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What does a week of groceries look like to you?

How often do you buy groceries?

What types of things do you consider “essential”?

Do you make a list when you go shopping, or just have an idea of what you need?

Do you do one big trip all at once, or do you pick up just enough to make what you’re eating that night/the next day?

62 comments
  • I tend to buy groceries at least twice a month, sometimes it is more than that because of impulse. Otherwise, I operate on a 35 ~ 65 budget.

    I consider my monster javas, rice, pasta, coffee/creamer, oatmeal, almond milk, water, bagels/waffles with cream cheese and things to mix the pasta and rice with as essentials. They're always staples in all shopping trips.

    My shopping lasts no more than 10 ~ 15 minutes, maybe less, because I always know what I'm after. I hate having to hop around stores to find things one other store doesn't have because while I could find cheaper alternatives, I am sometimes met with more pricier options which may force me to go without one of my essentials for a while.

    My goal with grocery shopping is to extend rations as much as possible while moderating how much I eat. I do shop for processed foods like frozen and canned stuff, but I find that it actually helps my rations. I don't particularly pick up things like loaves of bread or produce because from my experience in the past, I always feel like I have to eat them sooner or they'll spoil and I don't really like having to feel like I got to wolf down something as soon as I buy it.

    Longevity is key to me.

  • I tend to spend a weekend cooking and freezing loads, then not really cooking for weeks.

    So it's a massive targeted shop every few weeks to do that, then mostly small trips (often on foot/bike) to the local shops to get milk and any odd things I run out of, or if I feel like mixing dinner up with something else.

  • I go almost every day. It's a good reason to get out and go for a walk.

    What I buy mostly depends on prices/discounts. And only what I can carry in my backpack. Potatoes when affordable, otherwise rice; frozen veggies, ham/cheese, bubbly water, beer.

    • Potatoes are more expensive than rice in the Netherlands?

      Edit: just did the math for my German prices and they seem about equal. I always thought rice was a bit more expensive.

      Edit 2: just realized that it's easier and cheaper to prepare a meal with potatoes for me. I'm cool with plain mashed potatoes or simple pan fried potatoes (about 50c of extra ingredients each) but for rice I need something to go with it, which is gonna be more expensive than what I need for potatoes

      • I'm not in the Netherlands. Where I live, potatoes were 1.20 eur per kilo last year so I don't buy it. Normal price should be 40 cents.

  • I shop at Aldi and Lidl, so I'm buying the raw ingredients for meals rather than the preprepped meals themselves.

    I'll spend my sunday afternoon cooking and meal prepping for the work week.

  • My sibling works at a grocery store, so I'll text them what to bring home. So it's more daily then weekly. Sometimes we go to the Asian Supermarket but that's more monthly.

  • I shop at our local grocery store 2x a month to get essentials as needed. "Essential" to us is anything we utilize the most, which usually boils down to milk, eggs, bread, fresh fruit/veggies. Every 4-6 months or so my spouse and I go to Costco and get items in bulk. Those trips are typically reserved for buying meats that we can freeze long term, along with frozen veggies, and non-perishables.

    I always make a shopping list to make a point of not returning any sooner than necessary (but hey, sometimes I forget stuff anyways).

    I tend to be the primary cook, but I make a point of making recipes that involve using dry, frozen, or canned ingredients as there isn't a rush to use them since they don't quickly spoil. Any fresh items are used within the 2 week frame between local grocery trips.

  • A bag of frozen chips/fries, potato chips/crisps, 2 boxes of 12 eggs, some cereal, chocolate, maybe a crate of pop (Dr Pepper is my fave) and milk.

  • I'll usually have 2 or 3 meals in mind that'll carry me for the week. I'll make something that will have leftovers (stews, stir fries, etc), and other things that can be easily repeated (fried eggs, bagels, sandwiches, produce for salads, etc).

    Once I get to the store things can change a bit according to what's available or what looks good.

  • I pretty much eat depression meals, with occasional cooking. Trying to be better, but I still eat a lot of food that isn't the greatest for you, like frozen meals, that kind of thing. I really should be better, and I don't know if I should be sad or motivated seeing everyone else's food in this thread.

  • We spend around $200/week for 3 people and cook every meal. Comes to about $3/meal/person. Pretty much just some meat, beans, pasta, veggies, fruit and my kid's snacks.

  • 2 cups of rice, 1 cup of pintos, 4 flour tortillas, a nebulous amount of grits, 6 english muffins, 6 eggs, a few bananas and plain oat cereal, two bags worth of frozen veggies (cauli, broc, carrots, bell peppers, onions), a single chicken breast, a small roll of ground beef, a small roll of pork sausage, a half gallon of OJ, coffee, tea, oatmilk, and a hand-waved amount of spices, salsa, seasonings, choese, vinegar, and/or sweeteners.

    huh, i eat more than i thought. I shop about twice a month, and usually buy the dry and freezable stuff in bulk so I don't notice as much how much I'm taking in on the regular.

62 comments