would you drive 45 min for a good deal?

[rheavon]

Only maybe 4 times a year. My usual max ends up being about 20 minutes in any given direction.

It also depends on how good the deal as to how motivated I'll want to travel. Usually I do it for things other than items you find in the grocery store, though (clothes, furniture, specialty stores, etc).

[Gertie2u]

I don't think I would go just for that one store. Now if there were other things around, then yes. Definitely. For example, twice a month minimum we make a 1 hour drive to visit my DH's mother. We always include a run through a store near her because it always has a few tear pad, blinkie, and wine tag coupons. It is the same as the grocery three blocks from me in pretty much every other respect. We used to occasionally pick up the odd item we couldn't get at our store, or some item that was on sale, matched up to a coupon we found in the store, and thus was a great deal. Now that they've stopped double and triple coupons, I'm not sure if I'll ever buy anything there again. I really feel like I shouldn't. It doesn't have to be a family member you can visit nearby. Is there some activity you'd like to try nearby? A park or museum you'd like to visit? A store that offers double coupons and decent sales? I suppose it is a little silly, but if I drive a distance to do 2 or 3 things, in my mind I see the gas as only partially related to each activity. Then it seems better in my mind, at least.

Alternatively, make a list. Calculate the savings. Calculate your gas. Even the very best economy car would take 3 gallons for the drive. Saving more than that? Great! Have a fun trip!

[CouponLuv72]

My wife used to , every few months she would drag me down to Illinois to go to Jewel osco for hours of doing their catalina deals, she would order in advance in preparation to get everything she wanted. But even with preparation, 18 cases of soup take a long time to check out.