Do You Shop Superstores or Grocery Stores Most, and Why?

Friday, October 26, 2012 by Kathy Murdock from Thrifty Mom's Two Cents

Superstores vs grocery stores for savings

I have been a huge proponent of grocery store shopping with coupons during sales for many years. I started this type of shopping when pregnant with my youngest, and I did so by following a paid (yes, paid!) subscription-based service that taught me how to find sales, menu plan around them, and use coupons for even more savings.

That said, I had a family of three and now of four to feed, so to me, the extra work was worth the additional time it took. That and I work from home, so I have been lucky in that I can create a schedule that works for me when I also need to get the kids here or there, attend PTA meetings and shop, do laundry, and clean the house.

I know many moms are not as lucky as to be able to juggle schedules. Some work full time and then come home to do all the other things I can squeeze in throughout the day. Others have more children and/or less time than I, and sitting down to coupon clip is time consuming.

My mom and I went to a local big chain superstore this week (you guess the one!) that sells both food and things like underwear, shoes, and electronics. As I grabbed few things I needed from the grocery aisles, my mom told me she had returned to shopping at this superstore in her hometown because it saves her money.

Her thing: She shops and cooks for one; she doesn’t want to spend a lot of time on the coupon sites because she doesn’t need that much food; and she can save money by purchasing generics at a superstore over purchasing generics or store brands at a regular chain supermarket.

Sssshhhh, don't repeat that I told you this, but guess what?

I do believe you can save money at superstores if you don't have time to do the coupon clipping, sales shopping, menu planning type of shopping.

This, of course, is not the stance most die-hard couponers will take. But I have to be realistic when it comes to my life.

I know that when I forget to clip a coupon or I run out of something that I need NOW, it is cheaper for me to go to a superstore and buy a generic version of the product than it is to go to the grocery store and buy it. And although I try to get most of my items on sale and with a coupon, I know it’s not always possible. Life is tough enough juggling work, kids, a house, and all that comes with that! I'm tired by eight at night when I finally get the girls into bed.

Sometimes I just want to stop everything and watch an episode of Revenge!

And I don't want to spend that hour with a pair of scissors in one hand and a packet of coupons in the other.

Plus, I know the convenience of a superstore totally trumps that of the convenience of a grocery store. For instance, yesterday my iron died. I also need canned pumpkin for a recipe I’m making this weekend and I don’t have a coupon NOR is it on sale (that I know of) at my regular grocery store, which is also farther away than the superstore. So guess where I will be tomorrow? Yep! A superstore!

I think in order to save money we, as busy moms, are probably better off being open-minded about where we shop. I think it is important for many of us that we save as much as we can, but I also think in most instances we have to take a more realistic view than those on, say, Extreme Couponing.

While I would like to do all my grocery shopping with coupons during sales, I know I’m just not going to. My life is busy, and I don’t want to spend all of my 'free' and not-so-free time clipping coupons and perusing sales flyers or websites that tell me where the great deals are.

How about you? Do you shop superstores for savings, or do you primarily stick with the grocery store? Why do you shop the way you do?

Image via Flickr user fragglerawker

Kathy Murdock
Kathy Murdock works as a full time writer and web designer. Recently planted in the middle of the deep south from the busy streets of Los Angeles, when she's not coding Wordpress websites or writing about women in business and thrifty motherhood, Kathy spends time ...Read More

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