How do you grocery shop?

[Exterous]

We make a menu for the week and then list out everything we need. Once we hit the grocery store it's fairly methodical and we don't usually end up with anything extra. Went shopping with a couple other people and it was pretty much the exact opposite. So just kinda curious how others grocery shop

 

[WelshBloke]

Do the big weekly shop online for tins and packages and that leaves time free for shopping at proper butchers and farm shops for fresh meat and veggies.

 

[lxskllr]

I walk in and buy stuff that looks interesting. I don't plan meals ahead. I don't know what I want til I want it. Work lunch is mostly fixed. Some kind of canned fish I have a huge stock of, pretzels I buy online, an apple, orange(s), nuts with or without dried fruit, and hand friendly vegetables. I occasionally do something different, but that's the standard lunch.

 

[biostud]

I do a list on paper, and do not plan ahead more than one day. My work and shops are within 800m of my home, so I have no transport time, which is very nice.

 

[Lost_in_the_HTTP]

General list of staples, scan ads for specials, wander through store aimlessly picking and grabbing whatever looks interesting.

Once a month or so.

 

[pete6032]

Weekly menu -> grocery list. If I forget something, the store is within walking distance.

 

[Brainonska511]

Make a list of weekly staples, then consider options for cooking and add needed ingredients to list, then scan flyer and online store coupons for specials on any staples or ingredients to consider for dinner recipes to make them a better deal, or other things that might need refilling in another week and buy it early.

1 list, 1 store, and generally no more than once a week, unless something randomly ran out. (For reference, also only shopping for myself and my spouse).

 

[brianmanahan]

i go to aldi's and and buy the same 10 things i always get

 

[quikah]

Completely random aside from staples running out. I usually think of something to make then go to the store to get whatever I need for that thing. It helps that grocery stores are <1 mile from me, and I pass several on the way to/from work so frequent trips are not a bother to me. Also, sometime I just go and buy something that is on sale and make something from that.

 

[Red Squirrel]

I tend to go as needed and buy whatever I need or if I see something I want. Maybe like every 2 weeks or so. It's not really planned. I always make sure to have enough frozen and canned stuff in the house, so I'm not really living on the edge either though.

 

[DAPUNISHER]

As with PC parts I source multiple vendors. Publix, I go online and check the weekly sales flyer and BOGOs. Then put in my deli order for pickup. Boar's Head FTMFW. I will link a few of my favorites. If you have not had these, they make amazeball sammiches.
https://www.publix.com/pd/boars-head-blackened-turkey-breast/RIO-DSM-100299?origin=collections34

https://www.publix.com/pd/boars-head-bold-jerk-turkey-breast/RIO-DSM-100295?origin=collections12

https://www.publix.com/pd/boars-head-3-pepper-colby-jack-cheese/RIO-DSC-100260?origin=collections15

We know everything we are getting beforehand aka the list.

Sam's, I order some items online with free shipping. Others we go in store for. There are staples we always get, but we peruse and try new things that are not on the list.

Aldi has a few things I like too. The real German beer, varieties of their seasonal German sausages, and the best prices on some name brand items they carry. Some of the produce too. But you have to act like you aren't an American and use it that day or the next. Their stuff is always on its last couple of days of shelf life. Never have a list here.

 

[repoman0]

I shop frequently, a few times per week for one or two days worth of meals. Keeps the planning and shopping quick and easy and both Wegman’s and Whole Foods are a walk or short drive away. Stick to the edges of the store — produce, meat and dairy only for the most part. We create very little to no food waste by only buying what we need and not trying to stock up for a week or more.

 

[Torn Mind]

Things not on sale are not bought.

 

[[DHT]Osiris]

Nonperishables are mostly purchased in bulk online, otherwise lists are made in order of our cycle around the store, and we very rarely buy things not on the list. Shopping is done maybe 2 time a week, only a few meals at a time so stuff isn't rotting when we need it.

We cook almost every meal so most of our shopping is on the outside edge of the store.

 

[Dr. Detroit]

90% of meals are prepared at home, rarely eat out
Review weekly ads
Make list for 2-3 stores
Hit the Viet market for veggies
Hit the Mexican market for meats/veggies
Hit WalMart Neighborhood Market & Costco for staples
Browse Grocery Outlet

 

[Exterous]

Well more power to you hoards of zombies ambling aimlessly down the aisles but that sounds terrible. I prefer a fast and efficient trip

 

[Greenman]

I don't shop, I have people for that.

 

[pcgeek11]

My wife says she is going shopping for groceries and asks if I want her to pick up anything. I tell her what I want and it magically appears in the cupboard, refrigerator or freezer as required.

I do occasionally go with her and push the shopping cart around. I gotta do my part.

 

[Captante]

I have a "list" of stuff that I buy every week that I keep in my head and the rest is just "winging it".... I choose my weeks meals based on what I'm in the mood for combined with what's on sale. (and my budget!)

Note that most days I only eat two major meals (breakfast/dinner) with healthy no-sugar snacks in between and breakfast is nearly always the same foods so dinner (and treats!) are the only real "variables".

 

[MtnMan]

Grab a cart, head for the craft beer section to stock up, then pull out the list the wife sent me for and wander around trying to find it, cause they probably fricking moved it from the last time I found it. Pick the checkout with the cutest checker, pay and leave.

 

[GodisanAtheist]

We tend to do one big shopping run for kids lunches a week, as well as our Saturday and Sunday dinners which tend to be more fun a d time consuming.

Two weekly dinners are handled by Blue Apron.

The remaining three weekly dinners generally involve me stopping at our small box grocer and grabbing a pre-marinated meat + veggie + starch for dinner on my way home from work. Dinner for 4 usually runs about $40, is clean and healthy, and usually bake-able so low time commitment.

 

[Iron Woode]

I check to see what is on sale and if I need it. I go shopping once or twice a month. I buy bulk meat and freeze what I need for later. I buy both fresh and frozen veggies as needed. I buy rice (par boiled) and pasta. I also buy bulk large flake oats for breakfast.

I make meals that last at least 4 days. I don't waste money on sodas or snacks except once in a while as a treat.

I live on a fixed income now, so money is tight.

 

[Muse]

We make a menu for the week and then list out everything we need. Once we hit the grocery store it's fairly methodical and we don't usually end up with anything extra. Went shopping with a couple other people and it was pretty much the exact opposite. So just kinda curious how others grocery shop

I keep a list in the kitchen divided between my 3 usual sources, Costco, Trader Joe's and close-by indy supermarket that specializes in produce. Before my every few weeks costco-trader_joe's run I enter from that list into the data table I use for my trips then print out the report and circle anything I don't want to miss.

I usually stick to the list. I get some stuff online occasionally, mostly from Amazon. I ordered some Mexican oregano a few weeks ago off ebay. Best deal around and that indy supermarket didn't have it anymore. There's a few things I get from Walmart online. I virtually always get free shipping when I order online, including Amazon (am not on Prime), Walmart and Ebay.

I get 95% of my stuff locally. Oh, and I grow a few things in my yard in the warmer part of the year - tomatoes, kabocha squash, some herbs.

 

[IronWing]

"I'm at the store, what do you want?"
"Cheezy Puffs!"
"Okay."

I'm good for another week.

 

[IronWing]

90% of meals are prepared at home, rarely eat out
Review weekly ads
Make list for 2-3 stores
Hit the Viet market for veggies
Hit the Mexican market for meats/veggies
Hit WalMart Neighborhood Market & Costco for staples
Browse Grocery Outlet

^ This is us, two middle eastern groceries, Mexican grocery, food coop, Sprouts, Walmart, and Kroger (only when they are the only source for something). We hit the various grocery stores when we happen to be in the part of town where each store is located so we don't have a " grocery shopping day".