Do you shop at various grocery stores to get the bargains?

Grocery Shopping - often a frantic rush
United States
January 16, 2007 4:35pm CST
Many people will shop at 3 or 4 different grocery stores to get just what's on sale. Sometimes I'll do this if I have the time, but usually I pick the one that has the best sales for me and stick with that one. I try not to buy anything not on sale unless I have a coupon or absolutely need it, especially if I can get it at my regular discount grocer for less. Do you shop at different stores for each of their sales that week?
14 people like this
96 responses
@totnakish (141)
• Philippines
17 Jan 07
Hey! But you shouldn't do it coz transportation fees are high, and you can get bargains just in one store in your nearest area, gasolines are high now!!am i right??
3 people like this
• United States
17 Jan 07
All of my stores are within a very short distance of each other. Our gas is also a little lower and we tend to shop in a group of us, my parents and I or my sister and I. So for us it does make sense.
• Ireland
16 Jan 07
Most days, I will shop for bargains but I do it all on different days. One day, I would go for toiletries, and another day, I would go to the butchers. If I run short of anything that I need in a hurry, then I would just go to the little grocery shop in the village.
@Bev1986 (1425)
• United States
16 Jan 07
I do almost all of my shopping at Walmart. They will price match, so if there is a sale on something at another grocery store, they will give it to you at that price. I do however buy my fruit at a local grocery store because it is always much more fresh than the Walmart fruit.
• United States
17 Jan 07
Oddly, I rarely shop at WalMart, even with the price matching. I don't care for their store for some reason and most of the time I do agree, their produce really sucks! So I tend to shop at various stores through the week to grab the sales at each of the stores.
@zeloguy (4911)
• United States
17 Jan 07
Yes the store is called Wal-Mart. They have the lowest (regular) prices anywhere (they have secret shoppers that go out twice a week to make SURE) and on top of that they will price match if you DO find a better price and they take competitors coupons. The only way you can get a better deal is 1. shop at Costco/SAMs/etc... and pay a yearly fee 2. get double/triple coupons off things you ususually use (Walmart will not honor these)
• United States
17 Jan 07
I do not usually shop at 2 or more stores i go to just one store for the meats vegies and things on tht order but I go to a bread store for my supply of bread
2 people like this
• United States
17 Jan 07
No, I don't. Really don't need to. I just go stop by the mexican food market and shop. Or I go to Foodmaxx. Everything is really cheap. I can fill my whole cart full of groceries and it will only be $100 for the full cart most of the time. I don't need coupons or any of that, plus I don't like making more trips then I need to. My mom is usually the one who gives me a ride to the store anyways. lol.
1 person likes this
@seewhy (231)
• Australia
16 Jan 07
I shop at just one supermarket as I like the convenience of getting everything in one place. With the cost of petrol I can't justify driving to many different places. The supermarket I shop at though has good prices and variety and they always have weekly specials which save me a lot.
• Philippines
17 Jan 07
I'm very particular when it comes to sale. I would go to different groceries just to check what's on sale & buy tons of items on sale, esp. when i use the product. Most items on sale are near expiration date, slow-moving, old packaging or out of fashion. Even so, i still buy it because i love the thought of getting savings. Don't you love the thought that others cannot even get an item for a dollar but you can get a lot from it. It's just maximizing the buying power of your money. It's not bad, but we always have to be careful not to go over the budget even if it's on sale. Also, ask yourself if you're gonna use it really. & most especially, what's the expiration date...you don't want to hoard something that half of it will only be a waste... Goodluck to you & happy bargain hunting.
@sunrisekn (1466)
• United States
17 Jan 07
It depends on how good the sales are. I've been known to go to 3 different stores to get the best deal. Sometimes you have to do that when you live on one paycheck. I sometimes just go to Wal-Mart and they will price match, but that's when I feel like wading through the tourists.
@milott (2646)
• India
17 Jan 07
Yes, I do shop at different shops for bargains for different products. I have a list of shops which offer bargains for specified products. I buy those products only from those stores and not others. There are some shops where you would get bargain from your total purchases if you buy some branded items in you purchase, so I also look for that kind of sale going on. The first thing I look out when I enter the store is their brochures or booklets where they will list all their discounts and offers and buy accordingly and plan that way. This way I could save some extra bucks every month. Other way to look for bargains is to sign up for their email newsletters they offer in their sites, in which they will send you weekly or monthly mails explaining their offers.
@BittyBiddy (2903)
• Ireland
21 Jan 07
I wouldn't have the time to be shopping at several stores. I buy my meat separately from my groceries because I buy it at a local butchers, but that's about it. Some weeks I'll do my shopping by the day and go to the local store, but other weeks I'll do a weekly shop and shop a couple of miles away. So, I only pick up what's on special offer while I'm there. As for coupons, they go missing on me more often than not.
1 person likes this
• United States
22 Jan 07
I always get all organized, I'm GONNA use coupons, get them gathered, take them with me, get 99% through the store and go... I FORGOT THE COUPONS! lol So I just gave up on those. I used to save a TON of money using them though!
@killj0y (618)
• United States
18 Jan 07
I do all my shopping for things like household cleaners, caned foods, junk food, and juices at dollar tree because, hey, it's a dollar! and i'm very frugal. I also ocassionally go to piggly wiggly on days that they have eggs for 29 cents.
• United States
18 Jan 07
Dollar Tree's cleaning items ROCK! Also, some of their food items aren't bad either and their Little Debbie snacks are a buck as opposed to the normal $1.29 and such for a lot of them elsewhere. I love Dollar Tree!
@tams85 (30)
• Canada
16 Jan 07
Right now I don't have a car, and so i walk to the grocery store. This doesn't allow me to shop around at various stores, I have to buy everything at the store that's closest to me. When I go to my parent's however, I see my dad going to different stores, because they have good deals on things they use often.
@blueskies (1186)
• United States
16 Jan 07
It really depends on how I'm feeling and how much time I have that week. I do all my shopping on Fridays, so if I'm not feeling well, or if I have a lot of appointments I will generally just get everything that I can at Wal-Mart and Aldi. Those 2 stores usually have everything that I need for the lowest prices. If I've had the time earlier in the week to match my coupons to the sales, I'll shop at the local grocery chains. When I have the time to coupon I save tons of money.
• United States
17 Jan 07
Absolutely! For instance, paper products, cleaning supplies and hygeine products are always more expensive at the grocery store than they are at Walmart or somewhere like that. The same usually goes for meat and produce. You can get better quality meat for less at a specialty store and here in Florida, there are produce stands on just about every corner. The food there is more fresh and it's cheap! Ya gotta shop around to save money, I say.
1 person likes this
• United States
18 Jan 07
I agree. You may as well get the best for your buck!
• Pakistan
17 Jan 07
nice discussion topic but ihave no idea about it
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jan 07
Then don't respond.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jan 07
Unfortunately, for me, I really do not get the time. My children, both on the "autism spectrum" receive a lot of therapy and schoooling. So, their schedules are very busy = a busy schedule for me too. So, I usually one stop shop at the super Wal-mart.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jan 07
Wow, you do have a lot on your plate! Good luck to you!
@Bytemi (1553)
• United States
17 Jan 07
Honestly I do all my grocery shopping online that way I can shop only the sale items. On average between coupons and sale items I save at least 50 dollars and it is delivered to my door. It is nice, I always have the same guy deliver and we know each other well and he alway brings surprises for the kids.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jan 07
What do you do for frozen foods, dairy foods, etc. Do they ship those types of food too? I think I could enjoy shopping online too if the prices were right and they delivered! lol
@maru_047in (1007)
• India
18 Jan 07
No i ll not do with the grocery but if any other item leaving grocery i ll definitely bargain with that i dont think so their is nothing to bargain with in the grocery stores cause it ll not b much expensive.
@ronita34 (3922)
• Canada
18 Jan 07
I normally just stick between Wal Mart , iGA and Sobeys at least for my groceries and stuff. I don't like to waste my time looking and shopping around i just like to get it over and done with
18 Jan 07
No, I just go to one store. I can't see driving all over town to save a few pennies. Besides you will use up your savings by wasting all that gas. I shop in the superstores so everything is all in one store.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jan 07
I'm weird in that I love grocery shopping. I usually shop at 3 or 4 different stores, depending on the sales, when I'm going to be in that neighborhood for errands anyway, etc.. Some stores don't carry what I want and I have to make a special trip to one farther away, but that's always combined with other trips and errands. If I had a Whole Foods market near me, I could do everything at once but alas, I don't.
1 person likes this
• United States
17 Jan 07
It's not weird at all. I would prefer shopping for my groceries over clothes and goods any day! LOL If it were up to me I'd never enter any stores other than a grocery, but I love to cook too so that helps. I love our Whole Foods store and find a ton of great items for great prices. Our bulk spices alone save me TONS!