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I'm curious about ya'lls shopping habits. we use a lot of fresh foods so I shop often during the month. I keep a running list and just pick up what I need.
Linda currently at Rainbows End, Livingston, Texas
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Fulltiming since Katrina, on the road since Sept 06, just me and Jim and dog named Boo!
We're pretty much the same way. We try to plan a few days ahead, but we typically buy just a few things at a time. We also like to shop specialty grocery stores, like Trader Joe's and Penzey's spices. Sometimes it takes us a few trips to find a store we like. Even at home it seems I can never get everything I need at one store. Happy travels,
We shop once a week getting the basics from Wally world and fresh produce form local markets (sometimes Wally will have decent produce but not always). We're trying to eat healthy and the healthy stuff cost more. We tend to eat well in the RV 'cause we don't really enjoy restaurant food (except breakfast occasionally).
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Wandering America 2006 38' Cedar Creek Custom 2500 HD GMC Sierra Duramax Diesel
We usually go for groceries once a wk and to usually a Sams club or Wally or a grocery store that is in our area. I do buy fresh fruits and veggies when in season and like to find a market that carries them. Like here in Tucson where we now are there are lots of fresh oranges on just about every corner here right now. I also love my little freezer instead of a washer and dryer. The little freezer is a saving for us. southwestjudy & Bob & 2blackdogs
Food is one of our passions, and we shop a lot. When we hit a new place the first thing we do is survey the local markets for the best produce, meat, etc. We're probably in a market at least every other day.
We have a tendency to see a recipe on a morning show, or Food Network and the next thing we're changing plans and shopping for dinner. With all the moving we did last year I think Jo has joined the Savers Club of every food chain in the country by now. We need a rubber band to keep the pile together.
Life is good on the road, every area has their specialties.
Like Fred, I see a recipe online or tv and want to make it! Jim would prefer I get my groceries from Walmart but I sometimes find local stores have better produce. We also have the option of comissary shopping when near a military base and I will get my staples there.
we're in a 5th wheel and if we're far from shopping I'll take my list with me whenever we're out and pick up necessary items. Like yesterday, I was out for a haircut so I stopped at HEB, I love my fresh veggies!
Judy I'd rather have my w/d. I have a side by side refrigerator and the freezer is big enough for our needs. I use my food saver so I really don't worry about freezer burn. I hope the oranges are well priced. the freeze they had in Californina is bound to raise the price of all citrus
Linda
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Fulltiming since Katrina, on the road since Sept 06, just me and Jim and dog named Boo!
We also find it an adventure to find the groceries and farmers markets in the areas we travel. There are still regional differences in this country when you go to the local places. We also have a stack of grocery cards and we also note which ones have Kroger brands since in most cases the saver cards are interchangable. We do find it interesting that when we ask at many campgrounds where the supermarkets are they tell us where the Super Wal-Mart is. I think that says something about many RVers, or maybe about those who work at campgrounds. We try to avoid buying meat at Super Wal-Mart, almost none of it is pure meat and sometimes the "enhanced with ..." ingredients cause Diane problems.
When we go into a new area we try to walk through the local supermarkets and note what we can get. Chains can vary a lot between locations. Some stores have really nice deli's and bakeries, others are very plain. Prices can vary a lot also, we know places where Albertson's is the most expensive and others where it is the cheapest.
Some of our favorites are HEBs in Texas, Publix in the South (mostly Florida), Trader Joe's whereever we can find them, Real Canadian Superstores in western Canada, Larry's Markets around Seattle.
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Bill Joyce, 40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com Full-timing since July 2003
Oranges here in Tucson for a bag full is 2.00 to 3.00, still not bad. I perfer to go to the laundry here in the pks as would rather put in 3 loads at once and have it done in an hr or so, anyway one of the main reasons for my little Advanti freezer iinstead of a w/d is because I buy a 25 lb bag of New Mexico chilies each yr already roasted for the freezer. Luv the green that comes from Hatch, and the red from Chimayo. Upon selling the house and being full time we had to have our chilie fix!! southwestjudy & Bob & 2blackdogs
Just out of curiosity, especially for you folks who like remote campsites, do you use anything special to keep cold items cold on the way back from the grocery store, or do the standard (i.e. cheap!) styrofoam ice chests do the trick?
We have one of those Coleman hot/cold chests that hooks to a 12volt (cigarette lighter) plugs. We use it when we have a ways to go from the groceries to our RV and it fits in the back of our Honda CRV which has a 12v plug in back. Cost us about $100 and they still sell them. The best deal was the Coleman outlet in Foley, AL for under $60.
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Bill Joyce, 40' 2004 Dutch Star DP towing an AWD 2020 Ford Escape Hybrid Journal at http://www.sacnoth.com Full-timing since July 2003
We bought a inexpensive 12 volt cooler at Wal-Mart which we keep in the truck. It's also good to keep water or lunch cool when we're out for the day. Fred
special to keep cold items cold on the way back from the grocery store~~~~~
we bought a cooler that folds up! I think coleman makes it. we always have bottles of ice in the freezer and we pop those in the cooler. it's small so I have to shope wisely!
Linda
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Fulltiming since Katrina, on the road since Sept 06, just me and Jim and dog named Boo!
At this time Sherri and I are stationary, but when we are traveling we like to keep the old trailer as lite as possible. Like Fred, Darrell and Judy we like to shop. Hey that is part of the fun! Find that fruit stand or Vegy stand and get all the fixens for tonights meal. Tomorrow...that is another day...start over. No need to load up too much stuff if you have access to Wally World and all the other stores. Besides, look at it this way, the exercise you get from strolling through all these markets will work off those calories! Then....You can eat more!