Grocery shopping tips during Coronavirus quarantine #2

[Midwestmom2019]

I started stockpiling/preparing in February to ensure that I had 2 weeks of essentials. I keep that topped up. It was a $300/week for 4 weeks up front. I'd realize that I had lots of pasta but no steak. It took a month to get a balanced pantry. A month after I started prepping, panic hit the local shops with the first announced case. All I needed by then was ice cream.

I keep running out of ice cream, even though I stocked several containers before the run started on all the stores. But I just don't understand where two containers a week disappear? Basically, that’s the only thing and fresh fruit like bananas that I replenish now. I probably should use the ice cream maker and make some splendifical ice cream. Fresh peach ice cream was heaven. Real cream. Real milk. You know, the good stuff. No preservatives.

 

[PayrollNerd]

SWFL:
CVS has TP. It is the CVS brand of the septic tank safe paper. It’s the regular 12 roll pack.

 

[weepingangel]

Stopped in at the gas/convenience store tonight on the way home from work and noticed they have an entire aisle of paper products Charmin tp and some sort of paper towels.
DH reports random outs in the grocery today. A few brands of Ice cream, six packs of Pepsi, All chicken and ground beef....paper products

I’ve noticed my gas/coffee/convenience store has tp,sanitizer and some kind of masks on the counter. No clue about prices. Might be worth checking places like that also

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

In case you're shopping for a freezer......
View attachment 246142

LOL! DH and I were discussing freezers a couple of days ago. I mentioned this discussion and how it seems many have freezers in addition to their kitchen refrigerator/freezer unit. DH said that the only people he knows who have large freezers are hunters We've never had a freezer and have managed just fine with our kitchen freezer. We always have red meat, pork chops, chicken, ground turkey, and shrimp but not in large quantities. We have at least two fish meals weekly and prefer fresh fish: Grilled ahi tuna last night and swordfish tomorrow or Monday. We do a meatless dinner at least once a week, as well. I always have a few bags of frozen fruit, peas, nuts, and butter that I mostly use for baking. Ice cube trays/bin, and that's about all the freezer can handle. We have a fairly large pantry (about 4' wide, 4 shelves, plus the floor) that is always well-stocked with canned tomatoes, beans, pasta, rice and other grains, cereal, oatmeal, broth, baking supplies, spices, etc. No shortage of food in this house

 

[PayrollNerd]

LOL! DH and I were discussing freezers a couple of days ago. I mentioned this discussion and how it seems many have freezers in addition to their kitchen refrigerator/freezer unit. DH said that the only people he knows who have large freezers are hunters We've never had a freezer and have managed just fine with our kitchen freezer. We always have red meat, pork chops, chicken, ground turkey, and shrimp but not in large quantities. We have at least two fish meals weekly and prefer fresh fish: Grilled ahi tuna last night and swordfish tomorrow or Monday. We do a meatless dinner at least once a week, as well. I always have a few bags of frozen fruit, peas, nuts, and butter that I mostly use for baking. Ice cube trays/bin, and that's about all the freezer can handle. We have a fairly large pantry (about 4' wide, 4 shelves, plus the floor) that is always well-stocked with canned tomatoes, beans, pasta, rice and other grains, cereal, oatmeal, broth, baking supplies, spices, etc. No shortage of food in this house

When I was married we had a big 14 cf freezer and that was how I preserved the produce I would buy locally. After the divorce, I went without an extra freezer for a few years. But I had two teen girls to feed and I swear they eat as much as boys. Then we found out they are allergic to wheat. I had to start baking breads in advance to pack lunches. A store had a 5 cf freezer for $110 with a $10 rebate. I swooped in and snagged one. Then my Mom saw it and she's like I need one too! It comes in so handy now that we are in FL. I can fill jugs with water to line the bottom, preserve what is on sale, and bag ice cubes prior to a hurricane. I even let it sit for a year without plugging it in and it worked just fine.

 

[killarney rose]

We have always had a freezer. Maybe it's a southern thing. But I've always put up produce either from our own garden or that I've bought from a local produce farm. Peas, butterbeans, okra, squash, pears from our tree, peppers. And more. Greens, sweet potatoes, ....the bottom is full of meats.

A couple of years ago I bought the biggest upright freezer that Lowes had in stock. Currently its full. Usually this time of year it's kind of empty as we've finished what was put up the previous summer but with the current situation I'm afraid to run low.

 

[mickey2942]

Costco is doing well on making things look normal. Lots of TP, paper towels, meat, full shelves. Buuuut, if you are looking for specific items, you can see that there are some supply issues. No Kirkland bacon, plenty of the extra thick cut bacon.

All in all, a good trip. Missing the samples. And wearing a face mask full time is an adjustment. Everyone is definitely taking face mask and social distancing seriously here. Even kids have their masks on. Kudos to their parents.

 

[acutename]

about 3 weeks ago, Sam's Club had business size hand sanitizer. Then about 2.5 weeks ago, the local grocery store started to have strange off brand hand sanitizer, but only off and on with purchase limitations. I had bought one not-so-big bottle in mid-Feb before things got crazy. should have bought one or two more. now what was $1.99 costs $8.00.
never really used this item before, but do now have it with me if I need to go to the store or an office. heard a radio ad for a local distillary that will deliver hand sanitizer and vodka.

 

[acutename]

Be mindful and you will be OK on your shopping trip. Think things through. Before I leave my car I take 'inventory' ---mask, gloves, glasses with protective outer glasses on top, hat....ok, grocery list so I can move through store quickly....

If you protect yourself and stay aware of your surroundings, you should be just fine.

I am amazed to see people in stores without gloves. do see everyone in stores masked (mandatory now) but little kids are sort of off and on with their masks and they do touch their faces... BTW, in a few stores, I have seen employees phoning (family and friends?) about cleaning products so not surprising when things "disappear" from store shelves as soon as they are restocked.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

I am amazed to see people in stores without gloves. do see everyone in stores masked (mandatory now) but little kids are sort of off and on with their masks and they do touch their faces... BTW, in a few stores, I have seen employees phoning (family and friends?) about cleaning products so not surprising when things "disappear" from store shelves as soon as they are restocked.

We've used up our surgical gloves, and I tried to order some through our BCBS OTC catalog. Both masks and gloves are currently out of stock and on back order. Agent told me that they might be available in early June. I was able to get more than one use from gloves that I wore by rinsing them after use, but gloves ripped when DH removed them. Thorough hand washing before and after a trip to the market will have to suffice for now. We are set with masks for a while and even use them more than once. Local stores require masks, but no one is insisting that customers wear gloves. Some do; most don't.

 

[PayrollNerd]

We've used up our surgical gloves, and I tried to order some through our BCBS OTC catalog. Both masks and gloves are currently out of stock and on back order. Agent told me that they might be available in early June. I was able to get more than one use from gloves that I wore by rinsing them after use, but gloves ripped when DH removed them. Thorough hand washing before and after a trip to the market will have to suffice for now. We are set with masks for a while and even use them more than once. Local stores require masks, but no one is insisting that customers wear gloves. Some do; most don't.

I’ve been tossing around the idea of making a pair of gloves out of a heavy T-shirt. Not that it’s going to do as well as real gloves. I was thinking it’s better than nothing.

 

[Tutter]

I am amazed to see people in stores without gloves. do see everyone in stores masked (mandatory now) but little kids are sort of off and on with their masks and they do touch their faces... BTW, in a few stores, I have seen employees phoning (family and friends?) about cleaning products so not surprising when things "disappear" from store shelves as soon as they are restocked.

I don’t wear gloves, I don’t see how they are useful for me. They don’t protect anyone else, a dirty glove is the same as a dirty hand. I use sanitizing wipes in the car after shopping and then wash as soon as I get home. The virus isn’t leaking in through the skin! All the waste and disposables bug me too.
MOO

 

[IceIce9]

I don’t wear gloves, I don’t see how they are useful for me. They don’t protect anyone else, a dirty glove is the same as a dirty hand. I use sanitizing wipes in the car after shopping and then wash as soon as I get home. The virus isn’t leaking in through the skin! All the waste and disposables bug me too.
MOO

I wear gloves, and peel them off, keeping them inside out, before opening my car door handle.

I work in healthcare, and wearing gloves is a reminder to me not to touch my face. It is amazing how often we all touch our faces without realizing it!

 

[IceIce9]

We've used up our surgical gloves, and I tried to order some through our BCBS OTC catalog. Both masks and gloves are currently out of stock and on back order. Agent told me that they might be available in early June. I was able to get more than one use from gloves that I wore by rinsing them after use, but gloves ripped when DH removed them. Thorough hand washing before and after a trip to the market will have to suffice for now. We are set with masks for a while and even use them more than once. Local stores require masks, but no one is insisting that customers wear gloves. Some do; most don't.

Restaurant supply stores in our area sell disposable vinyl gloves, and also food service stores like GFS. One of my friends just bought a bulk package of 10 boxes with 100 gloves in each for $30.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I don’t wear gloves, I don’t see how they are useful for me. They don’t protect anyone else, a dirty glove is the same as a dirty hand. I use sanitizing wipes in the car after shopping and then wash as soon as I get home. The virus isn’t leaking in through the skin! All the waste and disposables bug me too.
MOO

It’s great that you’re healthy enough to not need to wear gloves. I am not. I am a blood cancer patient and even a small cut can cause big trouble. We don’t know yet all the ways this virus can be transmitted.

Yes, it’s a lot of waste but so are disposable grocery bags that everyone has been forced to go back to using.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

Restaurant supply stores in our area sell disposable vinyl gloves, and also food service stores like GFS. One of my friends just bought a bulk package of 10 boxes with 100 gloves in each for $30.

Before they became a precious commodity, I used to wear surgical gloves for gardening When we go to the nursery for our annuals and potting soil, I will get a nice pair of gardening gloves, and I also need new garden shears. When I'm able to purchase surgical gloves and masks, they will be used strictly for protection.

 

[JrzyGirl70]

I went into my Local pharmacy today (NOT a chain). They had masks, hand sanitizer, gloves and drum roll.... Clorox Wipes. I felt like I hit the lottery. Sad that this is what now makes me happy. But a small reminder to shop Local.

 

[crhedBngr]

It’s great that you’re healthy enough to not need to wear gloves. I am not. I am a blood cancer patient and even a small cut can cause big trouble. We don’t know yet all the ways this virus can be transmitted.

Yes, it’s a lot of waste but so are disposable grocery bags that everyone has been forced to go back to using.

RBBM

Yes, that is a disappointment; I much prefer our non-disposable bags.

I have been using the disposable ones for my masks when I hand them over to Joanns.

 

[katydid23]

We've used up our surgical gloves, and I tried to order some through our BCBS OTC catalog. Both masks and gloves are currently out of stock and on back order. Agent told me that they might be available in early June. I was able to get more than one use from gloves that I wore by rinsing them after use, but gloves ripped when DH removed them. Thorough hand washing before and after a trip to the market will have to suffice for now. We are set with masks for a while and even use them more than once. Local stores require masks, but no one is insisting that customers wear gloves. Some do; most don't.

You know the thin plastic produce bags, they have on wheels in the produce deprtment?

They can be used as 'mitts' in case you don't have gloves with you. I saw it mentioned here and I tried it one day when one of my gloves ripped and I had to throw it away.

 

[katydid23]

I don’t wear gloves, I don’t see how they are useful for me. They don’t protect anyone else, a dirty glove is the same as a dirty hand. I use sanitizing wipes in the car after shopping and then wash as soon as I get home. The virus isn’t leaking in through the skin! All the waste and disposables bug me too.
MOO

I think they are useful to me and my husband, and here is why.

When I go to the market, I am touching grocery items that others may have touched or breathed or coughed upon. And I am putting in my pin code on a machine that has been touched all day long....

So gloves help for 2 reasons...one, I am much less likely to touch my face when my gloves are on. It makes me way more aware of my 'dirty' hands when they are encased in plastic.

And 2, as soon as I reach my car, I can peel them off , throw them away in a bag I use for that purpose, and sanitize my hands immediately. That way I am not bringing any of the ick that I touched back home with me.

I feel like the gloves are a better barrier than just touching things with my skin, in my mind anyway. Who knows?