My Mr. G suggested last year that I change my Mega Shop days around. It took me a while to wrap my brain around how I would change things around, but I've finally reached the change!
Let me back up a little to explain. For my Mega Shop days, I go to as many stores as I possibly can to get everything that we need for at least 2 weeks. Sometimes it is a matter of stocking things up for a couple of months, like Dove or Irish Spring soap, but whatever is needed dictates which stores we go to. Many times that means 5-8 different stores with lots of turning and bending as well as walking on concrete floors. When I'm working in the kitchen, I stand on a rug, but with shopping there isn't the cushy rug to absorb vibrations that go directly up to my back. With a ruptured disc, my back has been more sensitive in this way, so perhaps it is time to listen to my hubby and change how I do my Mega Shopping.
With all the planning that I put in to my Mega Shop days, I need to do some tweeking. My husband's suggestion was to do a couple stores for the necessary items on my Mega Shop days, so I tried that. I've found that to work well. I usually go to a place called Sharp Shopper first. I get so many things there so very inexpensively. Their cheeses are the cheapest I've seen and I like their 2# bags of veggies, vs Aldi's 1# bag for a little more money (their prices are going up too). They also carry bulk baking items, pasta, canned goods, produce, meats, some kitchen items, personal hygeine stuff and paper goods among other sundry items. I like going to this store mostly because their tortillas are cheapest I've seen, bulk baking items are very good quality, veggies and cheeses. After I'm done with Sharp Shopper, I head to Aldi's to get whatever I can't get at Sharp Shopper. Between these 2 stores, we get the bulk of the necessity items in the food department and occationally the personal hygeine area. I get the rest of our personal hygeine stuff at W*l-M*rt because none of the other stores carry what we use. WM is a boon to me. They've removed much of the bulk fabric and only yesterday did I see that they've brought back more sewing stuff like machines and even sergers. I use to buy almost all of my fabric from there. Now I'm forced to pay higher prices by going further away to Joann's, plus if I need something "on the spot" I can't really get the best price possible with using coupons and a discount card to my advantage. Grrrr!
...Anyway...
My Mega Shop days have gone much smoother breaking things apart. It takes just a little more stocking up. For example, if there is french fries on the menu on Sunday and the french fries that we like are from WM, we have to make sure to cover those days or come up with an alternative. I know, very simplistic example, but it is just an example. lol I returned home yesterday after going to 2 stores and I wasn't hurting. I was in a good mood and had time to enjoy my family. I don't like being in pain, not able to move for hours. I enjoy being able to move around. Go figure!
What a blessing this has been for me. Usually, regardless of how many stores we go to, WM is the last store. This particular store is filled with people and their screaming kids by the time I get there. Whew! No wonder I'm hurting and in a bad mood when I get done there!
The Solution: There are a variety of appointments that occur throughout the week early in the morning which we do purposely so that it doesn't interfere with our family time. My husband's suggestion was to do the WM stop when we did the appointment or run on another day. One thing we've noticed about this simple change is this has brought us greater peace. We like peace. (Go figure!) WM isn't crowded in the morning. Imagine that! So, we go at a better time, if we can. :) Finishing up Mega Shop in the morning is always a good thing. :)
Greater peace is always a wonderful thing. Stress is not a good thing for me.
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