I am posting my official year-end results for my "stop shopping at WM" campaign. While I was not altogether successful, as faithful readers will know, I DID have a significant drop in the amount of money I spent there this year. I had several relapses through the year where my attitude was "it's convenient, and cheap, dammit." But the last couple of times I was in there, before Christmas, I was SO angry at how few people they had working the registers at the busiest time of the year, and the general malaise I felt just being in the building, that I have renewed resolve to keep out.
Here's my official tally:
Amount spent in 2006 at WM: $8587
Amount spent in 2007 at WM: $4669
That is still a depressing $389 per month average that I spent there, but the big picture is that I only spent roughly HALF of what I spent the year before!!! And in reviewing the last six years in Quicken, I consistently spent between $8000 and $9000 per year each of those years at WM.
Now with that said my grocery bill did increase by approx. $1000 from previous years. However, I do have some explanation. First, I bought a LOT more organic foods this year, which are more expensive. Organic milk alone is twice as expensive as regular milk. Also, I think groceries have just been higher this year because of increased fuel costs. And last, I had several "big grocery weeks" when we were buying food for large groups of people (beach, birthday party, etc.).
I looked up what WM's annual sales are and it was something like $346 billion so imagine the impact my $3900 had on them! Ha! Okay, so imagine if each family cut their WM spending by half and spent their dollars elsewhere. That might get their attention.
8 comments:
ho ho!
that's really amazing. congratulations on a year of wm reduction! will you continue this noble pursuit into 2008?
Absolutely. I have the goal of reducing it by half again, if not more.
Good work, perhaps the evil empire will feel the results of your disapproval.
In relation to your organic milk quandary, I've notice that in S. Florida we have several organic choices and some are almost the same price as the regular cow juice.
I shudder each time I even go to the stores next to Walmart here. Anyone know if those stores pay rent directly to Walmart, i.e.does Walmart always own their own property, or are all the stores all leases to a property management?
Regardless, it remains the only store that has many necessities we need within 40 miles...and the cost of gas, as well as consumed time, deters us from going afar.
However, the internet is helping some. Even buying that way is going down the tubes as prices of shipping continues to climb...
You will be relieved to know that WM typically does not own anything more than their store (and parking lot, or portion thereof)and quite often they don't even own their building. They don't need to go into the landlord business since developers and businesses drool at the thought of having such a fine establishment draw business to their beautiful stripmall.
As if there weren't enough reasons to avoid the place, they are also an environmental problem maker. Besides the mall, do you know of a larger parking lot? Unfortunately the small towns that are happy to get one don't stand up for themselves and they get the "basic model" - - boilerplate and cheap. Have you ever seen a tree in the parking lot? A grass island? Do you realize how much of our precious rain water falls on the roof of that multi-acre building to only go down a rain spout and out to a creek, never getting the chance to infiltrate into the ground? The parking lot is even worse - - all the oil, grease and sediment that is washed into the storm water system eventually ends up in a creek or river. Granted they have to get a permit from the State but what municipality is going to stand up for itself and it creeks against the mighty WM on a permit issue when they want the jobs?
I think all of you live in states without water issues - - - I'm in the biz and was surprised that anyone outside of CA and the deserts were in a water crisis but living here for 4 years has brought it home. This year is worse because we are 20" short on rainfall. Typically we get 51". Hard to believe that a state that routinely receives an inch of rain a week for years goes into a tailspin because we are 20" short one year. And yes, there are lots of other problems, but they go back to water management. We're getting screwed by users upstream cutting us off - - but why? Because they have acres of rain falling on their WM and going into a creek not into their aquifers so they take more than their share from the river.
Pardon me, I've been on my soapbox all day.
Yeah, but you're like an environmental hippie chick with issues, aren't you?
Face it, the Deep South is screwed because too many people have moved there for retirement or careers or whatever than can be naturally supported by the water table. Atlanta is especially a problem--in SO many ways--because it is too damn big for the natural resources around it.
I was reminded today of the sneakiness of WM's deceit. They get us in the door with the promise of "low low prices" but it isn't necessarily so. Case in point: the same brand and style of pantyhose at Walgreens was fifty cents cheaper than at Wal Mart. Not a whole lot of money I realize, but it adds up over time--for me, and for them.
Walgreens, CVS, Kroger, etc. are all good at low prices, IF you catch sales, or take advantage of their cash-back programs. The big problem for me, and for most consumers, is having time to shop around for these items. Still, I'm making a definite effort to shop the smaller stores more often.
And no, WM does NOT have the lowest prices in town. Their children's clothing, for example, is often more expensive than brands like Old Navy, and sale items at The Gap, or even in anchor stores like Dillards.
I think somehow they have figured out which items most Americans will happily pay the lowest price for...not matter what....and those items are much cheaper than anywhere else. Once they've lured you in the store you are already there, so you shop for more items, and presto, you've ended up spending more money than you intended to!
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