grocerygame.com for what is a good deal and what is free. (this saves time)

4. I make my lists for each store, then i plan my week going to the stores that are on the way to where I am going to save gas. I rarely go to Walmart, or Bj's anymore, cause I stock up on sale item at my regular stores and it ends up being cheaper.

I too have an almost 2 yr old and a 4 yr old and I like to be in and out of the store quickly and I only want to load them up and take them out one day a week usually.

Me&My2girls · 09-04-2007, 11:45 AM

My hubby and I do a once or twice a month shopping trip to Sam's. We get LOTS of things there; paper products, cleaners, snacks, fruits, veggies, canned foods, meats, cheeses, Milk and bread. I have a list of what things cost what and where they are cheaper. I usually go to the grocery store once a week to buy fresh things when I run out of Sam's fresh items that I buy. I look at store adds to find out where the best deals are and will sort of "hop" from store to store, but usually not in the same day. If I get a REALLY good deal, I'll stock up on an item. My favorite stores are HyVee, Sam's and Target. There are times I'll go to walmart, but only if I have to.

Cookie2 · 09-04-2007, 12:04 PM

Leave to a man to think it is easier to shop with 'only' two small children. Okay, in some cases it is easier. For instance, when I get a rare moment to go to the grocery store by myself I find that I wander around relishing the time alone. When I've got DD with me, I want to get in and out as quickly as possible - before she talks me into buying something else!

You wrote: Keeping a mental list of what's cheapest where would drive me bonkers.

I agree, that's why I don't keep a mental list. Instead many of us maintain a price book. I've tried several different methods and I've gotten to the point where I just have one page list of items that I commonly buy plus my target price per unit. If I'm shopping, no matter what store I'm in and find that item at or near the target price, I buy it if I need it. If I find the item BELOW my target price, I stock up then lower the target price to match. Of course, that doesn't happen very often.

I also agree with scanning the weekly sale ads (usually Sunday and Wednesday) then planning my shopping and menu around those. My shopping list is then organized around which store and what items at that store.

It also helps to keep a master list of commonly purchased products. Print out several copies and put one on the frig. When you start running out of something, check off the item on the master list. If you saw an ad that said it was at a great price in a certain store, or if you have a coupon, put an appropriate notation on the master list. Then, before you go shopping, take an inventory. Update the master list as you discover things that you need. That way you won't run out as a surprise. There is nothing more irritating than coming home to find you SHOULD have bought an item.

Lastly, saving at the grocery store is the LAST place I focus on saving. Food is the staff of life. In the long run, I believe it is better for my family physically and psychologically to have great tasting, healthy food that is cooked at home. Instead of cutting back on food, I first concentrate on cutting other areas like cleaning products, utilities, and unnecessary expenditures (a trip to a fast food restaurant because I'm too exhausted to cook or that premium cable TV that we rarely have a chance to watch) and especially shopping for entertainment.