Tuesday, October 26, 2010

City Shopping

Not having a car makes shopping difficult. It's great on one hand (we spend less money), and bad on the other (no milk, no eggs, no bread, and no motivation to go get them).

While I've enjoyed making meals out of the random items left in the fridge, it was time to get some staples. Today I finally made the trek. I don't know how people who REALLY live in the city do their shopping regularly. Ugh. I was grateful that I have a bag that unfolds and has wheels to help get things back home.

The store is about 10 blocks away - just under 1 mile - which isn't bad. It only takes 15 minutes to get there on foot.Here is what I carried on my walk to the store: A large shoulder bag, the folding tote, and an umbrella, because out here you never know when it might rain on you.
Here are the groceries/Halloween goodies I bought. I'm sure I looked like a nut trying to organize them all to fit into my traveling bags!
Then began the walk home. Pulling the groceries helped, but after a while my arm and back muscles were feelin' the burn. Hey, at least I got a workout in today, right?
So there you have it. My adventure shopping as a city girl. It actually isn't much different than walking to the grocery store back home, but here I get the rank city smells rising up at me as I walk to remind me that I'm not in Utah anymore : P

As a note to our mothers who will probably be asking if I couldn't find someone to give me a ride:
While we do have a neighbor with a car, I hate to make her pack up her baby, drive me to the store and wait for me to shop. So, we have it worked out that she'll call me when she's already going, then I won't feel like I'm putting her out.

8 comments:

Eeva said...

HAHAHA! Nice job! That IS a workout. I'm glad you got plenty of stuff back with you. I couldn't live without milk and eggs, and butter... I would go crazy!

Audrey Crisp said...

That's awesome. Sorry you don't have a car right now. bummer.... but you are saving money and getting a workout you're right!

Sydney said...

Hey Emily! I love your tote bag with wheels! As I read the beginning of your blog, I was really hoping you would show us the tote with wheels - and you did :-) For the time being you will shop and eat more consciously, which is good. Are you actively shopping for a car or will that be in the future?

Mark and Shauna said...

I understand COMPLETELY! We only had 1 car for 2 years (just 2 weeks ago we FINALLY got one) and I made MANY, MANY trips down to grocery store by walking. Although, it's a little easier when you have a massive stroller to put groceries in.

** By the way, you totally do save money not having a second car. In the past 2 weeks I've gone to the grocery store way to many times and spent more money than I ever did when I didn't have a car (something I need to work on... I need to plan to go only ONCE a week instead of 5:))

SydneyMin said...

wow - i am grateful for my car :) I love having two cars, though these days we very rarely use more than one of them.

Adam & Ady said...

you crack me up. I love your disclaimer :) I can just hear your mom calling as soon as she read that. :) You may have had people look at you funny but you are the perfect girl for the organization of groceries because they looked great all packed away! I would be too lazy and just never eat :) Walking a mile for food might make me begin the diet of starvation.

Katie Parent said...

sheesh. You could always do it like the Europeans and buy a little bit every day... But then you would need to live in Europe where there is a small grocery on every corner...

The 3 Nomads said...

I so feel your pain Emily. For about a year (before kids) David and I roughed it without a car. I still remember those long trips on the bus with bags in tow (we would put all of our stuff in big laundry bags and haul it like santa over our shoulder). Your a good woman!