Grocery shopping tips during Coronavirus quarantine

[FrostOwl]

Maybe a tip for other shops to copy. A grocery store in Sweden sells the first package of toilet paper for its ordinary price, for those who wants to buy more than one, the price is more than the double.
Ica-butikens system för att motverka bunkring av toapapper

A Danish shop is selling hand sanitizers, one for DKr 40, the second DKr 1,000!
Butik gør oprør mod hamstring: 1000 kr. pr. ekstra håndsprit

 

[utahobserver]

I haven't left the house since Wednesday, but Thursday I ordered a raised bed garden kit from Home Depot, should be here Monday, and I needed to go get my dirt and seeds. Went to the local Ace Hardware, no one in parking lot, got inside and was talking to the salesman from six feet away, when a guy barged in hollaring "six feet, six feet", while walking through the space the salesman and I had left between us. Doofus. Another guy came through the door and headed straight towards me, and I felt like he was chasing me, I could not get away fast enough. He clearly didn't have a clue. Another doofus. As I paid for my order, the place started to fill up, and I couldn't get out of there fast enough.

PS I have had gardens in the past, not recently, but COVID19 made me decide to put one in this year.

I love the word doofus. I’m so sorry, but I just laughed so hard at your post. It is so visual! On the one hand people just randomly shouting “6 feet” and on the other your feeling of being chased...Just weeks ago, a trip to Ace was carefree. Now it’s a thriller, and your in it!!!! I can’t shake the feeling that this is all a dream.

I am going to order some starter plants for this season. We’ve had some mild 60 degree days here in Utah, but I don’t trust it yet. Last year we had a snowstorm on March 31 that took down 1/2 of a Juniper we have. I am anxious to get my fingers in the soil. My garden gives me peace. My vinca is blooming and it makes me smile

 

[oviedo]

Local Aldi has decent supplies but no TP, bleach, flour, eggs, packages of yeast, and they are limiting canned goods to 4 and several other items like rice and package beans are 2 max - no disinfectant sprays or wipes ! I’m good for at least 8 weeks and have already shared my extra pack of TP from a few weeks ago when you all said to get an extra one - family is most grateful since it’s hard to get now

 

[otto]

Maybe a tip for other shops to copy. A grocery store in Sweden sells the first package of toilet paper for its ordinary price, for those who wants to buy more than one, the price is more than the double.
Ica-butikens system för att motverka bunkring av toapapper

That's an excellent solution!

 

[FrostOwl]

Not about shopping, but you can stream children's audiobooks for free at Audible UK at the moment, I haven't checked Audible US, if they have something similar.

 

[Gardenista]

Costco

Beginning March 24 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Costco will temporarily implement special operating hours for members who are 60 and older. The pharmacy will also be open during this hour; however the food court will maintain its normal operating schedule. These hours apply to all locations except the Business Centers, which will remain open during regular hours. Find a Costco location near you. https://bit.ly/2UofArz

 

[Dontknow?]

Costco

Beginning March 24 on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., Costco will temporarily implement special operating hours for members who are 60 and older. The pharmacy will also be open during this hour; however the food court will maintain its normal operating schedule. These hours apply to all locations except the Business Centers, which will remain open during regular hours. Find a Costco location near you. https://bit.ly/2UofArz

Our Costco's in Southern AZ have already started doing this. DH went on Wednesday morning at 8 and customers were already coming out. They are only allowing 10 people at a time inside. The line wrapped around the warehouse. He gave up.

Heads up Sprouts shoppers. Son-in-law got notice from management that as of Tuesday next week, all bulk items and self serve will be suspended.

 

[KALI]

Just went to two grocery stores in our town. It is surreal. Very hit and miss.

 

[cody22]

Expired in October 2019 baked chocolate cake announcement - Mrs.22 added some leftover Reese's Peanut Butter Chips . The cake "rose up" and tastes great.....If I do not post in the morning, yall know who to sleuth.....moo

 

[Gardenista]

Just checked Costco online and they have TP in stock

 

[xtrain]

I know there's been some discussion regarding food safety and I just came across this article, so I thought I'd post here.
Food Safety and Coronavirus: A Comprehensive Guide

 

[xtrain]

I just posted this in the "Tips" thread, but thought it might be worth posting in this thread as well.
Food Safety and Coronavirus: A Comprehensive Guide

 

[SeattleStew]

I love the word doofus. I’m so sorry, but I just laughed so hard at your post. It is so visual! On the one hand people just randomly shouting “6 feet” and on the other your feeling of being chased...Just weeks ago, a trip to Ace was carefree. Now it’s a thriller, and your in it!!!! I can’t shake the feeling that this is all a dream.

I am going to order some starter plants for this season. We’ve had some mild 60 degree days here in Utah, but I don’t trust it yet. Last year we had a snowstorm on March 31 that took down 1/2 of a Juniper we have. I am anxious to get my fingers in the soil. My garden gives me peace. My vinca is blooming and it makes me smile

Awww, glad I could make you laugh, @utahobserver . I'm a bit ambitious with the seeds, being so far north, but I just need to keep busy, and like you, I love digging my fingers into the dirt. I love vinca, it smells so good!

 

[mickey2942]

Geez, from now on, I am using self check only. I was at the store tonight, and a checker coughed all over my food. WTH?!

I have left everything in the garage for now, frozen stuff wiped off, put away stuff in garage fridge and freezer to deal with tomorrow. Half the aisles are completely empty shelves. It is disconcerting.

We totally need a mental health thread. My husband is sitting in the car, and then, wants me to go to 2 more stores and pick him up a pizza! He totally does not get it! He lives in this secure little bubble, he hasn't left the house in weeks. Head banging emoticon.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I found a box of Ghiradelli Double Chocolate Cake Mix, in a kitchen cabinet. The cake mix went out of date October 17, 2019. I have sweet talked Mrs.22 into baking it later.........I figure if we have survived the virus so far, maybe this cake mix won't kill us......Survival food for dinner tonight -Big pot of red(pinto)beans( with ham scraps in them) and homemade cornbread followed by possibly poisonous Survival Chocolate cake for dessert.....Yall come........moo

Ask Mrs 22 if she'll let you post her red bean recipe. I can never get the spices right and my beans are either too bland or too spicy. I'll take advice from West Texas on beans! TIA

 

[cody22]

Ask Mrs 22 if she'll let you post her red bean recipe. I can never get the spices right and my beans are either too bland or too spicy. I'll take advice from West Texas on beans! TIA

From Mrs. 22, The secret is Fiesta Brand Pinto Bean Seasoning and some ham pieces/scraps. Our tap water is NOT good for cooking, so I use bottled drinking water. If you want tomatoes or extra onions go for it! . . . . (Cody said I now have to moo . . . What the heck is that???)

 

[squareandrabbet]

Good news from Publix - and I spoke to more than one Publix employee about it today as they were all within earshot:

The store is refusing refunds to people who hoard certain items (we all know what they are; toilet paper, hand sanitizer, bleach) and attempt to return them. Publix is also limiting just ONE package of toilet paper when the item is restocked.

The bad news:

Some people found a new item to hoard:

Dish detergent.

Sick, and I don't mean COVID-19, either.

Strawberries are 2 for 1, and hubby and I are enjoying homemade strawberry smoothies. Yummy.

Maybe obvious and already thought-of, but a good place to get discount dish detergent and plenty of it, is at your local dollar store.

Think outside the box when it comes to shopping. One of the blogs I read recently taught me that Michael's (!), for example, stocks hand soap; which was a major surprise for me.

If you're looking for entertainment, my sister once found an entire boxed set TV series at her local feed store (! that's what I said, too). I agree that finding stuff like the DVD set is a type of thing that's really tough to predict; but if the stores are open it might be worth taking an exploratory trip to some out of your normal milieu, see what you can uncover.

 

[Auntie Cipation]

From Mrs. 22, The secret is Fiesta Brand Pinto Bean Seasoning and some ham pieces/scraps. Our tap water is NOT good for cooking, so I use bottled drinking water. If you want tomatoes or extra onions go for it! . . . . (Cody said I now have to moo . . . What the heck is that???)

Thanks, Mrs 22! And just for you -- moo!

 

[oviedo]

Awww, glad I could make you laugh, @utahobserver . I'm a bit ambitious with the seeds, being so far north, but I just need to keep busy, and like you, I love digging my fingers into the dirt. I love vinca, it smells so good!

I’ve grown lettuce from seeds - never knew it grew in a stalk ( type of seed I planted) we had fun with it - now it’s more serious and so I picked up seeds to add to my herb garden I always have growing

 

[charminglane]

Maybe obvious and already thought-of, but a good place to get discount dish detergent and plenty of it, is at your local dollar store.

Think outside the box when it comes to shopping. One of the blogs I read recently taught me that Michael's (!), for example, stocks hand soap; which was a major surprise for me.

If you're looking for entertainment, my sister once found an entire boxed set TV series at her local feed store (! that's what I said, too). I agree that finding stuff like the DVD set is a type of thing that's really tough to predict; but if the stores are open it might be worth taking an exploratory trip to some out of your normal milieu, see what you can uncover.

Walking the dog yesterday and I stopped in the liquor store for a look around. Coffee filters, sugar, crackers, laundry soap, and tons of bandanas. I guess for the gardeners that run in for a beer after work.
Our local Mexican, Mediterranean, and Korean markets are all still well stocked. Flats of eggs, milk, chicken, no problemo. For now.
Oh, my bro bought a dozen cans of Campbell's chicken noodle and tomato soup at the Korean market for our parents. Apparently those are not hot items for that community.
So Cal.