European shopping trick

The best way not to spend too much at the grocery store—not to mention avoiding buying a lot of miscellaneous stuff that you don't really need—is to know that you have to haul it all home without benefit of mechanical assistance.

My shopping expeditions when I was living in London were perfect examples of this concept. I was limited to the volume I could fit into two shopping bags and the weight I thought I could carry home (one-way streets made bus rides to the store easy but from the store not so helpful).

I practice this European way of shopping [at least it's the traditional European way] occasionally here in the heart of the USA by riding my bike to my local HEB whenever I can. Especially if I find I need a few things on the weekend. And every time I do I'm reminded of those self-limiting trips to Sainsburys and Tesco.


Now I'm limited to what will fit in my bike basket, since I'm lucky to have a grocery store within biking distance (also walking distance, but biking's more fun).

I readily admit that I don't ride to shop as regularly as my friend JaPRA, but I did make a trip today and here's my trusty steed upon arrival back home, on the left. In the basket: half gallon milk, large yogurt for smoothies, 2 pints blueberries, 1 lb. strawberries, a tub of hummus, a package of bread mix and 3 apples. Not a bad haul! For human-powered transport, that is.