For several years I've been in a season of my life where convenience is crucial, especially in fulfilling my role as the grocery getter.
I will travel afar to the Costco when I need a truckload of paper towels. Or when I would like the dinner fairies from the Costco deli section to make food that all I have to do is heat and serve when I get home.
But what about those days where I actually decide to make something that requires...ummm... ingredients. That have to be bought at a store because they refuse to just magically appear in my pantry. Well, then I have to pay a little visit to the local grocer.
Now, here's the thing. I'm no fool. I very much know the grocery store that is most convenient AND who has a STARBUCKS tucked just inside the door AND who plays soothing music is a little more pricey than the other grocery just a few more blocks away. But really who want to count pennies...
THOSE IN A FINANCIAL MELTDOWN, that's who. Ahem.
So, yesterday Holly and I did a little experiement that I've been wanting to do for a long time. We decided to make out a grocery list with a few odds and ends and the ingredients for two dinners.
Then we went to FANCY grocery store and bought the list:
Then we went to the not-so-fancy grocery and bought the EXACT same list. We are talking the very same stuff y'all. Same everything. Did I mention that the list was the same?
And do you know what we discovered? First, fancy store has much smaller Rotisserie chickens for $.50 more. More money, less chicken? hunh?
But the real shocker came at the check out line. Fancy store has fancy prices... yikes!
Now I'm no math whiz but it's looking like to me that the not so fancy grocery store sells the exact same items for $7 cheaper. And please don't think Holly and I rigged this little experiment. There was no checking of sales fliers and careful planning involved here.
We just simply chose 2 new recipes and with no premeditation, happily went to both stores.
So, if the savings came out to be about $7 per $50 worth of groceries, let's see how that nets out over time...
I spend about $200 a week on groceries. So, if I went to the less expensive store I could possibly save about $28 a week.
If I kept going to the less expensive store for a year... it would be a savings of over $1400!!!
Can anyone else but me think of some seriously fun places I could go spend $1400?!?!
I think I just might be forgoing the STARBUCKS tucked just inside the door with classical music playing grocery in favor of a vacation later in the year... with no grocery stores in sight!
Just my thoughts... What are yours?
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