How Often Do You Grocery Shop?

[Avro Arrow]

In an interview with CTV today about Canada's COVID-19 measures and response, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the following:

Yes, stock up a little bit so you don't have to go to the store every two or three days like we usually do. But, make sure that you're not taking more than you need because your neighbors or vulnerable people will need to access the supplies as well.

Reasonable advice. However, my first thought upon reading this was,"Who goes to the store every two or three *days*?!".

I do my grocery shopping once per week. Under normal circumstances, I only go more than once per week if: a) I forgot something that I really, really need, and can't wait another week or b) I decide to bake something that I hadn't planned for when I did my shopping, and I am missing ingredients. But those are rare cases. And during the winter, I try to make sure I have enough on hand that I can stretch it out longer than a week, if there is bad weather.

I do know, however, that I am not really a great indicator of the habits of society at large. I believe I have mentioned before both my introversion, and my social anxiety. I do try to limit the times I am out in public spaces, and often once per week is all I can handle. (Sometimes not even that! ) So other people with different situations might obviously think about this differently.

So I was just curious how often all of you did your grocery shopping. I'm wondering if people here will trend more towards how frequently I shop, or how frequently PM Trudeau apparently shops (or people shop for him...)

(Please note, this is meant to ask about your "usual" shopping habits, not any adjustments you may have made due to the pandemic.)

 

[Pondwater]

Every Day

 

[thribs]

When I need food

 

[auntiehill]

I go once a week. There's always an occasion where I've forgotten something or some need comes up--like medicine or something for a special recipe, etc, but basically, we stick to our routine: we go to dinner on Saturday night, then do our grocery shopping and come home to watch a show or two together. Our wild and crazy life.

 

[Santaman]

Not every day but every 2 days or so, mainly because I don't have a car and can take with me only so much stuff, also, the place is just far enough for a good walk, exercise while grocery shopping..

 

[Relayer1]

Every week normally, but apart from perishable fresh veg, I have over a months supply of most things.

Won't be shopping for...over a month now.

 

[tomalak301]

I've been doing it weekly, but in these trying times, that might be very hard in the near future.

 

[thestrangequark]

Not every day but every 2 days or so, mainly because I don't have a car and can take with me only so much stuff, also, the place is just far enough for a good walk, exercise while grocery shopping..

Yep. I imagine the responses will be vary different for city-dwellers v suburban and rural folk.

 

[Mojochi]

I use to just go whenever, until I began regimenting my diet to lose weight, get healthy/fit. Now I go precisely once per week. I get only the provisions I know I will ration out for that period, because I have a bad habit of eating more often than I should if there is surplus around the house. Plus, much of the rations I get are healthier fresh/perishable foods, that don't last longer than that anyhow

So this nonsense is really difficult for me, because as a matter of discipline, I don't keep surplus. Furthermore, I usually shop in the still dark AM hours of Saturday morning, when no one is around (Like 4AM) However, because of this panic, most places have eliminated their 24 hour operations, forcing me to shop during their newly restricted business hours

Just like e v e r y o n e !

So basically, they have significantly hampered my ability to employ social distancing. If I get this virus, it'll surely be because I can no longer shop for my weekly supplies without being among a mass of indiscriminate humanity. That is now my highest point of exposure, where previously it was not. So stupid imho

 

[thestrangequark]

I use to just go whenever, until I began regimenting my diet to lose weight, get healthy/fit. Now I go precisely once per week. I get only the provisions I know I will ration out for that period, because I have a bad habit of eating more often than I should if there is surplus around the house. Plus, much of the rations I get are healthier fresh/perishable foods, that don't last longer than that anyhow

So this nonsense is really difficult for me, because as a matter of discipline, I don't keep surplus. Furthermore, I usually shop in the still dark AM hours of Saturday morning, when no one is around (Like 4AM) However, because of this panic, most places have eliminated their 24 hour operations, forcing me to shop during their newly restricted business hours

Just like e v e r y o n e !

So basically, they have significantly hampered my ability to employ social distancing. If I get this virus, it'll surely be because I can no longer shop for my weekly supplies without being among a mass of indiscriminate humanity. That is now my highest point of exposure, where previously it was not. So stupid imho

Or maybe by reducing the amount of time a much larger number of people than just the singular you are interacting isolation measures will reduce your risk of infection overall. Because, you know, this isn't about you.

 

[Alexander Corrino]

I have to go twice a week. I can't drive and there is therefore only a limited amount of stuff that I can carry (I go once to buy my normal groceries and then a second time to get a few water bottles). Sometimes I even have to go three times a week if I happen to need something out of the ordinary that my local grocery store doesn't have - then I have to take the tram to the city and get it from there.

 

[Mojochi]

Or maybe by reducing the amount of time a much larger number of people than just the singular you are interacting isolation measures will reduce your risk of infection overall. Because, you know, this isn't about you.

Less hours of business mean more concentration of shoppers during the lesser hours. Concentration of shoppers is the overall concern, isn't it? Not time. Time is not a factor in exposure at all. Contact is. Of course it's about me. It's about me, you, everybody. I'm part of everybody too

 

[Starbreaker]

I feel like I save a ton of money if I just buy for a few days because otherwise I will accidentally let things spoil because I decide to go to Taco Bell. And I'm in the grocery stores for my job every day anyway.

This week, I decided to stockpile for a month because everybody else is doing it and I don't want to starve to death if I get the virus.

 

[BillJ]

In a normal world, every two weeks.

 

[Marynator]

I do most of my shopping using Shipt, and have someone pick up my basics for me. I will go occasionally to my favorite market for fresh ingredients, but only as needed. Shipt is incredibly convenient, and I end up saving a lot of money because I'm not impulse buying or passing through the clothes section (a really killer lol)

When I used to work at an office, I'd often stop off at a market on my way home from work to pick up things I'd need for the next day or two. I haven't done that in a long time.

My main change right now, is I'm buying a lot more non-pershable items, and mostly doing frozen vegetables instead of fresh. I have a lot of frozen broccoli, carrots, corn, green beans, and asparagus in my freezer downstairs. I also have about 20 pounds of yellow potatoes, those last for a very long time. I also have quite a few cans of tomatoes. My biggest concerns are onions and garlic.

I have plenty of flour, yeast, eggs, etc, so if it comes down to it I can make bread if I run out and can't buy more.

 

[Butters]

I shop daily. I prefer to buy meat/fish/veg/bread etc on the day that I need it. I only buy what I need, so none of it goes to waste. I also have no idea what I’ll be eating until I buy what I need. I can rarely stick to a meal plan.

 

[marillion]

We go weekly. We, of course, will forget something, forcing a return visit later in the week, or I will come up with some crazy dinner idea and have to go back for one or two items I need for a recipe.

As some communities, like Albuquerque, strive to create "walkable" communities, we're seeing an uptick in smaller "mom and pop" type supermarkets that have a wide range of things, though fewer brand choices. This allows people to shop more often, as they usually don't buy a huge amount (so they can walk to and from the market). Unfortunately, in this world where places like Wal Mart, Target and Costco can buy in volume and pass savings onto customer, these mom and pop places are quite expensive by comparison. I love the idea of walking to our local food co-op, but the prices are far too prohibitive for the same quality of food item. And WAY too expensive for some of the more "niche" foods.

 

[valkyrie013]

Once a week usually to to a target or walmart, then once or twice a month to Sam's Club for meat, butter, water etc.
Not going to change much with this latest unpleasantness .. Only have so much room in my fridge/ apartment for storage.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Less hours of business mean more concentration of shoppers during the lesser hours. Concentration of shoppers is the overall concern, isn't it? Not time. Time is not a factor in exposure at all. Contact is. Of course it's about me. It's about me, you, everybody. I'm part of everybody too

My local stores are closing earlier than usual so that they have more time to stock items and decontaminate the stores more than they used to.

 

[Mojochi]

My local stores are closing earlier than usual so that they have more time to stock items and decontaminate the stores more than they used to.

This is a point I do find valid. The fact is that panic shopping has put a lot of unusual stress on that area of business. I still don't like it, but I do understand. If I'm mad at anyone about it, it's the populace that is making things worse with their panic, causing them to have to respond this way. I don't hold it against them for having to do what they must, but it does create a bit more difficulty imho