As I was browsing through the mall the other day, I got to thinking about brands, brand loyalty and where I spend my money. As a 35 year old married woman with children, many places I shop are pretty obvious – Harris Teeter, Food Lion, Target, Carter’s, Old Navy. They make sense as I have to buy food and clothe my family.
Then I got to thinking about who really gets the bulk of our household’s paychecks (you know other than the mortgage company and utilities.) I thought really hard about this. Just because I frequent a store (cough*Starbucks*cough) doesn’t mean they end up with a large percentage of my money in all actuality.
So who does?
1. Target
I don’t think I can get around the fact that I spend more money at Target than I do anywhere else. I can get pretty much anything I want there – food, diapers, clothes for kids, clothes for me, clothes for the husband, movies, toys, stationary. It’s pretty much the happiest place on earth (sorry Disney!) And now that a few Targets in town have a Starbucks inside them, I just downright smile from ear to ear whenever I am there.
2. Grocery Stores
I am not loyal to any particular store in Raleigh, although I do shop at Harris Teeter the most since it’s the closest to my house. Lowes, Food Lion and Walmart are also not too far away. When it comes to grocery shopping, where I go depends on what I need. Harris Teeter is not the cheapest option, that’s for sure, but I usually end up there if I want French Bread, deli meat and produce.
Then I get stuck. I thought putting together a list of where I spend my money would be easy. I know that I spend hundreds of dollars at both Target and the grocery stores. But after that it gets tricky.
Most of the clothes that the kids wear are from Target, Old Navy and Carters (or hand-me-downs – HOLLA!) The bulk of my stuff comes Old Navy and Loft, although I don’t shop for myself nearly as much as I did before kids. I don’t buy clothes for the husband unless it’s his birthday, but if I do, it’s usually from Banana Republic.
We don’t go out to eat very often. I do hit up Chick-fil-A at least once a month with the kids for lunch or an easy dinner after swim lessons.
I go to Starbucks at least once a week, but now that I don’t have a full-time salary, I try to use my credit card points to pay for my chai latte habit.
I surely spend money lots of other places, but none of them jump out as securing a large percentage of money.
So I’m curious.
What stores do you frequent and who gets the bulk of your cash?
Easily Costco & Kroger…and Walmart. 🙁 Sad face.
I’m right there with you. Target and HT are where I spend my big bucks. I guess the real question is where would I LIKE to spend my money…. if the money was limitless and I had no responsibilities (ie children). I don’t even know any more, I’m so out of touch.
The vast majority of money is spread around to CVS (my son’s medications), Wegman’s and a couple other supermarkets. Come to think of it, it’s no wonder why we get so many CVS Extra Bucks.