shopping during a pandemic
By Kelli M
@spiderdust (14756)
San Jose, California
April 4, 2020 10:25pm CST
Our tax money came in today and the other half wanted to stock up on groceries so we won't have to go back out for a couple of weeks. I wanted to make the trip worthwhile, but I only wanted to go to one store and not one that was very crowded. He wanted to go to Costco, which I suspected wasn't going to be our best choice... and I was right. The parking lot was VERY crowded and there was a long line of people waiting to go in, most of them not standing 6 feet away from each other. 
We didn't stop there, and instead went to a store that largely supplies restaurants and other foodservice industries.
I wanted to make sure we had enough flour (for breadmaking), sugar, rice, pasta, and tomato products to last us for about a month. This place sells things like that in 25 lb. sacks, so that was easily done. I also got some "morale boosting" items like instant chocolate pudding, cake mix, brownie mix, a bottle of sugar-free caramel syrup for flavoring my coffee (quarantine means no Starbucks!), and a 3 lb bag of nacho flavored tortilla chips (hidden away upstairs for now).
Other than milk and eggs, I can definitely avoid shopping for a while. I can even avoid going for milk and eggs for a bit, as I have both canned and powdered milk to help stretch our fresh milk.
Of course, I'm quite tired now, but our larders are full.
We didn't stop there, and instead went to a store that largely supplies restaurants and other foodservice industries.
I wanted to make sure we had enough flour (for breadmaking), sugar, rice, pasta, and tomato products to last us for about a month. This place sells things like that in 25 lb. sacks, so that was easily done. I also got some "morale boosting" items like instant chocolate pudding, cake mix, brownie mix, a bottle of sugar-free caramel syrup for flavoring my coffee (quarantine means no Starbucks!), and a 3 lb bag of nacho flavored tortilla chips (hidden away upstairs for now).
Other than milk and eggs, I can definitely avoid shopping for a while. I can even avoid going for milk and eggs for a bit, as I have both canned and powdered milk to help stretch our fresh milk.
Of course, I'm quite tired now, but our larders are full.12 people like this
12 responses
@Lushlala (4028)
• Gaborone, Botswana
6 Apr 20
@spiderdust I bet! Way too many people. Plus, it would probably have taken you forever to be served because of the social distancing.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
16 Apr 20
@Lushlala By the way... did I know you on Chatabout, back when it was still around?
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
5 Apr 20
Yeah, I don't think the Costco lines would have been safe for our health. They likely would have been out of most of the things I needed too.
1 person likes this
@thislittlepennyearns (68198)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
10 Apr 20
If this stimulus money comes through next week, I am going to have a large Walmart order ready to roll, so that I can place it and we can pick it up.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
10 Apr 20
I haven't been able to find a grocery pick up slot from there in weeks!
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
12 Apr 20
@thislittlepennyearns They have delivery in our area (it's not free), but there are no spots still.
@thislittlepennyearns (68198)
• Defuniak Springs, Florida
12 Apr 20
@spiderdust I tried last week and there were no spots till this week. I wish they'd deliver
@LadyDuck (502190)
• Italy
6 Apr 20
@spiderdust I also have a big bag of cocoa to prepare cakes.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
5 Apr 20
I probably don't have enough chocolate, but we did buy baking cocoa. I can at least bake chocolatey things.
1 person likes this
@Tampa_girl7 (54714)
• United States
11 Apr 20
I’m glad that you were able to stock up on everything.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
11 Apr 20
So am I. I hate that we're having so many pasta meals right now, but it's easier to store longterm.
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
21 Apr 20
@spiderdust
During this time it is very exhausting to grocery shop. It is not like normal. I walk a ways to go to a store that the guard knows what to do at this time and people would stand outside mostly as they should. The other places they do not seem to care to follow the rules.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (130150)
• Israel
22 Apr 20
@spiderdust
Kelli, you are so so right. I hate going out these days. I do not like the other grocery stores and have more respect for the guard at this store further away. I have to check something by there anyway.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
22 Apr 20
@Hannihar Since I've gone back to work, it's a little bit easier to make sure I have what I need, but it still takes a long time. Thankfully my store is one of the ones that is super diligent about keeping everyone safe, including the customers.
1 person likes this
@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
21 Apr 20
It feels like it takes twice as long and is more expensive too.
1 person likes this
@louievill (28846)
• Philippines
5 Apr 20
Get what you need and get outta there as quick as possible is the name of the game
I'm glad you got all the things you needed.
I'm glad you got all the things you needed.@spiderdust (14756)
• San Jose, California
5 Apr 20
Of course now that I'm home, I keep thinking of things I wish I had gotten. Oh, well! I got everything that was necessary. I might be able to order the other things from Amazon.
1 person likes this
@amitkokiladitya (171988)
• Agra, India
5 Apr 20
Step out and buy anything only if you really need it
@happylife1 (13403)
• Karachi, Pakistan
5 Apr 20
i avoid going outside now a days
1 person likes this
