Shopping

  (Yes, I'm pretty much going to ignore the long absence.)

  At the beginning of this year, something very helpful to a lot of families who want to shop responsibly happened - Walmart increased it's wages.  In most areas, a $10 an hour wage is a living wage.  Is it my go to for shopping?  No.  Do I now utilize the Neighborhood Walmart that is my closest grocery store?  Yes.  We even got a Sam's Club membership - though we will likely not renew as we have only used it twice in the four or five months we've had it.  Having grown up with Costco, we've had a Costco card since we came back stateside.  I *knew* that was what I wanted, both because Walmart paid poverty line wages and because they had what I like.  Having both and being able to compare them in a better way (because a walk through just isn't the same), there are very few things I'd get at Sam's over Costco.  Ok, there's one.  Bread.  They have this amazing vegan bread there.  It's fairly healthy, but still not a top choice.  It's ridiculously delicious though.  My son likes it better because they always have samples when we go in and there are more of them.  Sample and Buffet King, people.
  So, back to the stores that are actually close to me.  I have a Neighborhood Walmart, Vista Market (which is a Mexican grocer), and a Super Target.  Seriously, that's it.  Everything else is over fifteen miles away.  I am looking forward to the Sprouts opening in February, but until then, Sprouts is about every other month for shopping.

Neighborhood Walmart:  here's the great thing about Walmart, they price match.  If it's only one or two items, they don't even ask you for the advertisement.  Nice.  I've had some very friendly people tell me that avocados were on sale 3/$1 and once 10/$1!  At Los Altos.  Notice you haven't heard mention of Los Altos?  Yeah, 20 minutes for avocados is not happening.  They carry a pretty good range of organic products, and they are very competitively priced outside the Commissary, Costco, and sales.  They are my go to for quick trips and last minute "oops, I forgot"s.

Vista Market:  Mexican grocers have a great thing in the produce section.  I've never seen produce so inexpensive and still be such good quality.  However - you need to pay attention to when they stock as their produce does tend to go bad faster.  Don't overbuy because of how inexpensive it is.  Their organic produce is more expensive than other stores, so stick with things outside the dirty dozen.  (We like Los Altos better - if you're in El Paso, hit them up if they're closer.  Bigger produce section and a restaurant inside?  Heck yes!)

Costco: We hit up Costco about once a month for the bulk shopping.  Flour, milks, oats, spices, chocolate chips, a splurge or two if it's in the budget.

Sprouts:  Every other month, if needed.  Bulk nuts, things for granola, sale produce.  A few other odds and ends.

Albertson's:  Now, I don't eat meat at all, but the boys do.  I've never seen sales on meat like I have at our Albertson's.  Even my MIL hasn't seen them in Phoenix, so for sure there's a location thing here.  Since we don't have it often, I'm not as adimant that it be organic or grass fed.  DH gets steaks, both boys are happy.  I get another day off from cooking.  They also carry Shamrock Farm's organic milk, so we pick some up since DH likes it better than the Costco stuff (mostly we use Costco organic milk though).  They also carry Califa Farms coffee creamers.  Hi!  Yum.  I reserve this for iced coffee only though since coconut milk gets super thick in the fridge and iced coffee doesn't thin it back out.  They will also have 10/$10 deals.  Depending on what it is (always coconut milk), I may pick up some of those as well.

Commissary:  I know this will not apply to a lot of you, but I do some shopping at the commissary as well.  They are the only ones locally who carry my "butter" of choice.  I also pick up vital wheat gluten and ground flax seed there.  Stay out of the produce, it's generally more expensive - I don't care what they say.