Sunday, December 20th, 2009...11:32 am
The Pre-Storm Supermarket Rush
We got hammered with about a foot of snow this past weekend, as did most of the Mid-Atlantic and the Northeast. However, I knew enough not to head out to the supermarket for any last-minute supplies. Have you ever made that mistake, when snow is forecast, and found your supermarket packed with panicked shoppers? As one of my Facebook friends said, it’s a snow storm not the snow-pocalypse!
But the truth is it always seems like people are stocking up on bread, milks and eggs before it snows. Interesting choice. I always associated snowy days with hot cocoa, not French toast!
This past week Stop & Shop took a look at what the pre-storm shoppers were stocking up on, and here’s what they found:
- Milk and Bread sales are up: 50%
- Soup sales are up: 30%
- Baking aisle needs are up: 100%
- Ground Beef & Bacon are up: 30%
- Soda, Snacks and Beer Sales are up: 30%
- Battery & Flashlight sales are up: 100%
- Bottled Water up: 40%
- Rock Salt, snow shovels and windshield washer fluid are up: 400%
I don’t know about you, but I still prefer to stock up when the price is right–such as bread for about a buck a loaf–not when snow is forecast. How can you expect to remain true to your frugal mission if you’re shopping in a panic?
You are so right on! Panic shopping is not smart. Unless one lives fin remote Montana, the chances
of being stuck for more than a day are pretty remote. And what’s with all that bottled water??!!
I never understood the panic people create when a storm is coming. I could see buying extra milk and bread, but all the other stuff…was there ever a bad weather that closed the road for days at a time? We all have so much stuff in our pantries that would easily last a week, I am sure. As you said, buy extra items when they are on special, rather than shop in a panic.