People who shop "blindly"

[Jay Hova]

So, since I've been living "on my own" (not at home) for the past few months, as a result I've had to engage in many domestic activities, namely grocery shopping.

I've shopped for groceries, at stores like Dominion (well Metro, what it is called in Toronto) and Longo's.

In the past, since I took an active role in doing grocery shopping - I would wait for the flyers to come and hunt down the deals.

However, with this situation, I find myself blindly picking up things off the shelf without looking at the price, nor have I gone to other stores to save money on specific items.

I was wondering, for the people who do that - what type of demographics do they fall in? Single, affluent members of society? Or, is everyone able to do this?

This doesn't hold to groceries specifically, consider clothing (e.g going straight to the store vs. clearance sales/outlets, online, warehouse, across the border).

Thanks.

[brunes]

Once you factor in the cost of gas and your time, driving all over town to save a few cents here and there is not usually worth it.

I find it is much better to pick a supermarket or two that have lots of regular deals, and frequent them. When a deal comes in something you use, stock up on it. Get a pantry shelf and deep freeze and keep them full this way.

This is how I go about grocery shopping. I only bother to check the flyers for the 1-2 stores I visit weekly. It's not worth my time to spend 1/2 hour dirving to / from a place to save a buck. Instead when an item I use alot is on sale, I buy a lot of it - that is how I save.

[NUTS]

So, since I've been living "on my own" (not at home) for the past few months, as a result I've had to engage in many domestic activities, namely grocery shopping.

I've shopped for groceries, at stores like Dominion (well Metro, what it is called in Toronto) and Longo's.

In the past, since I took an active role in doing grocery shopping - I would wait for the flyers to come and hunt down the deals.

However, with this situation, I find myself blindly picking up things off the shelf without looking at the price, nor have I gone to other stores to save money on specific items.

I was wondering, for the people who do that - what type of demographics do they fall in? Single, affluent members of society? Or, is everyone able to do this?

This doesn't hold to groceries specifically, consider clothing (e.g going straight to the store vs. clearance sales/outlets, online, warehouse, across the border).

Thanks.

not bad, considering that you have left home and that you now have to do everything for yourself - commendable

Weekly flyers for me - Saturday begins at 7:00am, I do the rounds of the stores all within 4km - done by 9:00-9:30.

No Frills, Food Basics, Price Chopper & one of the three majors depending on the specials. Rarely to Wal-Mart for fresh food or staples

2hrs tops - no stopping for a coffee or snacks (do that before I leave the house). In a normal week, the savings can be as much as 30% shopping in several stores versus one. My time is free when it comes to saving money grocery shopping

I do the shopping for the family of two - and my daughter who was raised the same way, who lives in TO - has her metro pass, she shops the same way.

On clothing - on 50% off days at Value village & Goodwill. Yearly clothing expenditure this way for two people is less than $100. Underware and socks at Walmart or Zellers

As for the demograhics - classed me as a poor landed immigrant - made my mark, consider ourselves middle class (whatever that is) - no dependancy on banks.

Love playing the financial game & using OPM's

[Jay Hova]

not bad, considering that you have left home and that you now have to do everything for yourself - commendable

Should've been a bit more elaborate in my post. I'm only 2nd year...I live in Downtown about 4-5 nights a year, don't pay my own rent...and use OSAP for groceries.

[DouglaBryan]

In the past, since I took an active role in doing grocery shopping - I would wait for the flyers to come and hunt down the deals.

Why not just grab the flyer at which ever grocery store you happen to be in at the time and spend a minute or two flipping through before you start shopping?

[alanbrenton]

Or get a SPC card and shop at Zellers sometimes. That's what I'm doing since I got my VIP SPC card. Zeller's pricematches (with physical flyer) and then gives you 10% off.

[catlover]

Why not just grab the flyer at which ever grocery store you happen to be in at the time and spend a minute or two flipping through before you start shopping?

But than you can't compare which store has the cheapest price. If you read all the flyer before than you know.

[mr_raider]

Weekly flyers for me - Saturday begins at 7:00am, I do the rounds of the stores all within 4km - done by 9:00-9:30.

I'm not getting up at a 7am too shop on Saturday!

[NUTS]

I'm not getting up at a 7am too shop on Saturday!

lol, early bird catches the worm and gets me in & out of the shops before the crowds of mom's & kids & busy parking lots

Its great to get up real early - read the on-line newspapers, catch-up with world news (CNN excluded) and markets - smell the coffee, before the rest of the majority of the locals wake up, wasting their time lounging around

5-hours sleep is me - none of that healthy 8-hrs that we're kept being told is good for us.

[B0000rt]

The other day I was in my local Shop Rite (here in Jersey on par with a Food Basics/Price Chopper kinda level) and there was a lady who had a binder, I repeat a binder full of coupons. Inside the binder was those little plastic pockets that you would have to hold your Hockey cards (or Baseball if you're American). It was crazy, the binder was atleast a 2" one, and it was stacked full!

Generally my wife and I stock up on things when they're on sale ie meat. You should see our freezer, it's stocked to the brim, yet the fridge part is abit bare heh

[DouglaBryan]

But than you can't compare which store has the cheapest price. If you read all the flyer before than you know.

Ya but the original poster said that he wasn't doing that anymore and just grabbing whatever. My suggestion was just the simplest alternative

[TheCheez]

I check the flyers but usually only deviate away from my favourite store for a good deal on meat or a really spectacular sale.

[engmsf]

Once you factor in the cost of gas and your time, driving all over town to save a few cents here and there is not usually worth it.

I totally agree on the cost of gas and time to save a few cents here and there for groceries. Stick to mostly No Frills, Walmart and sometimes Sobeys.

But for electronics and other big ticket items, I rely on RFDs

[Thalo]

I'm pretty blind, especially at Costco. It comes in packs of 20? Well, I'm sure I'm saving money on it and I'll probably eventually use them all or I can give some to friends or family.

[joe1487]

I admit that I'm one of those blind shoppers; I never really bother to value shop at grocery stores. Superstore is usually the cheapest of all the grocery stores anyway, so I just buy what I need irrespective of price. If I see something I use often on sale, I will often stock up on it, but that's the most I do in the way of sale-hunting.