Today is Monday, April 13, and I went shopping expecting the stores to be less busy before payday. Many people didn’t pay rent this month, and the military is distributing food, even though many military families still have the same income, with one partner in service and the other usually staying at home.
I understand that some people are being cautious, expecting this situation to last for months, but if you’re in the military, you’re not likely losing your job.
My fridge was fairly stocked, but I wanted to shop before payday and also be smart about it. When I lived in the Guatemalan jungle, I would shop twice a month in a town an hour away. I disliked shopping and supermarkets, finding it exhausting. But I did it to save gas and then enjoy a couple of weeks relaxing on the beach.
Those shopping days took between 6 and 8 hours. I started at hardware stores for house improvement items like concrete, paint, and electrical supplies, often visiting two or three stores. Then I’d hit the supermarket for guest house essentials like detergent, toilet paper, bleach, soap, and dry pantry goods. Finally, I’d visit the market for fresh food like vegetables, fruits, meat, eggs, and dairy. The market had better quality and prices but was crowded and difficult to park at. Often, I’d need extra stops for dog medicine, candles, floor mats, and other household items.
Here, I’ve been trying to figure out my shopping strategy. My main goal is to keep a high supply level to avoid shopping when I don’t want to or can’t because I’m sick. Living in the RV, we already had weeks worth of beans, rice, lentils, and canned goods. I also buy bulk packages of frozen meat at the commissary.
I usually shop at Costco for things like cheese, salmon, and pesto, which come in bigger, cheaper containers. For fresh food, I go to the Mexican chain El Super, covering about 90% of my shopping needs. About once a month, I stop by Trader Joe’s for their affordable wine and beer, and the dollar store for cheap energy drinks.
These days, I can’t handle queuing everywhere on the same day, and while I don’t enjoy unnecessary driving, it has its perks of getting me out of the house. Today, I only went to Costco. I arrived at 9:30 AM, though they open at 10, they let people in early, and I was inside within 15 minutes. By the time I left, the line was five times longer.
Having reserves has allowed me to skip crowded supermarkets, avoiding lines and choosing to shop later. Although I don’t expect the country to run out of food, I foresee some supply chain disruptions and panic when stores run out of certain items, leading people to fear they will run out of everything.
There have been talks about meat plants closing and reducing meat supply, but I’m not too worried. I bought a 4lb pack of bacon at Costco and can season meals with bacon without needing meat every time. We also have canned tuna, salmon, chicken, and plenty of other protein sources.
I don’t plan to go shopping for another 10 days or more, ideally just before payday again. How are you managing your shopping during quarantine?