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How the heck do people shop without a car? Do you hand lug 50+ lbs of groceries several blocks on foot? What if you need to buy something larger than will fit i

How the heck do people shop without a car? Do you hand lug 50+ lbs of groceries several blocks on foot? What if you need to buy something larger than will fit in a backpack? I'm absolutely mystified by people who live sans-vehicular transport.

q845712 10y ago
I've lived without a car for most of my adult life (mid-30s now), and never owned one. In rough order of my own preferences, I've tried all of: 1.) I buy it someplace close and walk. 2.) I have larger-than-usual bags for my bicycle 3.) I order it online 4.) I pay for delivery 5.) I piggy-back with a friend who's driving to the same store and doesn't mind dropping me and my purchase off at my house. 6.) I rent a car 7.) I take it on public transit
cbhl 10y ago
Five factors greatly reduce the amount of food I carry home: - eating out at restaurants - having a case of Soylent at home - eating weekday breakfast and lunch at work - living alone - going to the grocery store more often (sometimes two or three times in a single weekend) so I can carry less home on each trip These things are only feasible because I live alone and I'm in my 20s.
cbhl 10y ago
Growing up, I lived in a family of six in the suburbs, and yes, we did the weekly "buy $200 of groceries in one go" car trip. But it's not always about car vs walking. It helps to just reduce vehicle miles traveled. If you have the option, that might be "drive five minutes to the local independent grocery store twice a month, instead of driving an hour to the Wal-Mart every week".
whorleater 10y ago
> Do you hand lug 50+ lbs of groceries several blocks on foot? I get my groceries multiple times a week. > What if you need to buy something larger than will fit in a backpack? I...don't usually buy anything that I couldn't fit in a backpack? When I buy furniture and other large items there's almost always a delivery service for that.
CaptSpify 10y ago
When you live in a city that doesn't assume you have a car, they put grocery stores in more logical places. Additionally, you end up only buying what you need. I just have two bags that I fill with groceries, and I only walk a couple of blocks. I generally only buy what I need for that day.
- krisroadruck 10y ago
  Do you not find that buying in small batches drastically increases your grocery bill vs buying in bulk?
  - CaptSpify 10y ago
    I wouldn't say it drastically increases the bill, but it probably does increase it a little bit. However that increase is a joke compared to the costs of owning a car. EDIT: However no, I have not done an actual cost-difference analysis on groceries.

q845712 10y ago

I've lived without a car for most of my adult life (mid-30s now), and never owned one. In rough order of my own preferences, I've tried all of: 1.) I buy it someplace close and walk. 2.) I have larger-than-usual bags for my bicycle 3.) I order it online 4.) I pay for delivery 5.) I piggy-back with a friend who's driving to the same store and doesn't mind dropping me and my purchase off at my house. 6.) I rent a car 7.) I take it on public transit

cbhl 10y ago

Five factors greatly reduce the amount of food I carry home: - eating out at restaurants - having a case of Soylent at home - eating weekday breakfast and lunch at work - living alone - going to the grocery store more often (sometimes two or three times in a single weekend) so I can carry less home on each trip These things are only feasible because I live alone and I'm in my 20s.

cbhl 10y ago

Growing up, I lived in a family of six in the suburbs, and yes, we did the weekly "buy $200 of groceries in one go" car trip. But it's not always about car vs walking. It helps to just reduce vehicle miles traveled. If you have the option, that might be "drive five minutes to the local independent grocery store twice a month, instead of driving an hour to the Wal-Mart every week".

whorleater 10y ago

> Do you hand lug 50+ lbs of groceries several blocks on foot? I get my groceries multiple times a week. > What if you need to buy something larger than will fit in a backpack? I...don't usually buy anything that I couldn't fit in a backpack? When I buy furniture and other large items there's almost always a delivery service for that.

CaptSpify 10y ago

When you live in a city that doesn't assume you have a car, they put grocery stores in more logical places. Additionally, you end up only buying what you need. I just have two bags that I fill with groceries, and I only walk a couple of blocks. I generally only buy what I need for that day.

krisroadruck 10y ago
Do you not find that buying in small batches drastically increases your grocery bill vs buying in bulk?
- CaptSpify 10y ago
  I wouldn't say it drastically increases the bill, but it probably does increase it a little bit. However that increase is a joke compared to the costs of owning a car. EDIT: However no, I have not done an actual cost-difference analysis on groceries.