Did the Math!

     I did the math. I don't always do Math. In fact, to me, Math is a four-letter word, and I choose not to use it most of the time. I will refer to it if needed. Today, is one of those times when doing the math actually paid off. I may do it again if I keep getting these types of results.  I typically shop for food online at Kroger because I lived in the city, and not just in the city, but in the center of the city, and the grocery stores near me were always crowded and not with the most favorable people. I didn't feel all that safe.

    Not only did I not feel safe in the stores, but I also hated parking far enough away so that people didn't ding my car, scratch it, key it, or just walk by and kick it for no reason. No, I didn't live in Hell; it was Oklahoma City, but it's becoming increasingly bad; the behavior of the younger set has become outrageously dangerous in some cases, and just overall uncomfortable. I had to move, so I did. Now that I'm in a much smaller city, I can (and I will) shop at the stores instead of ordering online, and here's why.

    Kroger Delivery is a great place to shop. It truly is. It has just about everything you can imagine, but it is, if you can imagine, a little more expensive than a Walmart Superstore. Not only will I save on the overall costs, I won't have to tip the driver $10 each time they come out -- which was about 3 times a month, so $30 a month, is in and of itself worth going to the store myself as long as I feel safe and I don't have to stand in a long unmoving line to get to the cashier who could really care less if you're there or not. This was the experience I had over and over again in the "Big City" Walmart or just about anywhere I shopped except maybe Trader Joe's, but that's a whole other story, right there.

    I did the math. I went to Walmart in my fair city today, and I bought $77.63 (after tax) worth of food. I didn't buy anything that wasn't edible. I did this on purpose to make a true comparison.  I drove home, unpacked my food, sat down at this very computer, and pulled up the Kroger website. I entered literally every item I had purchased earlier, and if I couldn't find the exact thing, I found the closest match. I was trying to be as fair as possible. When the total was tallied, the Kroger price tag was $90.78, and that doesn't include the $10 tip I gave the driver. So...$100.78 - $77.63 = $23.15, and we'll round it up to about a 22-23% difference.

    At Kroger, I am at their mercy as to whether they have something I ordered or if they have to substitute. I suppose the same thing can happen at another store, but I'm the one who makes the substitution if I choose to. Also, I pick out my own produce, which I will say, Kroger has always done a great job. Still, 22% over time is a big savings. I'm going to enjoy not shopping for groceries online, and because the stores here are rarely crowded, I'll be in and out with ease. Another thing, and this is huge, at Kroger, because they have refrigerated trucks to bring your food to you, the bread can become wet from condensation; ick!

    I'm not a huge fan of shopping for food now. I used to love it. I used to live for it, but now I'm more or less just ready to order it online and be done with it. Maybe being at a great store and with less drama while shopping, I'll begin to love it again. It gets me out of the house and allows me to walk more. I'm doing the steps again - not up to 10,000 or anything like that yet, but I am mobile again, and that makes a huge difference in my overall attitude and my physical well-being. Gotta keep moving...moving...moving...at least that's what I'm told.

    Another thing, and this has nothing to do with food prices. I am going to buy a toaster oven thingy that is an air fryer and all sorts of things. It's a Hamilton Beach product, and at Walmart, it is $77, but online at Amazon, because they have to deliver it, even though I pay for Prime, it's $89.  So that's another 14% savings, and it's the very same thing. No difference whatsoever except I have to get into my car and go get it - which I'll be out and about anyway, so why not? I'm thinking I'm going to buy a lot less online at Amazon now that I live in a little town with a great store.

    Walmart is not the only place to shop in my town. I don't want you to think that. There are three larger grocery stores, actually, two Dollar Generals, and a host of Mom & Pop shops that rival anything you can find on Etsy. This place is amazing. Because it's off I-40, there are a lot of little, cute shops for the passing-through visitors, and some amazing restaurants too. We have nearly every fast food chain of course, they line up around the highway. We have dozens of small, quaint, and robust joints that serve every imaginable kind of cuisine. We're the last stop as you leave Oklahoma City before you hit the wastelands -- people stop to fuel up and get what they need for the road. Because it's on Route 66, there's always something memorable to buy or give as a gift.

    So, having done the math, having put the pencil to it, I can say that I'm looking forward to saving about $100 a month on food and close to another $100 on products I found online that I didn't want to go into the Big City stores to search for. I don't go to malls anymore, but believe it or not, I don't really need to. I don't miss it.  One thing that hasn't changed since I moved to the smaller city is the internet - it's the exact same price, so no savings there.  Dog food was cheaper here - I forgot to mention that. Walmart and Sam's Club are supposed to be around the same cost, but believe it or not, the wet food I buy for Ginger is $3.49 cheaper where we live now! Woot!

    I guess what I'm saying is, I'm looking forward to being here and more so now than I was before. I was super happy to be moving here -- and now that I'm here, I'm so very happy to be so, and no, I don't think I'll make another move anytime soon. Nope...not unless it's straight up in the air!

 

Photo Credit: Pinterest.com