Year Without Walmart Update

Sooooooo, I was doing so good. From January to about May I didn't go to Walmart but I think one time? Well, I have gone about three times over the summer. Twice because my father (who I drive on errands because of his vision) insisted on going. But at least once I went on my own volition. I admit, I was lured by the back to school prices. I happened to be in Mississippi where the state tax is lower and had an opportunity to be child free during back to school shopping. I was weak, I caved. But I did save...

Overall, it's not been hard to avoid it. I use Target, grocery stores, Amazon (GREAT prices on  Gluten Free foods if you need them! Organic too.) Wal-Mart is fairly easy to avoid.

Will I go back to shopping there when this experiment is over? Probably. But probably not at the frequency I was before. I buy less STUFF by not going there because I focus on locally owned grocery stores. I'd rather put my money in a family owned local business than a huge conglomerate. I'm blessed with a variety of stores to choose from, I realize not everyone has that choice. I appreciate the deals WM affords people, I just wanted to see if I COULD do it. Admittedly, it's not easy and I've not gone COMPLETELY without shopping at WM, but I've done pretty good.

Thanks for following my journey! I'll do a final update at the end of the year.

~~Amy

Year Without Wal-Mart Update

Well, here we are, almost May 1st. I am happy to say I have stepped foot in Wal-Mart only ONE TIME thus far this year!! In case you missed it, I decided at the start of the year to do a "Year Without Wal-Mart". Not because I had some personal beef with the company, but just to see if I could and how it would affect my spending.

Thus far, I can't see a difference spending wise. My husband says I'm spending more, but that's not what I see upon checkout. My Walmart purchases were usually in the 115-150 range every time I did weekly shopping, usually with a supplemental trip there (or elsewhere) for 40-50. I seem to be doing the same, just elsewhere.

I honestly haven't felt a difference other than I do enjoy going to the actual grocery stores more. We have a local chain of stores only in the Louisiana area, and they are locally founded with local produce and other items. It's very clean, neat, and the employees are all very pleasant and nice.

So overall, it's going well. I feel like I"m being more careful with my purchases because some things ARE more costly at regular grocery stores, but I also feel like I buy more healthy foods and less quickie foods. And I'm putting money into the local economy more so than a huge chain.  I really have no issue with Wal-Mart, I just wanted to see did shopping there REALLY save me more money. I honestly don't think so. Because often I was lured into the non food sections and buying all sorts of things I didn't REALLY need.

Now if I could curb my Target obsession...

Year Without Walmart Confessional

I caved...I made it to February!! But I've had one cave on my Year Without Wal-Mart.... I knew it would come to this. My Dad needed to go to Wm and I knew it would be hard to withstand. I actually would have made it through the entire store if not for three things:

* Rice cakes. Eli eats these like crazy and I was out. At my last grocery run to Winn Dixie they had NO regular rice cakes, only the tiny small ones, and he only eats the White Cheddar regular rice cakes. Walmart had them...so I caved for my baby.

*Reese's Puffs and Cocoa Puffs Brownie Crunch cereals.....Harrison has been asking for those and apparently they are 5 bucks or so at most 'regular' grocery stores. So when I walked by them at 2.98 a piece...yeah, I couldn't pass it up.

So those were my weaknesses....other than that I have held strong and not purchased anything else at Walmart!! So I consider it going well!

Now if I can keep my Dad out of there and encourage him to go elsewhere, I'll be okay! One slip up in 6 weeks isn't too bad...I'll keep plugging along!

For the record I've not noticed a major difference in the cost of our groceries. We are still getting the food we normally do (other than the above things I  mentioned). I use coupons when I have them for items I need, I shop at Winn Dixie for things on sale to get the fuel perks. Overall, not noticing a huge difference in life without Wal-Mart.

Interesting...



~~Amy

Year Without Wal-Mart Check In

Well, so far so good. I've done several shopping trip this month and not had to set foot in WM once. If you've no idea what I'm talking about, read my previous post here.

I've not even noticed a difference so far. I've used the local grocery stores, Amazon, and Sam's Club (yes, I am keeping Sam's because I already paid for the membership, I'm not throwing money away. There are also some business expense items I get there.)

I seem to have still spent the normal amount, no more then usual, for my groceries. Sure I've noticed some things are more costly at local grocery stores, but even if I pay 1.50 for taco seasoning versus .50.....it's still a savings when I don't buy 20.00 worth of nonsense stuff I can't resist!
I shall keep you posted, but so far, so good!
~~Amy