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-   -   How often do you shop for groceries, how often do you eat out? (https://www.talkofthevillages.com/forums/villages-florida-non-villages-discussion-93/how-often-do-you-shop-groceries-how-often-do-you-eat-out-317071/)

Villagesgal 03-06-2021 10:10 AM

Grocery shop once every 2 weeks. Drive car to Aldis.
Use cart once a week to shop CVS or Walgreen and pick up anything on sale cheaper at Winn Dixie or Publix. Shop at Costco once every 3 months, drive car there. Storage no problem using pantry. Paper products stored on shelf in Garage.

Blackbird45 03-06-2021 11:13 AM

I know people or going to hate what I about to say.
When I was single and lived in Manhattan I would eat out 80% of the time.
Now I'm married and my wife is in a wheelchair so we very rarely go out.
What I discovered is I totally trust the food I'm eating and I'm never disappointed.
I don't have to drive, don't have to get dressed and it's a hell of a lot less expensive.
Today with the internet even if you have never held a pan in your hand you can be a chef over night.
There are millions of recipes just a touch away.
the only thing you need is a love for food.

Villages Kahuna 03-06-2021 11:34 AM

Groceries YES... Restaurants NO
 
We shop online for groceries every week or ten days—outside pickup at either Walmart or Publix. But we haven’t visited a restaurant in over a year.

We grocery-shop most frequently at Walmart because their outside pickup prices are the same as in-store. We limit our Publix shopping to items only available there because their curbside pickup or delivery prices are quite punitive—as much as 25% higher than in-store.

Even though we’ve gotten two Pfizer shots, we’ve decided to steer clear of inside dining until 75-80% of the U.S. population has been immunized, plus gaining the assurance that new COVID variants haven’t popped up.

DaveGodin 03-06-2021 12:04 PM

We go about once a week. I freeze meat and usually have several meals worth in the freezer. Meat is expensive in Florida as is seafood, at least as compared to our former home in Pennsylvania. We have also noticed that fruit is of lesser quality here, but it could just be us. Lately I have not seen any shortage of paper products. We generally go to Walmart for paper products and publix for groceries. We use both the golf cart and the car as it is easier to get to the "big" publix by car. We have one of those golf cart shopping bags which is large enough to hold all of our groceries. We are fortunate that we have 5 grocery stores which are easily golf cart accessible near us ( two Publix, a Winn Dixie, Walmart and Aldi).

FUSSY LADY 03-06-2021 02:17 PM

Compari Tomatoes
 
Quote:

Originally Posted by Gulfcoast (Post 1911237)
Compari tomatoes are totally worth it. I make garden salads every day and I've tried all sorts of tomatoes. The Compari tomatoes are delicious and I rarely find a bad one in the container. The only tomatoes that are better are the ones we grow ourselves.


You are right about the Compari Tomatoes, they are sure the best, have been buying them for years. Sam's has the best price unless Publix or Winn Dixie have the buy one get one, then they are close.

John_W 03-06-2021 02:30 PM

...

retiredguy123 03-06-2021 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by John_W (Post 1911691)
We keep a shopping list in the kitchen and then on Mondays after the MVP in the morning, we'll get lunch and then go to Neighborhood Walmart at Colony, I guess it's been about 3 years since they opened.

Once in a great while I might stop at Publix if they have a sale on an item I need. For example, I drink Gatoraide Zero and I like the blue flavor and sometimes Walmart is out, and Publix will have a sale 2 eight packs for $10, which is Walmart's regular price. Also we like the small cans of Campbell's Baked Beans, and Colony Walmart doesn't stock any Campbell's so once a month or so, we'll go to the Walmart on 466 or Summerfield, to buy them and a usually a few other items which only the big store has.

Shopping at Walmart saves us about $25 a week over Publix, so we always went to the big Walmart, now we don't have to drive ten miles, only 3 miles to Colony and easier to park and get in and out. Plus my wife and I moved our prescriptions from Walgreens to Walmart since Colony opened. At Walgreens her eye drops were $135 for 2 bottles, and at Walmart they give her 3 bottles, and all the drugs overall are cheaper. I also buy my gas at that Walmart, it convenient since I'm already there.

https://cdn.businessyab.com/assets/u...2-461-5017.jpg

I buy the Gatorade Zero on Amazon, but the price has been changing a lot lately. Sometimes the price is really low. It's nice to have it delivered to your house in a day or two.

John_W 03-06-2021 03:04 PM

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Merrills 03-06-2021 03:22 PM

Chill

Carla B 03-06-2021 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maria Anagnos Santos (Post 1911685)
You are right about the Compari Tomatoes, they are sure the best, have been buying them for years. Sam's has the best price unless Publix or Winn Dixie have the buy one get one, then they are close.

Campari tomatoes are $3.00 for a one-lb. container at Walmart, every day. I think they're $4.99 at Publix, unless they are BOGO. Husband does a lot of the shopping and he balks at going to Publix because "everything is so expensive there." The little Walmart suits us because the compact store is easy to navigate. There are a couple things that Walmart just doesn't have, like escarole and, of course, bakery goods, their ground round when it's on sale and fresh catfish and salmon.

Doro22 03-06-2021 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stu from NYC (Post 1911128)
Typically go food shopping twice a week and restaurants lately 1x a week soon to go up to 2x. We go by car.

We did not have enough storage so we purchased a good sized pantry closet.

About the same here...shopping 2x a week at Publix. (We love their fresh bread) Hubby usually hits Sams or Walmart 1x a week. We don’t eat inside restaurants. Get takeout about once a week...usually Longhorn, Bonefish or maybe The Rose Plantation, which we got last evening. It’s a little expensive, but worth it. Since we aren’t sitting down inside we save on wine service & have our own at home. We did go to Palmer CC with a houseguest in December & sat out on the patio. We also have been to Dan’s Clam Stand a few times (50 miles west of here) and sat outside. And about once a month we go to Edna’s on The Green and meet family there who live about 20 to 40 miles from us. We usually do lunch on weekends & sit out away from everyone & we all enjoy the music.

meme5x 03-06-2021 03:54 PM

I am alone but eat out quite a bit with friends..have favorite foods at many restaurants .. a lot of variety..cook at home .. favorite places are Fresh Market, The Lighthouse Fish Market and Publix.. go by cart whenever possible.. that’s why I choose to live fairly close to Southern Trace

Stu from NYC 03-06-2021 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Carla B (Post 1911710)
Campari tomatoes are $3.00 for a one-lb. container at Walmart, every day. I think they're $4.99 at Publix, unless they are BOGO. Husband does a lot of the shopping and he balks at going to Publix because "everything is so expensive there." The little Walmart suits us because the compact store is easy to navigate. There are a couple things that Walmart just doesn't have, like escarole and, of course, bakery goods, their ground round when it's on sale and fresh catfish and salmon.

We will have to try Campari tomatoes. We normally buy grape tomatoes at Sams but guess we should try Campari.

Gulfcoast 03-06-2021 04:51 PM

I appreciate all of the responses very much. It sounds as though there is a nice variety of stores to shop at, as well as, a decent variety of restaurant options. I like the idea of being within walking distance of stores, restaurants and entertainment. It would be fun to walk to a restaurant for a nice meal and drinks after spending the day golfing, going to clubs and rec centers.

terrild53 03-06-2021 07:36 PM

I shop in several places usually twice a week: most of time via car: Winn Dixie nearby for my prescriptions & some other things, Target on occasion for some things (I look at Sunday ads), WalMart maybe every other month for canned goods or cleaning supplies, maybe Whole Foods in the Fall for apples, Farmers Market at Brownwood for produce maybe once a month. We spend $100 a week because prices are so much higher here than in Upstate NY where Wegman’s has great selection & pretty decent prices. I go to Sam’s Club once a month for sparkling water & napkins, laundry soap etc. Shopped at BJ’s up north for paper stuff, spaghetti fixings, etc.
I don’t shop in Publix because their prices are ridiculous. Best advice is to check some of these places out to assess for yourself. It might give you a better idea of the sticker shock you very well will notice here.
We go out to breakfast every 2 weeks, out for pizza once a month, order Chinese take out once a month, maybe out to dinner every couple months prior to Covid. I cook dinner at home most nights.

Stu from NYC 03-06-2021 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gulfcoast (Post 1911749)
I appreciate all of the responses very much. It sounds as though there is a nice variety of stores to shop at, as well as, a decent variety of restaurant options. I like the idea of being within walking distance of stores, restaurants and entertainment. It would be fun to walk to a restaurant for a nice meal and drinks after spending the day golfing, going to clubs and rec centers.

Unless you want to be near a square or shopping center do not count on walking to places like that.

We are about a half mile from our neighborhood pool and mail box and people are very surprised we walk there.

La lamy 03-06-2021 09:19 PM

Groceries once a week by golf cart, but would use car if I had been able to cross the border with it this year. I find it so precarious to have groceries stay put in cart though. I end up driving back home at the slowest speed you can imagine and such careful turning of corners! HAHA I finally figured a bungie cord scenario that may prevent bags from flying off. Haven't eaten out in SOOOOOOO LONG! I'm a homebody and prefer eating at home Covid or not.

cologal 03-06-2021 09:32 PM

The favorite saying when I moved to TV was if you wanted to hide something put it in the oven.

OrangeBlossomBaby 03-06-2021 09:51 PM

Campari tomatoes are trendy but not all that good for eating. They make good sauce but that would be cost-prohibitive at $3/pound.

If you're looking for good slicing tomatoes, I was happily surprised to find them at Walmart. They come 2 or 3 to a pack. Thin-skinned and very juicy. Warning - they ripen very quickly so use them up or they'll get moldy before the week is out.

coconutmama 03-07-2021 10:30 AM

We have plenty of room for storage but I guess it depends on how much paper goods you keep.

We do our main grocery shopping 2x/mo by car & pickup odd items 1x/wk by golf cart. We live about 5 miles from the grocery store we use.

We mostly eat at home, always have. Healthier food & prepared the way we like it. Now that we have both of our vaccine shots we will probably dine out about 1x/wk. Before the shots we only did occasional takeout.

Bogie Shooter 03-07-2021 04:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by La lamy (Post 1911834)
Groceries once a week by golf cart, but would use car if I had been able to cross the border with it this year. I find it so precarious to have groceries stay put in cart though. I end up driving back home at the slowest speed you can imagine and such careful turning of corners! HAHA I finally figured a bungie cord scenario that may prevent bags from flying off. Haven't eaten out in SOOOOOOO LONG! I'm a homebody and prefer eating at home Covid or not.

You need one of these,
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/...500_AA300_.jpg

xkeowner 03-07-2021 06:01 PM

We have eaten our 4-6 times per week always inside since restaurants opened at 25% capacity. One of our favorite restaurants has a sign on the door to the effect that we don’t wear masks and don’t expect you to either. They even have a salad bar! Expecting significant negative feedback from the paranoid sheeple on this revelation but I won’t reveal the restaurant. Many restaurants outside TV and Orlando have relaxed rules on masks.

Really enjoying the availability of tables at many restaurants since many are avoiding eating inside and sincerely hope the restaurants are getting enough business to survive.

Grocery shopping is on an as needed basis 1-2 times a week. We avoid Publix due to their high prices.


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