tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post844487139459714913..comments2024-03-19T07:48:54.021-06:00Comments on Gus Van Horn: Learn from the ProductiveGus Van Hornhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-89201572819240411032013-04-26T10:17:43.036-06:002013-04-26T10:17:43.036-06:00Dismuke,
That's similar to what I do, althoug...Dismuke,<br /><br />That's similar to what I do, although I perfected it when we lived in Boston, and used a car only about once a month. On weekends we'd rent a car, we'd plan trips to places like Walmart or Petsmart, too. <br /><br />But there was a wrinkle: Storage space in Boston was limited. Mental notes alone could too easily result in running out of something or wasting space on overstocking. I kept the habit of listing things that were running low when they got low. When time to rent a car came, we'd already have a list of what we needed.<br /><br />GusGus Van Hornhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05126749051688217781noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8839412.post-61722117896654971782013-04-26T06:26:14.152-06:002013-04-26T06:26:14.152-06:00Best bet I know to avoid time drains on shopping i...Best bet I know to avoid time drains on shopping is to get in the habit of stocking up on non-perishables, especially those you would have to make a special trip to pick up in the event you run out. For example, never have less than two sticks/cans of deodorant on hand at any time - the one you are using and a spare. And, whenever you already happen to be at the store where you can get the deodorant you like at the best price, replenish your supply at that time even though you may still have many weeks worth at home. You will save time and money by not having to make a special trip to a more expensive store when you run out. If I am at Sam's Club, I always make a mental note as to the status of my paper towel, olive oil and shaving gel supply at home. Their multi-packs of shaving gel last me about a year and their large containers/multipacks of olive oil and paper towel will last me a couple of months.<br /><br />The big challenge is when it comes to perishables. I eat a lot of produce - and most produce items don't last well much past a week. So that is a weekly chore that I cannot avoid - and I try to plan as much of the rest of my shopping on the same trip as the produce run. Produce is my biggest food expense - so saving 40 percent on produce that is better quality than I can get elsewhere is worth a bit longer drive. But since I am well-stocked on other things, if I am pressed for time, I can usually postpone stopping at other stores until the following week's produce run. <br /><br />Bottom line - if you are going to be at a store anyway, ask yourself what you can buy so that you don't <i>have</i> to make a trip back for a very long time. That is basically what people in rural areas train themselves to do. If it is a 40 mile trip to the nearest mass retailers and 12 miles to the nearest rinky dink grocery, the last thing you want to have to do is make an unplanned emergency run to the store for some eggs or paper for the printer.Dismukehttp://dismuke.org/blognoreply@blogger.com