Deleted
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Oct 7, 2024 11:19:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2021 15:00:38 GMT
The supply chain issue thread got me thinking about how the pandemic has changed my shopping habits.
What about you? If anything changed, what was it?
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MrsDepp
Full Member
Refupea #2341
Posts: 477
Jun 30, 2014 18:36:02 GMT
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Post by MrsDepp on Sept 16, 2021 15:12:01 GMT
Before the pandemic, because I live so far from town and because of my health, (I tend to have surgeries/procedure of some sort in October/November just about yearly), I use to start buying for winter in June to have my home stocked for any storms, illness and weather conditions or other. My stocking would be enough to get me through till March or April besides the things that just don’t have a long shelf life or meds.
Now, I have enough probably to last the entire year. And keep a running list and make replacements as soon as items are opened on my next trip into town.
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Post by Katie on Sept 16, 2021 15:14:44 GMT
My habits have not changed much at all. I do make sure to always have two packs of toilet paper, plenty of Clorox wipes, and plenty of Kleenex.
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Post by melanell on Sept 16, 2021 15:20:29 GMT
I've been buying a lot more online--either having things shipped or just doing a pick-up. I've just lost any desire to go into a store and browse.
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,790
Location: Kentucky
Jun 25, 2014 20:31:44 GMT
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Post by Kerri W on Sept 16, 2021 15:24:33 GMT
I've never really been a shopper for fun. I shop with a list and intent to get exactly what's on it. I've refined that during the pandemic. I rarely go into the grocery store-I order online. I shop for a LOT on Amazon. I haven't tried on clothes in a store in ages. If I do go into the store in person (Sam's club every 3-4 months or the grocery store in person about once a month) I go on days/times that are not busy such as early morning during the week.
I do enjoy shopping for home decor and have gone to a few stores (maybe 3-4?) in the past year and a half. When numbers were low and masked. Currently our numbers are high so I just don't go many places.
I enjoy a Target and Starbucks run occasionally but the past several times I've been in the store, I left with the basics that were on my list and no "fun" stuff. I've noticed seasonal offerings are drastically reduced and that's what I normally impulse buy.
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Post by MichyM on Sept 16, 2021 15:33:09 GMT
I've been buying a lot more online--either having things shipped or just doing a pick-up. I've just lost any desire to go into a store and browse. 100% this.
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Post by scrapmaven on Sept 16, 2021 15:38:28 GMT
I stayed home for 14 months and all shopping was done via curbside pickup or Amazon. Now I mostly do curbside, but I do go into the store if I don't have a big shop, but it has to be early in the morning, before crowds. If I have to go to a mall, I go first thing and only to the intended store. I park at the closest entrance to that store. Once I had my second shot and waited 2 weeks I started to run quick errands. I do 99% of my shopping for everything online. Amazon is huge for a reason.
It'll be a while before I go inside of a restaurant or movie theater. Dh and I both miss going to musicals and concerts, but we'll wait until it's truly safe.
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Post by lisae on Sept 16, 2021 15:38:32 GMT
Grocery pickup is the biggest change. It wasn't available here before and now two of our three grocery stores offer this option. I do a pickup order each week. We make some quick in and out stops in between as needed. I plan to continue grocery pickup even after the pandemic.
This isn't shopping but banking has changed. Our banks want us to do as much as we can through the drive thru. One major bank has closed their branch in our town and I just found out that another one is closing next year. That will leave only one bank and they close the lobby every day for lunch now because they have such a small staff. I think this was inevitable as banks really want you to do as much online as you can.
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amom23
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,409
Jun 27, 2014 12:39:18 GMT
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Post by amom23 on Sept 16, 2021 15:52:41 GMT
The pandemic hit the same time DH and I became empty nesters more or less. So it's been a learning curve to cook for 2. I have always been someone who has a full pantry and freezer, but I'm trying harder to reduce food waste. These days I do try to keep an extra of my most used cleaning products vs. buying a new one when the current gets used up. I still shop a lot online, but don't have a problem going into a store either.
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Kerri W
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,790
Location: Kentucky
Jun 25, 2014 20:31:44 GMT
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Post by Kerri W on Sept 16, 2021 15:56:10 GMT
This isn't shopping but banking has changed. Our banks want us to do as much as we can through the drive thru. Yes! I work for a real estate team. Since the beginning of the pandemic the title companies have said "signing parties only" for closings meaning agents, etc cannot go to closings. Only the buyer and seller. This past week we had our first, "all parties go through the drive thru and sign" then asked us to come back the next day to pick up copies of docs and checks.
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bethany102399
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,623
Oct 11, 2014 3:17:29 GMT
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Post by bethany102399 on Sept 16, 2021 16:00:40 GMT
I think this was inevitable as banks really want you to do as much online as you can. I completely agree, and this is one of those cases where I'm kind of happy my mother didn't live to see this. She was terrified of the computer and refused to do ANY online banking. If she had lived and gone into the assisted apartment, I would have been the one stuck doing it for her, which would have been a huge loss of independence for her. OP, I started using target drive up and haven't switched. I love it- no more impulse buys from just browsing. As for the grocery store I don't like the online order/pickup system we have. In the beginning all the slots were taken and it was impossible to get one. As someone who is not high risk I felt like I could mask up and shop and let others who could not take those slots. As things eased, I did try it and the shopper made so many substitutions or grabbed the wrong thing - whole milk instead of 2%, the wrong box of crackers. There was a huge line at pickup and we had to get out of the car to help them load the groceries. Forget it, I'd rather shop once a week with my list and come home and shower.
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Post by Linda on Sept 16, 2021 16:01:51 GMT
I have a bit more kleenex, toilet paper, cat litter than I used to keep on handb- not hoarding amounts but an extra 12-pk of TP, an extra couple of kleenex, an extra week's worth of cat litter...
Food wise - I have a few more convenience foods than usual (but that's also more typical for the hurricane season anyway - just yearround at the moment). My freezer was pretty stocked but could use a bit refilling at this point.
I'm shopping less overall - not browsing - just Aldi, Publix, and occasionally someplace else for something specific. I was buying more online but that's slowed down - mostly because we're just not buying as much now we're mostly settled into the new house
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sueg
Prolific Pea
Posts: 8,419
Location: Munich
Apr 12, 2016 12:51:01 GMT
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Post by sueg on Sept 16, 2021 16:05:26 GMT
The main thing that has changed for me is grocery shopping. I used to shop every day, or every second day at most, partly due to lack of storage and fridge space, and partly to get out of the apartment for a bit. Now I try to consolidate into fewer trips. DH does a major shop on Saturday, and I do a refresh maybe Wednesday or Thursday, unless I need to be out on another day. I was never a big browser, but that has completely stopped now. If I need something, I will go shopping, but I haven't been into a shop 'just to look' since March 2020.
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MrsDepp
Full Member
Refupea #2341
Posts: 477
Jun 30, 2014 18:36:02 GMT
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Post by MrsDepp on Sept 16, 2021 16:05:41 GMT
Banking has changed for me also. Before the pandemic, I was a go inside girl. Now I try to do all of my transactions drive thru. I dislike it because it is so impersonal.
Back to my shopping, I do go only first thing in the morning and try going only once a month when getting meds. But things happen. Sometimes I will run in store if I am already in town for a doctor’s appt.
Clothes/shoes shopping is something that has dropped significantly. I haven’t bought anything new for myself since the pandemic started. I have been looking on line but just haven’t seen anything that I wanted.
I haven’t been in the mall in a looong while.
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Post by myshelly on Sept 16, 2021 16:07:27 GMT
Grocery pickup is the biggest change. It wasn't available here before and now two of our three grocery stores offer this option. I do a pickup order each week. We make some quick in and out stops in between as needed. I plan to continue grocery pickup even after the pandemic. This isn't shopping but banking has changed. Our banks want us to do as much as we can through the drive thru. One major bank has closed their branch in our town and I just found out that another one is closing next year. That will leave only one bank and they close the lobby every day for lunch now because they have such a small staff. I think this was inevitable as banks really want you to do as much online as you can. I don’t think I’ve been inside a bank in at least 20 years. I do everything in the drive thru.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 11:19:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2021 16:08:02 GMT
My biggest change was curbside pick up and Instacart deliveries. I actually enjoyed chatting with the shoppers on Instacart and helping them out with my order.
I also honed in on stock availability. Pre pandemic I never had to worry about food items not being available. Now I plan ahead more than I ever have to be ready for certain events and holidays.
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Post by myshelly on Sept 16, 2021 16:09:13 GMT
I only did grocery pick up even before Covid. I hate grocery shopping with a passion.
I definitely keep more food in the house now. We didn’t eat at home much before. We were always out and about and having lunch or dinner with friends after all our activities. Before Covid I could count on one hand the number of meals we had at home in a month.
That’s about it.
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Post by katlady on Sept 16, 2021 16:10:30 GMT
Grocery shopping, I am back to my pre-pandemic ways. Back in March-July 2020, I stocked up when I went shopping. I only went once a week. I still have cans of soup that I don’t know when we will eat. I now go maybe twice a week, mainly to stock up on fresh vegetables and fruits. I’ve always grocery shopped in person, never used online or curbside pickup.
For non-grocery shopping, I haven’t really done much of it since March 2020. And when I do, most of it has been online. I’ve got out of the habit of going to the store just to do something.
I do miss how empty Walmart used be. In 2020 it used to be just the shopper, now it is back to bringing the entire family again.
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breetheflea
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,381
Location: PNW
Jul 20, 2014 21:57:23 GMT
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Post by breetheflea on Sept 16, 2021 16:10:35 GMT
I changed grocery stores because the one I used does not offer curbside pick up and I did not want to be in a store that did not enforce masks very well...
Since I curbside pick up 95% of our groceries, that means we get food once a week so I have gotten better at meal planning... I do run in to the store once in a while to grab stuff my main store doesn't have.
I go to Target much less often...
We order from Costco and have it sent to the house instead of going in (nothing perishable.)
I have not been very good about having a stash of things for emergencies because it disappears faster than I can buy it... teenagers! At least they don't eat soap and toilet paper, that I have been able to keep stocked up.
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Post by Restless Spirit on Sept 16, 2021 16:14:54 GMT
I've been buying a lot more online--either having things shipped or just doing a pick-up. I've just lost any desire to go into a store and browse. This. I really avoid “going shopping”. I recently needed a new baking sheet. There was no way I was going to go store to store to store to try to find what I needed. I just went online and bought one. We also renewed our Sam’s Club membership in 2020 and changed it to the free shipping membership. It works out good because I buy things like TP, Kleenex, large size dishwasher and clothes detergent and just have it shipped to me. It’s totally worth the extra cost. I’ll be renewing it the first of October.
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Post by lostwithout2peas on Sept 16, 2021 16:16:50 GMT
The way I my stock of groceries and other household items has definitely changed. I used to go to the store and have enough food on hand for about a week. Now I purchased a new freezer at the beginning of the pandemic and always have it well stocked, including my pantry. I almost feel a little panicky when it starts to run a little low and immediately feel the urge to go shopping to replace items.
Also toilet paper, I always have to have 1 costco brand tp, the entire new bag as back up. And disposable masks, hand sanitizer and basically everything that ran out the last time. We are a family of 6 and I have real PTSD from not being able to find food and TP from the 1st go round. Now I'm determined never to be caught in that situation again.
I still shop in store though, just at early hours when there is less people and not as often as I used to. I used to be in the store several times a week, now maybe once every 2 weeks.
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Post by bianca42 on Sept 16, 2021 16:56:45 GMT
I was doing Walmart pickup pre-pandemic. I started when I hurt my foot but never stopped when it got better. However, during the pandemic I swapped to Wegmans pickup. They charge a little more per item, but I like their produce better and it's not nearly as crowded or as long of a wait as Walmart got to be.
Sunday morning, 10am is my normal pickup time. There is a clump or stores together, so depending on what I need that week, it could be a Kohls pickup, Target pickup, Lowes pickup and Wegmans pickup. I can do all that plus wash my car and be home in under an hour. I love it!
We did go into Lowes a few weeks ago and I realized I have zero patience for stores remodeling and moving things any more. DH was a little concerned about me. LOL
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Post by papersilly on Sept 16, 2021 17:15:53 GMT
i stock the freezer more. prior to the lock downs, DH and I would eat out a lot so i never really kept food in the house. for our 28 year marriage leading up to that point, i don't think we ever even ate lunch at home even on the weekends.
when the pandemic happened, i had to start cooking more at home. i also made even less trips to the supermarket so i just learned to stockpile meats. i still don't know how to stockpile dry goods (someone please come and get the panic-buying boxes of Hamburger Helper that i bought) but at least i have meats.
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Post by huskermom98 on Sept 16, 2021 18:00:55 GMT
The availability of curbside pickup and/or delivery has changed how I shop, but my circumstances have also changed because I started working more (and more of a set schedule) in January 2020. There are days I don't want to "waste" my time doing my normal grocery store/Target shopping, so on those days I place an order online and pick it up. It has meant I spend less at Target, but somehow I spend more at the grocery store. I'm not nervous/scared/worried/concerned about shopping in person, I'm just taking advantage of the curbside options because of how I chose to spend my time.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Oct 7, 2024 11:19:55 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Sept 16, 2021 18:58:51 GMT
Having a reserve always on hand to cover shortages and getting groceries delivered outside on the driveway rather than the driver coming indoors, and being more flexible in choices for substitutions.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Sept 16, 2021 19:17:31 GMT
From living overseas for many years, I have long been in the habit of keeping food and household goods well stocked. Although now I only keep 2-3 of an item and not a year's worth As a result, we were in good shape when the issues started last year. The biggest change for me has been more ordering online and curbside pickup, especially from WalMart and Target.
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Post by rst on Sept 16, 2021 20:32:05 GMT
I find that I plan my shopping trips much more. I have an ap called In-Store that allows me to keep a running list of items at various stores or types of stores. I'll wait until my list is long enough to make it seem worth a trip before I go anywhere. I really like shopping online and then doing curbside pick up. I hope that is a feature that sticks around longterm. And I love having someone else do my grocery shopping, then doing curbside pick up. It makes menu planning and shopping list one smoothly synchronized chore for me. No impulse buys. My shopping list directing reflects what I am planning for the coming week's meals, so less wasted produce, fewer things languishing in the pantry.
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Post by **GypsyGirl** on Sept 16, 2021 21:24:28 GMT
i still don't know how to stockpile dry goods (someone please come and get the panic-buying boxes of Hamburger Helper that i bought) but at least i have meats. I gathered up my excess food panic buys and donated them to the local Food Bank. As for how to stockpile, I tend to keep 3-4 of an item that is shelf stable and used more frequently. For condiments that typically last longer, I'll just have 1-2 in the pantry as backup.
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Post by dewryce on Sept 16, 2021 21:38:14 GMT
For groceries, we found out that our (only) store has curbside pickup, or maybe it started because of the pandemic. Regardless, we haven’t done our own grocery shopping since last April and I doubt we will go back to it except for rare occasions.
Also, used to shop week to week and almost everything we eat is fresh so if we didn’t go shopping that week, we had nothing to fall back on. Maybe a package of chicken in the freezer. But we literally had maybe 6 items in our pantry, and a couple of those were likely tuna packets, so nothing to help us there either. Thanks goodness for the peas who were sharing their experiences with us, we were able to stock some things before everything went crazy.
Now we have a freezer in the garage fully stocked with our favorite proteins, some frozen fruits and veggies which we don’t love, but will have if getting fresh food is an issue again. Or, you know, we don’t get the grocery order in that week. And we are trying to learn to cook with some frozen veggies. No great successes so far. We also have more food in our pantry, but not tons because we can’t eat it. And since we have more freezer space we also make and freeze more ‘extra’ meals than we did before.
We have a stocked box of shelf stable food items for emergencies. And another for when we are sick.
Other products line paper goods, hygiene supplies and cleaning supplies we kept stocked (which saved our bacon and some friends and family) now we just keep more stocked than before.
We don’t go browsing in stores any more. I’m sure eventually we will do some of that again, but for now we do it all online and do curbside pickup whenever possible.
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Post by epeanymous on Sept 16, 2021 21:44:02 GMT
Earlier in the pandemic, I shopped quite a bit. Frankly, I was bored and stressed. Same thing with takeout food.
I’ve made a conscious effort the past few months not to buy things and to avoid takeout. I have not been perfect, but I have cut waaaaay back. I am now working through my book and craft supply backlog and it’s actually nice.
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