Supermarket hopping

Most people are familiar with the term “club hopping”. I never participated in that unusual activity… I figured what you see in one club you’ll see in the next… loud music, lots of drinking and lots of bodies.

Ah, life in the U.S.A. brings with it some interesting behaviors.
Now, supermarket hopping is an activity of a frugal shopper. I didn’t realize George and I had joined the ranks of supermarket hoppers until I began looking at our receipts, they were pairing up: Publix and Walmart.
My mom and dad once told me that when the price of food goes up.. it never comes down. Boy where they right!

Ever since I’ve been on my own I have been a Publix shopper. I like the soft green of their logo, and their name- a play on Public. I like their deli and bakery. Back in the 80’s Publix used to close on Sundays. Then one day to my surprise they were open 7 days a week til 11:00 pm. A sign of changing times for South Florida… the days of lazy Sundays and closed supermarkets were gone.

Remember Piggly Wiggly? I saw that store once or twice… but never went in. Like, who would call their store Piggly Wiggly (Clarence Saunders ofcourse!)… say Piggly Wiggly four times really fast and you’ll start thinking there is a curly tail growing out of your back.

Albertson‘s – was in there once. Walking through the produce department made me feel like I was at a flea market. The vegetables looked wilted and old. I bought a whole chicken and it has been the worst quality chicken I have ever purchased up to now. Never been back there again.

I shopped at Aldi’s to see what the big fuss was about, Germans usually get excited bout this store. Aldi do not decorate their aisles or fill shelves. Items are placed on pallets and customers pick off from the pallets. You will also not be receiving any free bags, a personal greeter, no deli, no butcher shop, no bakery, or even a listed phone number. The store offers a shopping cart rental program. Basically, this means you will need to insert a quarter into the cart to use it. Upon returning the cart, you will receive your quarter back. – some of these concepts I liked and would love to see Publix implement them (the shopping cart rental and the bring your own bag).

Then there is Winn Dixie, supposedly known as ‘the beef people’, I can’t say for sure. I’ve been in their store a few times – I’m not drawn to the store. I feel confused when I go in there, must be the color scheme.

Another supermarket you may not be familiar with is.. Sedanos which happens to be the largest Hispanic-owned supermarket chain in the United States. You see a lot of these in Miami, if you’re of Hispanic descent you will find many cultural foods whether you’re Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican or Caribbean. What Aldi is to Germans, Sedanos is to Latins.

Lastly there is Walmart… where you can have food and a tire in your shopping cart and it’s quite normal. I never thought I’d go to Walmart to buy food. There are four items I do purhase at Walmart:
Stoney Field Whole Milk ($3.58 1/2 gallon)
Walmart brand Kettle Cooked chips ($1.98 bag)
Half-Half ($2.58)
Banana (0.59 per pound)

We are living in some interesting times- unemployment at an all time high, many people are losing their homes, the access to information leads to a lot of ‘misinformation’. There may be a select few that will not be phased by the “depression of 2012-2016”. (I am happy for them) As for me, your humble blogger – I was not spared. In the last few years I have been learning some very important lessons… and longing for those years of innocence back when I was 5 chasing chickens in my grandfathers back yard. (I was not born with a silver spoon… am working on a heart of gold though)

Daisy Says: Believe in Miracles, question authority.