Do any of the rest of you all, shop for supplies once a month

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Friday, we went into the big city, about 120 miles round trip, to buy all our supplies for month. Our little town is far to exspencive to buy grocerys here. We buy our drugs, and such at wally world, then on to vitamin store, then to sams wholesale, then to feed store for animal food, by now the back end of car is beginning to sink. We stop and have lunch, then go to mall for books or foolish things. Then last stop is a fresh fish market, We always carry a huge ice chest with us, By now its getting late, and we are pooped. Its home, and by the time we lug everything into the house, its dark. Now we have to feed barn animals, And five dogs and twenty five cats are stareing at me. Get them all fed, and the things put away, I flop into a chair, I wonder if we are nuts to do it all in one day, But the next day, I know I only have to get milk, from little store the rest of month. And my time is free to do what I want.

-- Irene texas (tkorsborn@cs.com), March 17, 2002

Answers

I do my major shopping of things about once a month----but do small things more often---hubby commutes to work each day---so he often stops & picks up specials that are on sale in the bigger stores---we do buy a few things in the smaller store that is just a few miles from us----as I don't want them to close & they need my support---as they can't compete with the large stores!!! And the community is small enough with out loosing a store that is with in 10 miles of us!!! If we keep loosing small stores we won't have any small communities left--they will all be ghost towns!!

I go to the bulk store about twice to three times a year for my big items & spices & those type of things---if they were not sooo far away I'd go there more often!!

Also I find it easier to not have all the expense at one time---each month-- plus I can buy the sale things that are featured each week in the larger stores /if I shop some things each week---which is a bigger saveings for me--as we were in town any way--when hubby comutes--

I don't like to be soooo worn out & be able to look more & enjoy the experience instead of haveing sooooo much to do at one time---if shopping only once a month---

When I was growing up we went to town once a month----but we enjoy being able to see people/ we know & visit & do other things instead of trying to do it all in one day a month!!

It is what ever works best for yourself!!!

-- Sonda in Ks. (sgbruce@birch.net), March 17, 2002.


We shop once a month on 160 mile round trip. I take a 1 ton van and it is quite full when I get home. Bread store, feed store, farm co- op, Costco, WalMart, Marketplace. If we have a little extra time, we choose one extra store to go in. A thrift store, or tack store.

The nearest mall is a bit over 3 hours away. It's been over a year since I've been there. We do shop online at discount outlets and it is nice having stuff delivered right to my door.

I would hate to waste my time shopping every day or even once a week. My goal is to not have to go but twice a year.

-- Laura (LadybugWrangler@somewhere.com), March 17, 2002.


Where I do most of my big shopping is only 30 miles away and since I usually have to go there for other things anyway, dr. etc., I usually shop there twice a month. Trying to do it all once a month, would wear me out too. Krogers just recently offered a 10% discount for seniors over 60 with their card on the first Wednesday of the month, and as I just turned 60, I will be doing most of my kroger shopping only once a month now to take advantage of that 10% discount. I guess there are advantages to getting older!

-- Barb in ky. (bjconthefarm@yahoo.com), March 17, 2002.

I do go once a week. It seems to fit my routine, and I actually don't mind. I like to get out and bargain hunt, and look around the stores. I live about 12 miles from town, and I usually visit my grandmother, my Mom, go to the bank, feed store, and several grocery stores as well as Wal-mart, the Dollar Tree, Gabriels, or K-mart. I don't go to all of them each week! It usually takes me about 3-4 hours from the time I leave until I get home. But many times it is less, it just depends on how much I need. I don't buy anything on- line or through catalogs. I like to see what I purchase!

-- Melissa in SE Ohio (me@home.net), March 17, 2002.

While I live in the city it is easier for me to get to stores than most of you but it seems I still only go to the grocery store once a month. I will go just to tag along when my friend Heather goes clothes shopping. I have been putting things in layaway one month then going to get it out the next month. Kmart has really good summer clothing sales on right now. I was able to get 20 kids outfits for $129.00.

-- Melinda (speciallady103@hotmail.com), March 18, 2002.


I used to always shop once a month. We lived 3 hours from the nearest store so there really wasn't any alternative. It did make for a long day, especially as we were up milking cows from 4-7 a.m., and had to be back from town to milk again from 4-7 p.m.!! We had our own beef, fish, milk, and eggs, plus a garden, so didn't have to deal with purchasing that stuff. Then we moved to another state, and had a cattle ranch. I shopped the same way there, and it was even easier as in addition to all the above, we also had an apple orchard, walnut orchard, a few pear and cherry trees and tons of strawberries and blackberries. I preferred doing the once a month shopping as I had it all done in one day and never varied more than $10 a month on my grocery bill. Also, my shopping list was almost identical each month which saved a lot of time and effort. :)

I wish I could still shop that way, but physically could not do it now. Also, I have built up my pantry to the point where most of the time I don't buy much except sales and loss leaders. Which means going to the store at least weekly. We are fortunate in that we only live a few miles out of town and I combine the trips with other errands like going for feed, trips to the library, etc. Dh also picks up items on his way home. It is hard to not buy extra stuff though when you're running in the store frequently. I try very hard not to buy anything not on my list unless it's an unadvertised special that is a substantial savings on something I use often. I LIKED once a month buying, wish I could go back to those days. It gave me more free time at home, and I remember it as being part of the "unhurried" lifestyle we used to have. We usually buy our feed (grain) weekly, and recently decided to start buying it only once a month.

-- Lenette in OR (kigervixen@webtv.net), March 18, 2002.


I buy bulk about 5 times a year at Sams which is about an hour away and also purchase from a natural food coop, once a month. The rest of groceries I usually get once a week at a little store 5 miles away and bigger store, 20 miles away. We have our own beef, pork (from the neighbor), eggs,sweet corn,tomatoes, and other garden produce in the freezer. I don't think we'd ever go hungry if we couldn't make it to the store. I really try to make everything we eat from scratch. Although we do enjoy eating at our favorite restaurants which would be authentic Mexican and Chinese. We do eat out about once a week, but I love to cook and treat my kids and grandkids with gourmet meals. My meals are simple but I like to use the best ingredients available, which are from the farm. I don't spend very much on groceries. Marilyn in CO

-- Marilyn in CO (www.tomeatbeef@aol.com), March 18, 2002.

I go grocery shopping and to Wal-Mart and the Dollar store, once a month. I go to Sams for the bigger buld items every 3 months. I love my system. I do how ever have to have family pick up 4 gallons of milk every week!! I usually make up my menu for the month and go through the cabnets . I also keep a list in the bath and in the pantry so when I am low I just add it to the list.

-- Micheale from SE Kansas (mbfrye@totelcsi.net), March 18, 2002.

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