When do you run errands?

jiffy-pop · February 2012

Being a working mom, I have to pick DD up around 5:00 right after work. Sometimes I can go by the store and get a couple things but most of the time I'm in such a hurry to see DD because I'm away from her so long during the day I can't stand to prolong that time by going shopping during the week.

I can't really pick DD up and then do my shopping because I work in town and she is 30min from town. Plus that would mess up her afternoon routine of taking a cat nap, eating, taking a bath/play time, eating again, and going down for bed at 7:30.

So I need to do my shopping on the weekends which is hard becuase I like to use my weekends for fun stuff and getting things done around the house.

I guess I'm not really looking for advice (but would take it) I just want to know what other moms do to run errands and go shopping.

Buffy2010 · February 2012

I know how little time you have and that you do not want to waste it.

I used to enjoy running errands with my infants. It is easier to do when they are young and still in car seats. Sorry, no advice here except that if you don't take your kids with you on errands, it is going to get harder and harder to get things done.

Julz629 · February 2012

Is it possible to run any errands on your lunch break? I have only been back at work 3 weeks, but I try to do most of my stuff during a lunch break. Grocery shopping is easy enough when it's cold and I can leave the stuff in my car for a few hours, but I'll have to change it up when it gets warmer. Or how about after bedtime?

DS goes to bed a little later (9pm), but I save most of the stuff (i.e. cleaning up from dinner, storing milk, making bottles, etc) for after he goes to bed so that I can enjoy the few hours I get with him.

Also, I do a lot more grocery shopping at Costco so I can make just one big trip a month and then a few other small trips for the in between stuff.

kita09 · February 2012

your situation is like mine so i do my errands on the way to pick LO up from daycare. i can only get in about one store/errand a day, 30 minutes or so.

KathrynMD · February 2012

I grocery shop on weekends. If I go during the week for somethng small, I'll either grab it at CVS/Rite Aid at work or ask DH to go on his way home or if its something I really to do myself, I'll go after DD is in bed.

When DD was really little, we would go grocery shopping early on Saturday or Sunday mornings. It forced me to get out of the house adn the stores weren't crowded and I just chit chatted away w/ DD and cooed and sang to her, etc.

Now, I will take her too, but its generally easier/quicker to go alone and leave her with DH.

ITGurl0626 · February 2012

I am in the same exact boat as you so to speak. I have just accepted that errands will be done on weekends. I take my LO with me & we do our thing, that way I am spending time with her & being productive all at once.

Five Months to Plan · February 2012

I make a list and do grocery shopping on the weekends. Sometimes I take DD other times, she stays with DH. I actually run to Wal-mart in the morning before work and after the gym so around 6:30. I love 24 hour places are open so early. Other errands like target, mall etc I usually take DD. She loves people so even going to target is so much fun for her.

superaunt · February 2012

i buy a lot of crap online and do anything else i have to do during my lunch break. DH will pick up the rest (groceries) on his way home from work. she actually likes going shopping so we do hit up the Target on the way home sometimes, too.

catsinawindow · February 2012

I run errands on the weekends, too. I hear you, it stinks, and usually takes the better part of one day. If we have the time (and $$) we sometimes try to get a bit of grocery shopping done during one weekday after work. We generally have to eat out if we're doing this, however, b/c there won't be time to make dinner once we get home.

I wish there was a better way, too. Same goes for cleaning and laundy...sigh...

Iblamethebeer · February 2012

I can't stand the grocery store (and other big box stores) on weekends -- the crowds really slow the process down.

I go at night after the kids are asleep. It's a struggle to get out of the door after I'm already "home" but it's so easy to run through the stores then, and when I come home to a quiet house DH and I can unpack quickly.

I feel like errands can really take over your weekend if you let them. If you're not a night person, then I like the idea, above, of going first thing in the morning on a weekend.

financialdiva · February 2012

I'm lucky that I have a ton of stores right next to where I work. I can run to Target on my lunch hour. I can even run to the post office, or the mall as well b/c they are close.

I big pink puffy heart Amazon Prime.

Grocery shopping usually gets done with DS on Friday after work. Sometimes I'll wait and do it Saturday morning without DS.

Steph_NJ · February 2012

I buy a lot of stuff online and useAmazon's Subscribe and Save. Even with the changes in that program it's worth it to me. I work in the city and take the train to work so I can't do a ton of shopping at lunchtime (too much to take home with me), but I do banking at lunch time (there's a branch near my office) and some light grocery shopping. I pay bills during lunch. Sometimes I'll give DH a shopping list and have him go out on his lunch hour.

I stopped making extra trips (like to Target and Trader Joe's) because they were taking time out of the weekend. Instead I just get everything at the grocery store. We pay a little more but my time is worth more, so it works for me.

When DD was your LO's age, I'd get her to sleep then go out to Target or the grocery store sometimes, just to get some "me time." Now that DD goes to bed later that doesn't work.

It's varied and I change it up depending on DD's bedtime, what we're doing with our weekends, etc. If I'm feeling stressed out I re-evaluate and make changes.

Pesky · February 2012

Sometimes I try to go during the middle of the day or swing by for a quick pick up after I drop off the kids (non-perishables only). But usually, the brunt of it falls on the weekend or DH will run out during his workday as his schedule is more flexible as he works from home.

ASmallWonder · February 2012

I food shop on the weekend. It takes me about an hour and I usually go while he's napping and DH stays behind and cleans up/folds laundry. If it's something I HAVE to have before the next day (like meds at the pharmacy) I just wait until DH gets home/LO goes to sleep and then run out or have DH pick it up on his way home.

jesspacatc · February 2012

K was (and is) an earlier riser, so we do our big grocery shopping trip on the weekend (we are usually home by 9 so stores aren't so crowded). If I have to hit up Target or something, I try to do it before I pick her up, or I do it first thing on the weekend on the day I don't go grocery shopping. It works well for us because I don't like going to crowded stores myself, let alone with a toddler.

ElopeToHawaii · February 2012

I work in a pricey DC suburb, but the upside is that I can walk to lots of places and get an hour for lunch. I can go to CVS, two independent kids bookstores, a variety store that seems to have everything, hardware store, Barnes & Noble, accessories store, and grocery store. So, I can get food, prescriptions, personal products, and nearly any birthday present I need all on my lunch hour. I also order a lot of stuff from Amazon.

Trips I do make:

I don't usually do much grocery shopping at lunch (although I can), so DH makes a trip with DS while I'm at swim class with DD.

BJs to get diapers, wipes, bulk stuff.

Bed, Bath, and Beyond to get K-cups. Still the cheapest I can get small boxes with the coupons.

Although I love wandering around Target, it's rare that I do anymore as I don't need to and don't have the time. I still shop with coupons and sale flyers (I'm really good with CVS!) but admit that I probably spend more for convenience. As working parents, that's OK with me and DH!

WinesNotWhines · February 2012

I try to go to Target on my lunch break (once a week or every-other-week) because it's close to my work.

I do grocery shopping on weekend mornings, or sometimes DH does it, and we usually take the kiddo with us. He's young enough that he still thinks grocery shopping is fun, and he "helps" by putting things in the cart and on the belt at check-out.

mben1119 · February 2012

I go whenever we need things. DH just stays home with LO.

Mrs.Handy · February 2012

Grocery shopping is done alternately by me or DH on Sunday or Saturday night without DS.

Every now and then DH or I will run out after he goes to bed. Otherwise, we do online shopping for most of our purchases. I really don't like running errands especially during the week.

Also, I will run errands on my lunch break that can easily be done from work like going to the post office, bank, etc.

lexigrl · February 2012

I use Peapod and get them delivered or I go on the days I work from home. We still end up doing errands together at least one day on the weekends but don't usually spend the whole day on them. I am home everyday the days I am in the office by 4:15 and the kids are at home with a sitter instead of daycare so I don't have to worry about picking them up. I do all my banking online and pay bills online.

cottonlily84 · February 2012

Mostly on Saturdays, which stinks. Sunday I spend cleaning, doing laundry and trying to get everything ready for the work week ahead. I spend my whole existence either at work or getting ready to go to work it seems. DH picks DD up in the afternoon but kinda like you I work 45 minutes from home. So I either prolong the time away and go to the grocery store or get dog food or whatever in the evenings on the way or I wait til Saturday. Last night we went to the store all together because we were almost out of food! So we wound up home late and nothing ready for today until really late. Basically I have no system, just trying to keep my head above water!

SunMoon&Stars · February 2012

I have an odd schedule (I work in a hospital). It's Mon-Thurs 11:30 AM -9:00 PM. I try to do errands and/or housework in the morning, take DD to DC around 10:30, then DH picks her up in the afternoon. I do stuff on Fridays, too.

stephy1221 · February 2012

lexigrl:
I use Peapod and get them deliverede.

this. Small stuff I try to do on my lunch break but peapod is the real timesaver.

jf198400 · February 2012

Since your LO goes to bed at 7:30, could you run out after she's asleep? I pretty much have to run my errands on the weekend. I pick DD up from DC everyday around 5:45 right before they close at 6. There's no time for me to go before pick up and evenings are just way too hectic. If we desperately need something like a gallon of milk, I have DH pick it up on his way home. I try to eliminate as many errands as I can by shopping online. Amazon is my best friend.

Luckie519 · February 2012

I try to do most of my errands on the way to and from work. We live about 35-45 minutes away from a lot of things. We only have one grocery store in my city, so going to anything like Target or Wal-Mart is a hike. I try to group all the out of city errands together and run them at the same time.

eSynergy · February 2012

I do miscellaneous errands on my lunchbreak, and then grocery shopping is usually early Saturday morning or when DS is napping.

Sometimes we'll do random errands at night after DS is in bed...last night I ran to Target and BRU after DS was in bed. I didn't get home until 9 which was annoying, but at least I won't have to spend my whole Saturday doing it.

ETA: I keep a running "do to" and "to get" list in my handbag that I carry everywhere...I guess it kind of helps to know what we need at all times.

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