The first trip of the month seemed like a good time to talk about my new shopping routine.
Each week has brought new guidelines and new suggestions, so every trip since March 16th has looked a little different. However, on the this grocery trip and the one from last week I put some new practices into place that I think I’ll be sticking with for the foreseeable future.
Specific Date & Time
I used to shop on Wednesday, the first day of the new sale cycle. But since everything that’s been going on, I’ve moved to Mondays. Sale cycle is less of a priority right now. My focus has shifted to avoiding store crowds and getting in after a re-stock. I’m now at the store on Mondays at 8am. 7am-8am is reserved for those 60 and older. I wake up at 6:30am on Mondays, while everyone else peacefully slumbers. I drink some tea and prepare for my day. My goal is to be home and fully sanitized before Mr. B leaves for work at 9:30am. More on that in a minute.
Sanitization Prep
To go to the store, I wear the same thing every week. Leggings, a t-shirt, and sweatshirt. Hair is up in a bun. I place another outfit in the bathroom for when I get home. In the laundry room that connects to the garage, I set out hand sanitizer and Clorox wipes next to the door.
Shopping Accessories
Here is where it gets fun. I no longer take my purse to the store. Instead, I take a small vinyl gym bag that can be easily wiped down and washed. In the bag I have wallet, keys, wipes, and hand sanitizer. When I get to the store, I will take my Kroger Card and credit card out of the wallet and leave them lose in the bag, so I touch fewer things with my gloved hands. Also because I am a fool in these gloves and my fine motor skills go down the tube right quick.
My trusty gym bag. Not using it for the gym so glad it’s getting some kinda use.
Speaking of gloves. I have a box of gloves I bought years ago for cleaning the house. I take one pair with me to the store, putting them on in the parking lot, after I’ve locked my car and put the keys in my bag. Before I get out of the car I put on my mask. This was a mask Mr. B had for woodworking that we dusted off. It’s a little misshapen and it smells of wood chips, but needs must. I put my mask on before I get out of the car, since again, not messing around with mask straps and gloved hands.
Buying the Actual Groceries
I wear a mask at all times. I stay 6 feet away from any other person. I have a list. I get in and I get out.
Does your store still have these up? They used to be for almost everything, but now only a few, in-demand items have limits.
After I Shop
Once outside, I open my bag, get my keys out, unlock the car. I put all the groceries in the truck, then I get in the car. I take off the gloves leaving them inside out. I then take a baby wipe from my bag and use it to transfer the gloves to a trash bag I have waiting in the passenger seat. I take off my mask and cover it in a wipe. I wipe down my bag, keys, wallet, cards and then sanitize my hands. Then I drive home.
Resting Crazy Face strikes again. There is no way to look cute in a mask, y’all.
Sanitize them Groceries
This is where we really go for gold. I park outside and Mr. B opens the garage for me. I bring all groceries in to the garage. Mr B stands in the laundry room and tosses me the Clorox wipes. I wipe down everything I can, then leave it on the floor of the laundry room. This includes everything in my gym bag. Mr. B then transports these cloroxed groceries to the dining room table so I can still get a fly pic of them for y’all. Oh, I forgot to mention, part of my wake up routine on shopping days is sanitizing the table.
Once all the groceries are in, I take the bag with the gloves, my used wipes, and all the grocery bags and into the trash they go. This kind of hurts my heart, y’all know I love a reusable bag. But this is not the time for reusable bags or taking chances, so adios possibly contaminated grocery bags. Then I sanitize my hands again.
Next I take off all the clothes I wore to the store and toss them and my vinyl gym bag right into the washing machine. I then run to the bathroom and hop right into the shower than Mr. B has already started for me. I touch nothing in the house until I am in the shower.
Safe and Sound
All clean, I then take a picture of all the food for recaps. After the picture, I make sure to wash the individual produce (apples, peppers, that kind of thing.) By then it’s usually about 9:25am. I have another cup of tea and get ready to transition into Quaranteacher mode to work with my Kindergartener. And usually eat a sanitized banana.
- Asparagus, .94 lb-$.93.
- Avocado (5)-$3.90. In-store sale for $.88 each stacked with a *Digital Coupon* for $.50 off three.
- Bananas, 2.32 lb-$1.37.
- Boar’s Head Pepperoni, 1 lb-$9.49.
- Cadbury Eggs (2)-$1.64. Had to get something for those Easter baskets.
- Clementines, 3 lbs-$3.99.
- Fuji Apples, 3.39 lb-$4.37.
- Heritage Farm Chicken Breasts, 15.46 lb -$30.77. My big packs are back!
- King’s Hawaiian Rolls-$3.50.
- Kroger Colby Jack Cheese, 2 lb-$6.99.
- Kroger Heavy Cream-$2.19.
- Kroger Milk, gal-$2.19.
- Kroger Pasta (1)-$1.
- Kroger Sausage, 2lb-$7.
- Mangoes (4)-$5.
- Maruchan Instant Ramen (3)-$1.05. These went straight into the “Emergency food” box.
- Mission Tortillas-$1.88.
- Monterey Jack Cheese-$8.94.
- Mozzarella Ball-$1.99. Manager’s Special.
- Pepper Jack Cheese-$3.36.
- Private Selection Angus Steak, 4.23 lb-$21.14
- Private Selection Whole Wheat Bread-$1.99.
- Private Selection Wildflower Turkey, 1 lb-$6.74.
- Rao’s Pasta Sauce-$7.99.
- Red Gold Canned Tomatoes (1)-$1.
- Red Leaf Lettuce, 1 lb-$1.69.
- Roma Tomatoes, .89 lb-$.88.
- Simple Truth Almond Milk, .5 gal (2)-$4.98.
- Starbucks Coffee-$5.99.
- Strawberries, 2 lbs-$4.99.
- Swedish Fish-$1.50. Another Easter basket concession. At least it was $.50 off.
- Vidal Onions, 2.93 lb-$2.90.
- Apps I’ll submit to: Fetch Rewards, Ibotta ($.10 Off Any Item), CoinOut
Total Budget: $98
Total Spent: $163.53
Deducted from Next Month: $65.53
Last month’s plan of waiting to pay the grocery overage with the unused budgets for that month (home, entertainment) seemed to work well, so I’ll hold off freaking out on how over budget I am. For now. Because truthfully? I (and we all) have bigger things to worry about. Like our new grocery procedures.
I’m not going to lie, they’re a lot of work. By 9:25am, I’m feeling like I’ve run a marathon. But these methods make me feel safest during a very uncertain time. And that’s what I think we all need to do right now: the thing that makes us feel safest and most secure in a time where things are constantly changing.
How has your grocery shopping changed recently? I’d love to hear your thoughts down below!
Kristen B. is wife to the best Prince around, mama to the spunkiest little princesses, and lover of all things Disney. She started her savings journey five years ago and is now dedicated to making her family’s wishes come true one coupon at a time. She is so excited to take her love of saving to the next level and share her journey with you! Click here to catch up on Kristen’s Savings and join in on your own savings adventure!
Melanie McElvany says
Great article. As usual lots of good information tangled in off-beat humor. I am doing the same thing and my husband is still yelling at me for touching too many things (with my sanitized gloved hand) at the grocery store. How did I manage for the first 40 years? Thank you Kristen B!