This week’s fabulous comment comes from a reader named l_devere, who wisely pointed out that the value in driving far for cheap gas applies to other purchases.
This same thinking applies to grocery shopping and no one thinks to mention this (hint, hint BB). Just to start the car adds $$ to the cost of errands (I was told years ago it was ~$2.00/start). Does anyone truly save by buying meat at one store and dairy at another 3 miles away, and TP at a third, all because they’re “on sale”? The cost of your time, plus the wear and tear on your vehicle must ALWAYS be weighed when bargain hunting. Unless quality differs significantly, most of the time it is not worth it.
It’s easy to calculate vehicle wear and tear. AAA puts it at $.50 per mile. But calculating the value of your time is much harder. Do you base it on the hourly rate that you earn at work? Do you think about how busy you are? Do you weigh it against the value of doing something else with your time, say, spending time with your family?
Welcome to Bargain Babe! I’m Mara, and I’m so glad you’re here. I am an obsessive bargain hunter and penny pincher, and I am determined to live a full life without EVER paying full price. 
That’s a really good point – sometimes we lose sight of the forest for the trees! Doing 4 grocery-stops for savings that correlates to extra miles and time doesn’t make sense for some folks…And I’m guilty of making those 4 stops – one at the Farmers Market for produce, then big-chain for weekly specials, then costco for staples/bulk items (coffee, milk, eggs, some meats), then another grocery for HBA/supplies items (cheaper than big-chain). My time never gets into the savings equation, nor does wear/tear on the vehicle. Many of these errands, including driving for cheaper gas, are on my flight-path to/fro work (I work about 30 miles away from home), so I guess it could be a wash since they aren’t out of the way…or maybe I’m just rationalizing my own habitual behavior! You’ve made me think about it, at least…Thanks!
I’ve been saying this for years! I always “nagged” my sister in law about her “saving” money by going to all different stores for sale items. What about the time and gas and wear & tear?? Thank goodness someone else agrees with me! Besides – think about shopping locally – it’s good for your hometown’s economy AND the environment!
we have a local store/restaurant, Braums, which is a fast food plus grocery store, they sell a lot of items they get from their own diary, so its naturally cheaper. My daugher mentioned it the last time she was here, how much I got for the price, she lives in Orange Co, CA. I get milk, juices, yogurt, salad, fruit, The store is about 2 blocks away, so on my way home I will swing by if I need anything. I have never been one to shop here, and then there and another place, because I am like you, I don’t think its that much cost efficient. My other grocery store is 1/2 mile from my house, so both places are close by.
I actually stopped doing that years ago. One time, I went to 5 different stores that were at least 10 miles apart to get savings for ONE item. Never again!!! When I calculate my own personal costs, I base it off of what my salary would be hourly. If it’s going to cost more than my hourly pay, then I don’t do it.