GRR.. No car. How to shop?

[Jisanne]

So everything was going good. I was getting my sunday papers, saving money then two weeks before thanksgiving it all went to heck.

We had an arrangment to use the car that we had. The people who own it came and took it back without so much of a 'hi, we're here for the car'..

But anyway. Since then I've been having to take the bus to an from work. This was no problem till the weather turned colded. Friends that live near us said they could give me rides to the grocery store and home from work. But now they are getting wierd about it. They don't let me know when they are going shopping so I can go to. Or they plan to do their shopping when I'm working.

Now, this is getting very distressing to me. The bus doesn't run by my home on the weekends and I work from noon till late in the evening.

I have no savings, so can't get a new car till tax time, hopefully. I have no way of carrying groceries home on the bus at night. (Its not a save neighborhood I work in and empty hands are better than full ones)

Does anyone know of a mail-order grocery place that delivers to central ohio?

I'm so stressed over this whole mess its not funny.

[MaryMary]

I know some store urban areas let you shop in store and leave bags for later delivery.
Check out PeaPod from Stop and Shop if they have service in your area, they'd take online orders and even accept coupons.

[PraiseAdonai]

I googled, and this is what I got:

Home Grocery Delivery, Pharmacy Delivery - Home Checkout - Summit County, Ohio Grocery Home Delivery, Acme Market, IGA, Giant Eagle, Supermarkets

I don't know the area of Ohio, but, I hope this helps you. Maybe, it is a start. Can call them too!

Sorry about the way your friends been treating you.

[derketchup]

There's always amazon.com, they have a lot of grocery items that they will deliver, with free shipping over $25.

[thickbluebug]

I know what you are going through. I had some medical problems and couldn't drive for a couple of years.
Everyone offers in the beginning, then it starts getting old for them and they forget about you, get too busy or what ever - they quit being so helpful.
I learned when I found someone else to help, the original people started saying...if you would have let us known we would have done......x.
At least that was my experience.
I felt like I was a bother to them and that I was an inconvenience. Ask them straight up if they can take you to x. Offer to pay them, if you haven't yet. Sometimes just the offer makes them know that they are appreciated.
Maybe you can find someone through a church that offers to drive and do errands until it's tax time.
Good luck.

[Clipper]

Awww, I wish I lived in OH so I could give you a ride.

People don't want to be leaned on too heavily. If somebody is helping you out you need to make sure the arrangement is at least somewhat beneficial for them, make an effort. Cook or bake something, offer to babysit, chip in a couple of bucks for gas, and/or share the good deals. Maybe you were already making an effort, I don't know. If so, then some people just don't have the perserverance to be a truly good friend.

Also, how is your attitude when you're with them? Are you complaining and whining about your circumstances or are you happy to see them and thank them for their help. Do you talk about other things? Ask them about their lives? When you need people, it's more important than ever to be pleasant to be around. And do you call them or invite them over when you don't need things? If it seems to them you're only friends with them because you need them that can be a turn off.

I'm not saying all these things to criticize you but to suggest that you really look at your behavior and see if that's affecting the relationship. It is hard to find good friends, but harder if you're not being a good friend yourself. Of course, they could just be sucky people.

I second the suggestion of calling the churches in your area to see if you can get some help that way.

[Jisanne]

I do offer gas money. originally my roommate made a deal with them to that involved him making a big purchase of something they badly needed and in exchange, they'd provide us rides. A week later that turned into a "that deal was only meant for our room mate thing" even it wasn't initially told to me that way. Then it turned into this thing where they will pick me up from work in the evenings but unless the weather is REALLY bad, they are unwilling to take me in the mornings. And even then...there are plenty of mornings I'm having to take the bus in below freezing weather. (Being from texas, I'm still not use to it after a year)

As far as conversing with them, I do but only on the extremely polite level. I've been told by the husband..who talks to my boyfriend.. that his wife gets too frustrated so I'm not to talk to her about anything.

For instance. She can come over to our place and complain a blue streak about her husband.. but we can't say anything in reply to her. We can't even say, "well, he's your husband'" for instance. Because it upsets her too much.

She'll complain to us about her family but we can't reply to her because again.. it will frustrate her too much.

And they do often come over to our place because our roommate holds a weekly game night with them...which we(boyfriend and I) participate in.

Can't wait till I get wheels again.

[Clipper]

Okay, sucky people it is then. Sorry you're in this situation. I hope some reliable form of transportation comes your way soon.

[tmsmalley]

My take is that you need to cultive some actual friends. Friends of your roommate does not equal YOUR friend. See if there's a friend or relative that will take you on one weekend day a month. Do your big shopping then and save the bread and milk runs for when you're on the bus.

Also, check and see if any of your major grocery stores do online ordering and delivery. Safeway (in my area) does. Check on their websites and you should be able to find out if it is available or not.

Isn't there a co-worker you can car pool with to and from work? Someone who is already going there (maybe one in the morning and a different one at night)? That would be a lot easier sell than getting someone else to go out of their way both to your work and your home.

Finally, don't assume you can't afford a car. Most car dealers and killing themselves for customers right now. It might be worth it to find out if there's a deal for you on a decent used car that could be financed through the dealer or something, then you could pay it off with your tax refund.

All the best!
Tess

[PraiseAdonai]

Did the suggestions of sights help you?