What’s your grocery shopping style?
I’ve been thinking about my own ever since Holly initiated a Grocery Challenge for the month of May. I love a lot of her ideas, and am going to do my own variation for this month since the two goals I set are longshots at best. My version is going to be more about coupon clipping and keeping an eye out for sale items – more to come on this another day.
I grocery shop every day since Valumart is right across the street, and I love fresh produce, so pick up my greens and fruits daily. When it comes to dry goods, I am a hoarder of staples, a buyer of multiples. Need proof? Oh ho ho, let me show the ways…
my favourite pb is on sale fro $3.49 from $5.49, so yes, i now have six in my inventory
i only recently discovered that valumart carries s'bux coffee! it's currently on sale $3.99 for 8 sachets vs $11.95 for 12 pacs AT s'bux; that's half the price!
stevia: it's hit and miss as to whether it will be in stock at the health food store; NEED stevia for coffee, thus NEED stevia stashed!
you can never have too much tp around here...my fave brand was on sale the last few weeks for $6.99 from $9.99 - score!
i generally CLEAN GREEN with lotsa white vinegar; however, toilet bowls require heavy artillery cleansers, in my book
tangent: of course, i always have a running shoe stash, too! (had to throw that in here!)
The benefits of shopping this way? I never have to worry that there’s no peanut butter for my apples or oatmeal. And obviously, I am saving money over paying full price ($2 here, $2 there = a coffee out here, a Perrier out there…).
The downsides? Storage space in the Condo Casa is at a premium (hence the messy coffee shelf), and the grocery bill gets unfairly inflated (4 x $3.49 PB + umpteen Starbucks coffee pacs DOES add up).
What’s your style when it comes to stocking goods with no expiry date? At least I know I am not alone in my stashing ways: Gina has the best story – last summer she totally loaded up on cereal. Want to know why?! – here’s her story!
A couple photos as a sneak peak…
nice work, g!!!
Any SPECIFIC food you are prone to really stocking? Cereal is certainly one for me!
Comments
can i just tell you how glad i am that this post was not about mustaches? phew!
no, that was this post!
http://1970kikiproject.wordpress.com/2010/11/15/my-favourite-mr-movember/
If one of my staple items is on sale, I buy SO MANY! Things that come to mind: Almond Breeze almond milk, hummus, favorite brands of organic canned beans, and every now and then Sunflower Market put their dried mango on sale and I can’t resist buying a million. I also stock up on Kombucha and Larabars when they are on sale. And we do the same with toilet paper. Billy also buys toothpaste and mouthwash in bulk.
yes! almond breeze – that was recently on sale here…i didn’t show it because i only bought two (silly!) – not that impressive a stash! good call to stock up on the larabars – they can be a little on the steep side. looks like you’ve got grocery goods covered and billy has the drugstore side taken care of! nice partnership!
I don’t tend to stock up on one item…but I will have many different varieties of something because I keep wanting to try them (like my 50! teas). On the other hand, I just bought two years’ worth (2 bottles with 365 each) of multivitamins because it was buy one get one free!
Love your vitamin example! Great deal!
You and tea = me and cereal! Exactly!
Stashes? Me? Yep! I have enough toothpaste, body lotion, shower gel and shampoo to last through retirement. I match coupons up with sales and get the stuff for little or nothing and therefore can’t resist. Every six months or so I pack up a bunch and take it to the homeless shelter. They can always use the supplies.
haha! love your stash list, johanna! so the drugstore is your weak point, eh!?! marvelous philanthropy with your donations to the homeless shelter – i really commend you for that act of kindness.
I can (obviously)) totally relate to buying loads of food/household products when they’re on sale! Jeff and I always have running shoes in boxes in our closets from really good sales, too! And pb is another staple stock-up item when on sale – Costco is the best! BTW, Costco has your Starbucks Via – 24 packets for ??? (can’t quite remember, but cheap!)
i wondered if you guys are costco members…i am not, but am aware that they have MAJOR deals on SO many items. thanks for the tip re my “via” packs at a good price there…and some of my running friends have picked up the CUTEST running clothes…i really need someone to adopt me and let me tag along! (or maybe not…$500 later, cathy exits costco…)
Cathy you are hilarious! When you see a deal you have to grab it!
I really don’t think there are certain foods that I stock up and stash — although we always have plenty of nut butter and canned/boxed soups — I don’t know why, probably because when they go on sale I buy too much!
we are the queens of the nut butter stashes, then!
the problem is knowing HOW MUCH is “enough!” should i get a couple more?? even more??!