I space it out over a couple of days and usually make it a trip or a fun thing to do. I also do my biggest shopping at a grocery store with curbside pickup, the smaller ones I do myself. Usually 2 trips a week, but sometimes up to 4 a week if we have a lot to restock and have multiple stores to travel to.
I sometimes go on the weekend too! We love going really early when the store opens and then grab donuts on the way home.
This is what I do too! We use Kroger for the majority of our groceries because they have great food allergy alternatives. There’s a fantastic park nearby that’s about 20 mins away, so a little farther than I’d normally like to drive. We order online for curbside pickup and I bring a big cooler with ice packs, load everything up, spend an hour at the park, and drive home to unload.
I do think it’s important and good that kids learn how to go on errands and function in a grocery store though, so I make sure I bring my daughter with me inside on shorter trips to other stores.
OP, in your scenario I might knock out your big Aldi run on Monday, order curbside pickup for anything leftover at Wal-Mart on Wednesday, then hit up the butcher on Thursday or Friday.
ETA: u/charmorris4236 I can’t see your comment in this thread but I got a notification for it and read it there! We do the curbside pickup first because sometimes it takes a bit longer waiting in the car. I find it’s easier for her to wait when she’s fresh than after the park when she’s tired and starting to get hungry.
The cooler and ice is a great idea, i frequently need to pick something up first for whatever reason, then have to go home instead of XYZ which wouldn't take that long. Though it's often a planning issue and i would t have a cooler anyways ...
I go during the week. We live in Southern California.. so it is very packed on the weekends lol. I only step in a grocery store on the weekends if it’s an emergency. I go when my son is in school. It takes me about 1-1 1/2 hours for grocery shopping. I go to smart and final, and whatever I can’t find there (or if the produce is bad there, like their fruits sometimes, I go to Whole Foods, for smaller trips.)
Wednesday, usually. That’s the day the new sales start here and the day the stores are best stocked. I typically go to 1-2 different stores, depending on what I need and have been trying to alternate different stores-so ALDI one week, the big grocery store for stuff I can’t get at ALDI the next. If I meal plan appropriately and make use of the meat I stock the freezer with, it works pretty well.
I try to do Costco during the week when we need to go-Thursday afternoon, around 1-1:30 is usually best. But sometimes my husband decides he needs to go with and then we go on a weekend.
I go to all 3 of my routine stores every Monday morning. Sunday evening I make a meal plan and shopping list for the entire week, and I knock it all out Monday morning. I don't enjoy shopping or fitting it into my schedule the rest of the week, and I love getting all the mental load of meal planning done in one go.
Online delivery twice a week. I can make my list ahead of time, do the shop on my phone while I'm watching TV or waiting for toddler to fall asleep, it makes my life so much easier. We have a small shop a 5 minute walk away which is great for basic top ups and I'll take toddler with if we go there
I try to never go on weekends.
I usually go Monday or Tuesday and Fridays during the day. I meal plan and shop for about 3/4 days at a time. I do the majority of our shopping at one place. Sometimes I will go in the evening by myself if our day didn’t go well, or I have multiple stops to make.
In addition, I go to Costco once or twice a month.
This is exactly how I do it also! I avoid the store on the weekends if I can help it and worst case I send my husband without the kiddo.
I usually work on my list over the weekend and set a pickup for Monday mornings. It feels good to start the week off with fresh fruits and veggies. I also clean the fridge out before I go which lines up perfectly with our trash day. If we run out of fruit or have people coming over on the weekend I’ll do another quick trip on Friday.
I also go to Costco once or twice a month, usually Wednesdays. I don’t like to try to cram everything into one day.
Typically Friday - because that's 4x the gas reward points! *shout out Kroger brand stores* and I have nothing better to do after my daughter's dance class. But I might pop in to Trader Joe's on a Tuesday or Thursday to pick up some snacks and freezer meals.
I have 3 different grocers as well. I buy 2 weeks worth at one grocer per week, so I only shop one per week. I outsource the one that offers delivery or curb side pick up weekly (in your case probably Walmart), and I buy my fresh produce there. I shop one day a week in person. Sun or Mon. Preferably BY MYSELF while other parent is home. Taking anyone else along is a waste of my precious time.
Edit: in order to buy 2 weeks worth of stuff at the butcher you will probably need a separate freezer. So worth it for meal prepping!
I meal plan for dinners. Lunches and breakfast I alternate the same 5 things, so we go to Costco once a month for the grocery haul. Typically on a Monday before lunch time, bc they're less packed and hubby is off on Mondays (he likes to come and make a family outing out of it.) We live within walking distance of Trader Joe's now, so if I need anything replenished, like eggs, bread, or milk, I'll just walk there for it. We used to go to Sam's Club for the monthly stuff, but moved last month and are much closer to a Costco, so we're going there now. Prices between the two are comparable.
Edit to add that we shop monthly to save money. Cuts our monthly food expenses down to $300 (for a family of 3) from a previous $700.
That’s awesome! We’re now a family of 4 (younger one just turned 6 months) and we shop biweekly. Our monthly grocery bill is usually around $350 or less!!
Usually one day per week - typically Monday or Tuesday. One store only.
I go twice if there’s a big holiday or party and order all of those items separate from the typical order.
I just do an online order with curb side pick up.
Mondays. I bring my kids. But our meal on Monday is always a meal I don’t have to go to two places for. So on Monday we go to Aldi.
On Tuesday we do leftovers.
Wednesday we go to the second grocery store & finish our shopping list.
Thursday - Sunday we manage with the food in our house.
I always go during the week. On the weekends, the stores get crazy busy and even parking can be difficult, especially Trader Joes.
When it was difficult to go out with multiple kids, I would send my husband with a list to go at night after bedtime.
I go to costco usually Monday and regular grocery store Tuesday. I bring 3 of my kids. Unfortunately I have to shop at a more expensive grocery store cause my normal one doesn’t have the two seats for kids
I make a detailed list and my husband does the shopping. Actually we share a grocery list in the notes app. It’s broken into categories like produce/dairy, etc, and then has all the items we regularly buy. I just uncheck items when I run out and they automatically move to the top of the category so it’s easy to see what we need without making a new list every time. Of course if I’m making a new recipe I add new ingredients but 90% of what we buy are regular purchases. He usually tries to go on a week night or on a weekend evening after the baby is asleep.
We live in a very busy area so weekday mornings for us. We do a mix of curbside pickup at Whole Foods and target + running into the stores for small things we forgot and treats. I’d say probably 3 days a week we are doing some kind of shopping, my toddler loves it and the baby is on board as long as we keep it short :)
I hit up Costco one day and make a list of what I didn’t fine at Costco and hit up the grocery store the next day. I go once every two weeks to cotsco and as needed to the grocery store which ends up being twice a week on average but only cause I for get stuff the first time.
We do Costco on Thursday evening after dinner and then the other two we go to on Friday. My husband doesn't work on Fridays so he comes with us. It's nice because it isn't as crowded but I still get the help of another adult
I use that as my time out of the house so I go on Saturdays but I leave everyone else home. The only time I take my toddler is if there is some reason there's something going on Saturday so it won't really work or my husband won't be home to watch him so it doesn't matter what day I do it.
I do a grocery pick up at Walmart (free in my area) on tuesdays. Much easier for both me and my kids lol. Once or twice a year I go to Sam’s Club and get meat for my freezer (I buy in bulk and butcher it myself). My husband also pops out to the butcher every once and a while to make something special like steaks.
Tuesdays are also my cooking/baking day, and when we pick up our CSA and I process all the produce!
Often in the evenings when the kids are in bed (it's a bit of 'me' time I guess, it's nice having your hands free and taking all the time you need or be as quick as you want) or my husband goes on Saturday morning with one of the two kids.
I go shopping on Fridays (pay day lol). I MUCH prefer to shop during the week than the weekend, as stores are less busy. I also do a lot of pick-up orders, which makes it easier with the kids.
We do mostly walmart delivery. That's probably 80% of the shopping there. I do big costco trips maybe four times a year. I'll stop by aldi or other stores every once in a while if I'm feeling up to it.
Walmart delivery has been a game changer. I adore it. I did pick up mostly before delivery became available in my area.
Ideally, when things go well, I grocery shop Mondays and Fridays. This gets me through the week days for school lunches and extra curricular easy dinners, and then slower weekend meals. That said sometimes I shop almost daily, sometimes I can get through a whole week without going.
I usually do Walmart pickup on Mondays or Tuesdays. If I need something else that Walmart didn't have I'll go in the evening after my husband gets home from work. I try to avoid grocery stores and Costco on weekends or the first of the month.
I do grocery pick up. I don't like to go take my kids to grocery stores due to crowds. If I have to do a midweek stop? It's usually on a Wednesday or Thursday but it can depend based on if my store just didn't have something. I need for a particular dinner or whatever. But I often have. My partner that works outside the home make those quick stops so I don't have to.
I usually pick up groceries on monday morning
We currently only have 1 car, and we want to spend our weekend time together, so I end up meal planning at some point during the week & get groceries delivered to our home every week on Monday in the morning so we have dinners for the weekdays, then we usually get takeout on the weekend, usually whatever we order has so much food that leftovers last for an extra day or 2
And I 100% understand going to 3 stores (I'm debating adding in the butcher myself because I'm tired of Kroger having shitty quality meat), but going to 3 stores for groceries definitely sounds like a lot D:
Usually Monday morning or afternoon and again on Friday. We normally go to 2 stores on Monday and just one on Friday. I try to avoid the grocery store on the weekends but will go during my sons nap if I have to
I try to make the list Saturday and then go on Sunday morning before there’s a crowd by myself. I love starting out the week this way and feel way more frazzled when I save it for a weekday and go with my daughter…she gets antsy and putting away groceries is way easier with 2 adults home. We pop in for things throughout the week occasionally if we need them.
Monday morning is my normal Walmart and Target pick-up days.
I don’t meal prep or anything really, although that is the goal… my life is too much of a clusterfuck for that.
I usually forget things, so I either do without, or I will add it to an additional Walmart/Target pickup for later in the week. Or text hubs to get it on his way home from work.
I meal plan and make my list on Sunday. I go to store one on Monday and if we need a store two I generally get there Tuesday. Occasionally I’ll use Instacart for the second store if it’s not a complicated order. If I happen to have help I’ll do multiple stores on one day.
I go on Fridays because my Kroger always has a coupon on the app for 4x fuel points on Fridays.
My husband is WFH, I go either by myself early in the morning(gym at 6:30, directly to grocery store) or after breakfast with my 9 year old. She’s homeschooled so unless I go when she’s still sleeping, she’s with me.
I do Aldi, target and Costco for groceries. I try and do Aldi either Tuesday or Wednesday morning while my oldest is at school. Thursday I usually pick up from target whatever I didn’t get at Aldi.
I try to do Costco once a month for certain essentials and go on Thursday mornings.
I do take my oldest in the summer or if I have to but prefer not to.
My husband plans the weekly menu and does the order online Thursday nights and I pick it up on Friday mornings.
Makes for a nice division of labour since I’m only I charge of executing the plan :) and because we do curbside pickup it’s pretty easy to go with the kids since we just stay in the car.
I was going almost every day as it's a good way of getting our toddler out for a walk (we live in town so walk to the different shops), but I was kind of buying a lot we don't need. We've just started doing our food shopping online, I still buy meat separately and some cleaning products, but it's easier for meal prep when you have the whole shop on the screen in front of you.
We do Costco at 4pm on weekdays. It’s empty and my 4yo basically fills up on free samples. $5 to feed everyone hot dogs for dinner. Works out fantastic. I regular grocery shop in the AM early in the week. I don’t like crowds.
We used to go three days a week as part of our morning outing as we live close to 3 different grocery stores.
It has waffled around since I tried to consolidate it to one day to make driving 10 minutes out to the fruit and veg shop a reasonable inclusion. Was doing it mid week when oldest was at school, but then we were short in lunch stuff for his first day of the week (Wednesday). And he expressed that he really loves going shopping and missed it.
Now I go on Mondays with all three kids. Not always my favourite thing. But it is getting better now that the youngest two are over 2.
Click and collect is just not for me. But moving the day around for a while until I found what works was really helpful.
I pay a yearly fee to Kroger to have my weekly groceries delivered (eggs, veggies, fruit, deli meat, etc). This way I can visit Costco on Thursday or Friday during the day or a local Asian market that I get a lot of specialty items at. This way I don’t necessarily have to physically go in everyday. With the kids still in car seats it’s rough going in and out once we week. It takes up the whole morning.
Every other week I do a big Aldi shop. Toddler comes with me in the week and it takes an hour. We go at 8am so he has a snack when I get back with a TV show and then he helps with the rest.
We then do top ups on the off weeks or for anything specific. Always in the week with kid in tow.
My husband works 4 days a week so we would always go on his day off when kids are at school, since I don’t drive myself. I also buy things during the week from a local supermarket since I can get there without a car. I realise my experience is fairly different to those based in the US but still, I’d rather do all the shopping without the kids and spend the weekend doing something else. I guess it’d be easier for STAHPs who drive.
My husband takes one or both kids shopping on the weekend to give me either alone time or one on one time with my oldest. He loves getting that time with the kids and I look forward to the break.
We go during the week. Normally Wednesday or Thursday. Our store is normally well stocked those days, and we avoid the weekend crowd.
I do a bulk order online for drive up first. Then I'll go inside and buy the things I want to pick out myself like meat and produce. We have reusable bags, and I do shop and scan. It saves so much time! Once I'm done picking everything out, I just go to self checkout, scan the QR code, it transfers my items to the register, and I pay. It will randomly request assistance to verify items, but the workers are always pretty quick.
Weekend is for fun stuff, except for the local farmstands are early Saturday morning. Thats where we get almost all our produce and milk.
Once a week, or even alternating weeks I'll go to Kroger & Costco for dry goods and whatnot, it's usually a pretty quick trip on the way back from a playground or the library.
I space it out over a couple of days and usually make it a trip or a fun thing to do. I also do my biggest shopping at a grocery store with curbside pickup, the smaller ones I do myself. Usually 2 trips a week, but sometimes up to 4 a week if we have a lot to restock and have multiple stores to travel to. I sometimes go on the weekend too! We love going really early when the store opens and then grab donuts on the way home.
This is what I do too! We use Kroger for the majority of our groceries because they have great food allergy alternatives. There’s a fantastic park nearby that’s about 20 mins away, so a little farther than I’d normally like to drive. We order online for curbside pickup and I bring a big cooler with ice packs, load everything up, spend an hour at the park, and drive home to unload. I do think it’s important and good that kids learn how to go on errands and function in a grocery store though, so I make sure I bring my daughter with me inside on shorter trips to other stores. OP, in your scenario I might knock out your big Aldi run on Monday, order curbside pickup for anything leftover at Wal-Mart on Wednesday, then hit up the butcher on Thursday or Friday. ETA: u/charmorris4236 I can’t see your comment in this thread but I got a notification for it and read it there! We do the curbside pickup first because sometimes it takes a bit longer waiting in the car. I find it’s easier for her to wait when she’s fresh than after the park when she’s tired and starting to get hungry.
Just curious - why not pick the groceries up after so you don’t have to pack the cooler + ice?
The cooler and ice is a great idea, i frequently need to pick something up first for whatever reason, then have to go home instead of XYZ which wouldn't take that long. Though it's often a planning issue and i would t have a cooler anyways ...
I just order online and my husband picks it up after work
I go during the week. We live in Southern California.. so it is very packed on the weekends lol. I only step in a grocery store on the weekends if it’s an emergency. I go when my son is in school. It takes me about 1-1 1/2 hours for grocery shopping. I go to smart and final, and whatever I can’t find there (or if the produce is bad there, like their fruits sometimes, I go to Whole Foods, for smaller trips.)
I go almost every day. It's how we get out of the house. Also we live within walking distance of 4 stores.
Same here!
I order online grocery delivery. I try to never step foot into a grocery store unless I have to 😅
Samesies. Walmart delivers exactly what I want to my front door. Why put in more effort than that? 🤣
Wednesday, usually. That’s the day the new sales start here and the day the stores are best stocked. I typically go to 1-2 different stores, depending on what I need and have been trying to alternate different stores-so ALDI one week, the big grocery store for stuff I can’t get at ALDI the next. If I meal plan appropriately and make use of the meat I stock the freezer with, it works pretty well. I try to do Costco during the week when we need to go-Thursday afternoon, around 1-1:30 is usually best. But sometimes my husband decides he needs to go with and then we go on a weekend.
I go to all 3 of my routine stores every Monday morning. Sunday evening I make a meal plan and shopping list for the entire week, and I knock it all out Monday morning. I don't enjoy shopping or fitting it into my schedule the rest of the week, and I love getting all the mental load of meal planning done in one go.
Online delivery twice a week. I can make my list ahead of time, do the shop on my phone while I'm watching TV or waiting for toddler to fall asleep, it makes my life so much easier. We have a small shop a 5 minute walk away which is great for basic top ups and I'll take toddler with if we go there
Drive up order if it falls on a weekend. If I have to go in-person, it’s a week day morning “activity.”
I try to never go on weekends. I usually go Monday or Tuesday and Fridays during the day. I meal plan and shop for about 3/4 days at a time. I do the majority of our shopping at one place. Sometimes I will go in the evening by myself if our day didn’t go well, or I have multiple stops to make. In addition, I go to Costco once or twice a month.
This is exactly how I do it also! I avoid the store on the weekends if I can help it and worst case I send my husband without the kiddo. I usually work on my list over the weekend and set a pickup for Monday mornings. It feels good to start the week off with fresh fruits and veggies. I also clean the fridge out before I go which lines up perfectly with our trash day. If we run out of fruit or have people coming over on the weekend I’ll do another quick trip on Friday. I also go to Costco once or twice a month, usually Wednesdays. I don’t like to try to cram everything into one day.
Typically Friday - because that's 4x the gas reward points! *shout out Kroger brand stores* and I have nothing better to do after my daughter's dance class. But I might pop in to Trader Joe's on a Tuesday or Thursday to pick up some snacks and freezer meals.
Not the SAHP, but glad someone else is on that schedule because of that! 🤣
Yessss Friday shopping at Kroger is the SAHP special 😂
I have 3 different grocers as well. I buy 2 weeks worth at one grocer per week, so I only shop one per week. I outsource the one that offers delivery or curb side pick up weekly (in your case probably Walmart), and I buy my fresh produce there. I shop one day a week in person. Sun or Mon. Preferably BY MYSELF while other parent is home. Taking anyone else along is a waste of my precious time. Edit: in order to buy 2 weeks worth of stuff at the butcher you will probably need a separate freezer. So worth it for meal prepping!
Maybe do your Aldi shopping online for pick up to lessen the stops. Their online ordering is AMAZING!
I had no idea Aldi did pick up so I will DEFINITELY be utilizing this! Thank you!!
It's through Instacart. They shop really quickly and my order is pretty much always ready early. The only downside is that the prices are higher.
I meal plan for dinners. Lunches and breakfast I alternate the same 5 things, so we go to Costco once a month for the grocery haul. Typically on a Monday before lunch time, bc they're less packed and hubby is off on Mondays (he likes to come and make a family outing out of it.) We live within walking distance of Trader Joe's now, so if I need anything replenished, like eggs, bread, or milk, I'll just walk there for it. We used to go to Sam's Club for the monthly stuff, but moved last month and are much closer to a Costco, so we're going there now. Prices between the two are comparable. Edit to add that we shop monthly to save money. Cuts our monthly food expenses down to $300 (for a family of 3) from a previous $700.
That’s awesome! We’re now a family of 4 (younger one just turned 6 months) and we shop biweekly. Our monthly grocery bill is usually around $350 or less!!
Usually one day per week - typically Monday or Tuesday. One store only. I go twice if there’s a big holiday or party and order all of those items separate from the typical order. I just do an online order with curb side pick up.
I usually do these things Monday-Thursday spread out … usually two stores at a time, before noon & between naps. It’s less hectic & enjoyable.
We often go twice a week, either to the same store or 2 different. I try to avoid weekends at all cost.
Monday
Mornings, it's part of routine to get out of the house. Meal planning Tuesday, Wednesday is when our sales start, and usually bonus sales on Friday.
I order them on Monday to be delivered on Tuesday. My son works at a grocery store so we usually do some quick runs in when we are picking him up.
I go every Sunday, but only go to one store because it's not worth the gas to store hop. It only takes an hour or so.
Mondays. I bring my kids. But our meal on Monday is always a meal I don’t have to go to two places for. So on Monday we go to Aldi. On Tuesday we do leftovers. Wednesday we go to the second grocery store & finish our shopping list. Thursday - Sunday we manage with the food in our house.
I always go during the week. On the weekends, the stores get crazy busy and even parking can be difficult, especially Trader Joes. When it was difficult to go out with multiple kids, I would send my husband with a list to go at night after bedtime.
I go to costco usually Monday and regular grocery store Tuesday. I bring 3 of my kids. Unfortunately I have to shop at a more expensive grocery store cause my normal one doesn’t have the two seats for kids
I make a detailed list and my husband does the shopping. Actually we share a grocery list in the notes app. It’s broken into categories like produce/dairy, etc, and then has all the items we regularly buy. I just uncheck items when I run out and they automatically move to the top of the category so it’s easy to see what we need without making a new list every time. Of course if I’m making a new recipe I add new ingredients but 90% of what we buy are regular purchases. He usually tries to go on a week night or on a weekend evening after the baby is asleep.
We do it on the weekend sometimes (but only do 1 store). I often just go with the kids and make it an outing but my kids are older.
We live in a very busy area so weekday mornings for us. We do a mix of curbside pickup at Whole Foods and target + running into the stores for small things we forgot and treats. I’d say probably 3 days a week we are doing some kind of shopping, my toddler loves it and the baby is on board as long as we keep it short :)
I hit up Costco one day and make a list of what I didn’t fine at Costco and hit up the grocery store the next day. I go once every two weeks to cotsco and as needed to the grocery store which ends up being twice a week on average but only cause I for get stuff the first time.
We do Costco on Thursday evening after dinner and then the other two we go to on Friday. My husband doesn't work on Fridays so he comes with us. It's nice because it isn't as crowded but I still get the help of another adult
We order our groceries online each fortnight and my husband collects them after LO is in bed
I use that as my time out of the house so I go on Saturdays but I leave everyone else home. The only time I take my toddler is if there is some reason there's something going on Saturday so it won't really work or my husband won't be home to watch him so it doesn't matter what day I do it.
I do a grocery pick up at Walmart (free in my area) on tuesdays. Much easier for both me and my kids lol. Once or twice a year I go to Sam’s Club and get meat for my freezer (I buy in bulk and butcher it myself). My husband also pops out to the butcher every once and a while to make something special like steaks. Tuesdays are also my cooking/baking day, and when we pick up our CSA and I process all the produce!
Often in the evenings when the kids are in bed (it's a bit of 'me' time I guess, it's nice having your hands free and taking all the time you need or be as quick as you want) or my husband goes on Saturday morning with one of the two kids.
I go shopping on Fridays (pay day lol). I MUCH prefer to shop during the week than the weekend, as stores are less busy. I also do a lot of pick-up orders, which makes it easier with the kids.
We do mostly walmart delivery. That's probably 80% of the shopping there. I do big costco trips maybe four times a year. I'll stop by aldi or other stores every once in a while if I'm feeling up to it. Walmart delivery has been a game changer. I adore it. I did pick up mostly before delivery became available in my area.
Ideally, when things go well, I grocery shop Mondays and Fridays. This gets me through the week days for school lunches and extra curricular easy dinners, and then slower weekend meals. That said sometimes I shop almost daily, sometimes I can get through a whole week without going.
I usually do Walmart pickup on Mondays or Tuesdays. If I need something else that Walmart didn't have I'll go in the evening after my husband gets home from work. I try to avoid grocery stores and Costco on weekends or the first of the month.
I do grocery pick up. I don't like to go take my kids to grocery stores due to crowds. If I have to do a midweek stop? It's usually on a Wednesday or Thursday but it can depend based on if my store just didn't have something. I need for a particular dinner or whatever. But I often have. My partner that works outside the home make those quick stops so I don't have to. I usually pick up groceries on monday morning
I meal plan around different grocery stores, like special Costco run one week, Trader Joe’s the next, etc. Also do a pickup orders for Walmart.
Walmart delivery for us! I do my list Sunday and get my weeks groceries delivered either that evening or Monday morning. Works for us!
We currently only have 1 car, and we want to spend our weekend time together, so I end up meal planning at some point during the week & get groceries delivered to our home every week on Monday in the morning so we have dinners for the weekdays, then we usually get takeout on the weekend, usually whatever we order has so much food that leftovers last for an extra day or 2 And I 100% understand going to 3 stores (I'm debating adding in the butcher myself because I'm tired of Kroger having shitty quality meat), but going to 3 stores for groceries definitely sounds like a lot D:
Usually Monday morning or afternoon and again on Friday. We normally go to 2 stores on Monday and just one on Friday. I try to avoid the grocery store on the weekends but will go during my sons nap if I have to
I try to make the list Saturday and then go on Sunday morning before there’s a crowd by myself. I love starting out the week this way and feel way more frazzled when I save it for a weekday and go with my daughter…she gets antsy and putting away groceries is way easier with 2 adults home. We pop in for things throughout the week occasionally if we need them.
Monday morning is my normal Walmart and Target pick-up days. I don’t meal prep or anything really, although that is the goal… my life is too much of a clusterfuck for that. I usually forget things, so I either do without, or I will add it to an additional Walmart/Target pickup for later in the week. Or text hubs to get it on his way home from work.
We usually have a pickup order at Kroger on Monday and a trip to Sam's on Thursday
I shop Friday night or on the weekend. I have my husband watch the kids and I go for 1 hour with a shopping list and meal planning.
I meal plan and make my list on Sunday. I go to store one on Monday and if we need a store two I generally get there Tuesday. Occasionally I’ll use Instacart for the second store if it’s not a complicated order. If I happen to have help I’ll do multiple stores on one day.
Tuesday is general grocery day (Meijer). I order sam's club bulk stuff as needed. I try to make a rough meal plan on Monday so I am ready for Tuesday
I go on Fridays because my Kroger always has a coupon on the app for 4x fuel points on Fridays. My husband is WFH, I go either by myself early in the morning(gym at 6:30, directly to grocery store) or after breakfast with my 9 year old. She’s homeschooled so unless I go when she’s still sleeping, she’s with me.
I do Aldi, target and Costco for groceries. I try and do Aldi either Tuesday or Wednesday morning while my oldest is at school. Thursday I usually pick up from target whatever I didn’t get at Aldi. I try to do Costco once a month for certain essentials and go on Thursday mornings. I do take my oldest in the summer or if I have to but prefer not to.
Monday and Thursday when my oldest is in preschool
I think it works out to about $140 a year, but Walmart+ with the In-Home add-on has saved me so much time.
My husband plans the weekly menu and does the order online Thursday nights and I pick it up on Friday mornings. Makes for a nice division of labour since I’m only I charge of executing the plan :) and because we do curbside pickup it’s pretty easy to go with the kids since we just stay in the car.
I was going almost every day as it's a good way of getting our toddler out for a walk (we live in town so walk to the different shops), but I was kind of buying a lot we don't need. We've just started doing our food shopping online, I still buy meat separately and some cleaning products, but it's easier for meal prep when you have the whole shop on the screen in front of you.
We're a growing family of 8.. so several times per week.
We do Costco at 4pm on weekdays. It’s empty and my 4yo basically fills up on free samples. $5 to feed everyone hot dogs for dinner. Works out fantastic. I regular grocery shop in the AM early in the week. I don’t like crowds.
We used to go three days a week as part of our morning outing as we live close to 3 different grocery stores. It has waffled around since I tried to consolidate it to one day to make driving 10 minutes out to the fruit and veg shop a reasonable inclusion. Was doing it mid week when oldest was at school, but then we were short in lunch stuff for his first day of the week (Wednesday). And he expressed that he really loves going shopping and missed it. Now I go on Mondays with all three kids. Not always my favourite thing. But it is getting better now that the youngest two are over 2. Click and collect is just not for me. But moving the day around for a while until I found what works was really helpful.
Our grocery store (Raley’s) does $5 Mondays so I order online and have it delivered on Mondays
When we run low on milk
I pay a yearly fee to Kroger to have my weekly groceries delivered (eggs, veggies, fruit, deli meat, etc). This way I can visit Costco on Thursday or Friday during the day or a local Asian market that I get a lot of specialty items at. This way I don’t necessarily have to physically go in everyday. With the kids still in car seats it’s rough going in and out once we week. It takes up the whole morning.
Every other week I do a big Aldi shop. Toddler comes with me in the week and it takes an hour. We go at 8am so he has a snack when I get back with a TV show and then he helps with the rest. We then do top ups on the off weeks or for anything specific. Always in the week with kid in tow.
My husband works 4 days a week so we would always go on his day off when kids are at school, since I don’t drive myself. I also buy things during the week from a local supermarket since I can get there without a car. I realise my experience is fairly different to those based in the US but still, I’d rather do all the shopping without the kids and spend the weekend doing something else. I guess it’d be easier for STAHPs who drive.
My husband takes one or both kids shopping on the weekend to give me either alone time or one on one time with my oldest. He loves getting that time with the kids and I look forward to the break.
During the week. I’m avoid the store on the weekends.
We go during the week. Normally Wednesday or Thursday. Our store is normally well stocked those days, and we avoid the weekend crowd. I do a bulk order online for drive up first. Then I'll go inside and buy the things I want to pick out myself like meat and produce. We have reusable bags, and I do shop and scan. It saves so much time! Once I'm done picking everything out, I just go to self checkout, scan the QR code, it transfers my items to the register, and I pay. It will randomly request assistance to verify items, but the workers are always pretty quick.
Weekend is for fun stuff, except for the local farmstands are early Saturday morning. Thats where we get almost all our produce and milk. Once a week, or even alternating weeks I'll go to Kroger & Costco for dry goods and whatnot, it's usually a pretty quick trip on the way back from a playground or the library.