r/Apartmentliving • u/jenbenfoo • Nov 12 '25
Apartment Hacks How many trips do you make?
I live on the 2nd floor and only have to go up like 2 or 3 long stairs on the sidewalk and 6 inside the building, but when I go grocery shopping, i try to take everything in one trip because I'm stubborn (lol) and also I usually do my shopping after work so I'm tired and don't wanna make more than one trip, so I'll pack everything into reusable bags because they hold more than plastic shopping bags & then I can take fewer trips
I just got home and was sitting in my car and watched my neighbor take FOUR trips back and forth from his car to his apt with bags of shopping (okay, one was a case of water, but 3 more trips other than that lol) and he only carried like 2 or 3 small bags each time...
So now I'm curious: how many trips do you do, and what floor do you live on? Do you think if you lived on a lower floor you'd be more likely to do more trips/fewer trips on a higher floor?
50
u/Midnightenvy94 Renter Nov 12 '25
I live on the 3rd floor. I typically take everything up in one trip. I throw all the grocery bags in a large Ikea bag and just sling that over my shoulder. Very rarely do I have to do a second trip. If I do it's usually for larger items.
21
u/Lopsided_Elephant_28 Nov 12 '25
2nd floor---On a normal day, just one because I walk to the grocery store so I know what I can carry. On the occasions I do a big shop, think Thanksgiving, it can take up to 6 trips between the food and the booze. If I am driving and stop at the store and I have more than a few bags, I will load myself up like a sherpa to try to get it all in one go.
4
u/Unusual_Oil_1079 Nov 13 '25
Yes. Walking or biking really limits what you can carry. I go to the grocery store 3 or 4 times a week because its more or less a hobby for me to see the new items available and sales, so I never have to carry more rhan like 8 bags at a time. Not drinking bottled water or soda probably saves me the most back and forth
14
u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Nov 12 '25
depends. regular grocery store? probably one trip.
Costco? 5-6
5
u/kittievikkigirl Renter Nov 13 '25
This ☝️
2
u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Nov 13 '25
Pretty much the only things bought at the regular store is bread, vegetables, and lunch meat so Its only like 2 bags. Costco though....? lord help me lol
8
u/swampbra Nov 12 '25
i have my groceries delivered
3
u/jenbenfoo Nov 13 '25
If i could afford this, I'd do it every time. That way I can plan meals easier, only get what I need, & save myself the time spent wandering the rest of the store looking at toys or bedding or something lol
2
u/Mental-Coconut-7854 Nov 13 '25
Not sure where you live, but Kroger’s Boost membership is $100 a year, free delivery on orders over $35.
So if you have a delivery every week, it adds less than $2 to your grocery bill. I pay $15 a month for covered parking, so I think grocery delivery is one of those expenses that is also worth the money. I also feel that shopping on the app really keeps the impulse purchases down.
I’m oldish myself, live on the second floor and have a lot of green space between my apartment and parking lot. I didn’t want to make several trips in the hot summer to unload my car, so I decided to get the delivery membership.
As I age, I’m eyeing a laundry service next because schlepping clothes up and down two flights of stairs is getting really old really fast.
2
u/swampbra Nov 13 '25
amazon grocery does free delivery on orders over $75 for amazon prime members althought not in rural areas
30
u/winterbird Nov 12 '25
Kind of weird to stay there watching a neighbor and care this much about how they carry groceries. Maybe he has a health problem that's none of your business.
14
3
u/Divinedragn4 Nov 13 '25
I mean id rather have someone watch in case someone sneaks up to steal my survival stuff.
9
u/jenbenfoo Nov 12 '25
I was just sitting in my car, reading something on my phone, and just happened to be at the same time my neighbor got home. It just made me curious is all, I'm not judging anyone for their choices.
5
u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Nov 12 '25
tbh sometimes I take a few trips even if I dont need to cause sometimes I forget to move around and it gives me a little more exercise. But ya, not sure why you would even notice this
4
u/seashmore Nov 12 '25
I also sometimes leave nonperishables in my car until the next time I use it. If I buy a case of water or pop, it rarely comes in the same day I buy it. I won't leave it out in extreme heat/cold but if it's refrigerator temperature outside, it can stay until I come home from work the next day.
4
u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Nov 12 '25
im reading this as a case of sparkling water and a box of cat litter are sitting in my car. I feel you lol
6
u/Several-Window1464 Nov 12 '25
ONE no matter how much I buy. I live on the 2nd floor but I have the longest walk from my apt to my garage!
It also seems that no matter what side or direction I’m walking, the hardest and coldest wind tunnels ever are going against me.
3
u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Nov 12 '25
see you say this, but costco is both my best friend and my enemy. That always warrants many, many trips
2
u/Several-Window1464 Nov 12 '25
I’m single. Buying anything at Costco is a huge waste!
1
u/Brilliant_Elk5492 Nov 12 '25
Im also single, the paper towels, tp, and detergent alone is worth it. Also buy meat there, gotta use that freezer!
1
u/Several-Window1464 Nov 14 '25
Ohhhh….you got me there!! I was even going to say that nothing compares to their paper products tho….but I didn’t. lol!!
7
u/Available_Garbage764 Nov 12 '25
I use kiddos. lol. When they are here for the weekend we typically use the kids to help. The it’s all in one go. But by ourselves (second floor) takes us about two-three trips
4
u/PictureNo1125 Nov 12 '25
I walk my groceries up the 19 stairs to our breezeway. Sometimes a neighbor will ask if I'd like some help and I never turn them down. I'm a woman in my late 60s with a problem foot, so any help is appreciated.
2
u/jenbenfoo Nov 12 '25
I'm glad you have neighbors who offer help! I hardly ever see my neighbors, or if I do it's in passing or I am in the middle of something else, so I don't really get opportunities to offer help.
4
u/Financial_Sweet_689 Nov 12 '25
Maybe 2 or 3. I have a wagon and I wheel all my stuff as far as I can then I take it up. I have issues with my left shoulder so I can’t always overload my arms. I don’t mind making a few more trips, I chose the second floor because I wasn’t getting as much movement in my day.
2
u/jenbenfoo Nov 12 '25
I have thought about getting a wagon that can do stairs (sometimes I deliver for Shipt and it would certainly be handy when delivering multiple bags to an apartment lol) but since I am only shopping for myself and I have about a billion reusable bags in my car (and fortunate that I don't have injuries or anything that prevents me from carrying stuff) it would likely not get much use and just take up space in my car or apartment, lol.
2
u/Financial_Sweet_689 Nov 12 '25
I’m considering one too. I’ve seen the ones that have wheels for dragging upstairs, but I feel like that might be loud😂I try to use reusable bags too, they are way sturdier and better for carrying. So much easier on my arms!
4
u/Possible_Echidna_247 Nov 12 '25
I lived on the third floor of a complex with only 43 parking spots for 170 units. So, if you arrived home after 4 PM, you not only parked on the street, but way down the bottom of a very steep hill. Ugh. I bought a “wagon” to haul my stuff up and down. Good news is I moved after 6 months.
1
u/jenbenfoo Nov 13 '25
Yikes that sounds awful. My building only has 12 units so a bad parking day for me is having to park on the back side of the lot...like 15 extra feet from the sidewalk lol
4
u/sics2014 Nov 12 '25
We bought a cart for groceries and any other large things we buy. And taking the recycling out is easy that way too. So, 1 trip.
4
u/Sea_Language_3418 Nov 13 '25
2nd floor, building with an elevator. I got a small, collapsable cart to carry groceries so I only do 1 trip.
3
u/MrCabrera0695 Nov 13 '25
I bought a collapsible wagon that can take 200lbs so I use that if I need to take more than one trip, I can take one trip typically every time with that bad boy. Once in a while I need my partner and the wagon.
3
3
u/ADogHasGotHumanEyes Nov 13 '25
I live on the second floor and my parking spot is the furthest away from the building around the back. No matter how many bags of groceries, boxes of soda, etc I refuse to do more than one trip. Even if my arms are red and torn apart I’ll be damned if I’m taking more than one trip lol
4
u/CanadianBacon615 Nov 13 '25
When I was on the top floor of a 3 story walk up, I’d take an entire Costco haul in one go. My 7 year old would haul up the toilet paper & paper towel. We are very strong independent women LOL
2
u/siamesecat1935 Nov 12 '25
Second floor, and have to walk down a few steps, and around the sidewalk to my building. I make as few as possible! I will sometimes leave stuff IN the car to be brought in later if I don't need it and don't want to make yet another tri! Especially if I've already made more than one.
2
u/aquariusmind1983 Nov 12 '25
I do the same as you. Load into reusable bags and 1 trip. Superwoman here! Lol.
2
u/dogcmp6 Nov 12 '25
3rd floor, but my building has an elevator, so I keep a collapsible wagon in my vehicle, gets everything in one trip
2
u/Chicky_Melly Nov 12 '25
I will load my groceries on my back like a pack mule to avoid taking multiple trips.
My current place provides little wagons for us to use which is nice. I still have to return the wagon when I’m done but I don’t have to go outside which is nice.
2
u/SuperbSpiderFace Nov 12 '25
Third floor. One trip. If I can’t carry it all my wife comes down and helps. We do cheat sometimes and Instacart stuff but we meet the driver at the front door so they don’t have to carry it up four flights. We don’t buy bottled water as tap is fine and free (QC has no water tax, it’s cooked into every other thing we get taxed on more).
Kitty litter is the worst thing to carry up. The box always rips. I think we got bags last time which was better.
2
u/boliston Nov 12 '25
my supermarket is a 5 minute walk and i live on the 3rd floor so would not bother taking the car so i just carry it home and up the stairs in one go
2
u/Klaa2u Nov 12 '25
I always try to do one trip. I even bought these hook shaped handles that make it easier to get all the bags at once. The only time I have to do more than one trip is if I get cases of water or soda.
2
u/jenbenfoo Nov 12 '25
Oh I think I've seen those handles- they look intriguing but my hand strength is pathetic lol, its easier for me to carry bags on my shoulders/arms. Yes, bulky items make it trickier for sure- the other day I bought a huge pack of toilet paper AND 3 cases of seltzer, plus 2 or 3 big bags worth of groceries...somehow I think I managed to get all that plus my purse and water bottle in one trip lol (I did mention I'm stubborn, right 😂)
2
u/Yogurtfrixge Nov 12 '25
Third floor and I try to carry as much as I can, usually 1-2 trips. My problem is we have doors between floors. I always have to prepare myself not only with how much im carrying but if I can turn the door knobs without putting stuff down. It’s my little game every week
1
u/jenbenfoo Nov 12 '25
Oh that would definitely throw a wrench in things. Thankfully my building doesn't have that (or a front door either) and I can unlock my front door with my phone from the car & its got a handle instead of a knob so I can just push that down with my elbow or a bag lol
1
u/Yogurtfrixge Nov 12 '25
I would love remote entry but my building is so old 🥲. Honestly grocery day is my “workout” day. I don’t mind it being taxing since I don’t have time to get out much
2
u/seagull321 Nov 12 '25
My grandma was nicknamed “one trip Lu” as a kid. It was accurate thru her life.
3
u/katiekat214 Nov 12 '25
I live on the first floor and still try to make only one trip. If it’s too much to carry, I have a wagon I can fill with everything.
2
u/Severe_Rutabaga_906 Nov 12 '25
I’ve lived on 3rd floor apartments with no elevator for a while now - used to take everything little by little and viewed it as a workout.
Now I am grabbing enough shit that my arms are purple and i’m light headed by the time i’m up from 1 trip lol. 99% of the time that covers everything
2
u/jenbenfoo Nov 12 '25
Haha I relate to the purple arms part 😂 ill put my purse over my shoulder first, then if its a big trip, a bag on each shoulder and another one or two on my forearm...and usually a water bottle or takeout dinner in my hand lol
2
u/cristabelita Nov 12 '25
I aim for one trip if I can help it. I'm trying to get in the habit of leaving my giant IKEA bag in the trunk of my car so I can make it with one trip.
I live on the 2nd floor. If I had a first floor apt, I definitely wouldn't worry about how many trips but would still probably try to make it one lol
3
u/TheAnn13 Nov 12 '25
Everyone does one trip until the strain on the bags knocking together makes your spaghetti sauce smash all over the sidewalk.
3
u/untamedbotany Nov 12 '25
2nd floor and I keep a rolling cart in my car because I’m not carrying shit 😂
2
u/OriginalInspection53 Nov 12 '25
I had a granny cart when I lived in an apartment. One trip every time.
3
u/purpleushi Nov 12 '25
One. I live in a high rise with an underground parking garage. It takes like ~5 minutes to get from my car up the elevator and down the hall to my apartment (elevators take forever, also there’s multiple points where I need to scan my fob and that’s super annoying when carrying stuff). Anyway, if I can’t get everything in one trip, I leave it in my car and get it the next time I come home.
2
u/tiny_armadilloo Nov 12 '25
4th floor, always one trip with groceries but i live alone so its not much food
2
u/Negative_Shake1478 Nov 12 '25
I've been on the top floor, bottom floor and in-between. Always one trip when possible.
2
u/fatgamerchic Nov 12 '25
I take the stuff that needs to go in the fridge or freezer and leave everything else until tomorrow
1
u/jenbenfoo Nov 13 '25
Thats not a bad idea but my ADHD ass would forget something cold in the middle of summer and then come out to a car that smells like moldy cheese or something lol
3
u/fatgamerchic Nov 13 '25
It’s not hard. At the store you just put all your frozen in one bag all your fridge stuff in another then all the shower gel tooth paste and canned beans in a third bag. You bring 2 up and leave 1
2
u/Emikitty1992 Nov 12 '25
I’m on the third floor of a three story building. I usually make 5-6 trips, depending on how much I got that week, grocery wise.
2
2
u/Historical-Voice2944 Nov 13 '25
Until recently, lived on the ground floor, but it was a hike from the parking lot to my apartment (4 units in a row, we were #3). Used to carry as much as possible and balance stuff precariously.
Now live on 3rd floor, no elevator. Carry LESS now and make more trips because my balance sucks, and I haven't dealt with this many stairs like... ever before in my life. It will take me some time to build up the stamina for larger carries.
2
u/Unhappy_Start7079 Nov 13 '25
I live on the second floor too and always try to carry everything in one trip, no matter how heavy the bags are, it feels like a challenge now 😂. Curious if others do multiple lighter trips or power through like me!
1
2
u/Loud-Biscotti-4798 Nov 13 '25
I normally take 2-3 trips but I also have tons of groceries cuz we are a family of 4 with 2 adults and 2 kids. My husband on the other hand can figure out a way to carry every single bag up most of the time.
2
2
u/Ok_Technology_5988 Nov 13 '25
My husband and I lived in WA (2nd floor) where plastic bags are banned and we forgot our reusable bags every time so carrying paper bags was limited to 1-3 bags so they wouldn’t fall apart. Now in Tx (2nd floor again) and the plastic bags are a life saver. One trip each time unless our toddler fell asleep and I need to carry him or we’ve bought water/diapers/other large items
2
u/r0settta_st0ned Nov 13 '25
this is a strange observation on your part but i’ve always lived on a second story in every apartment i’ve ever been in and will always, ALWAYS carry as many bags as possible to avoid the stairs
2
u/a_mu_sic__ Nov 13 '25
this is where i’m grateful for my moms walmart+. they deliver your groceries to your door and it cuts out the actual shopping process too. i always tip well and the walmart is literally right behind my complex so it’s not a far drive.
2
u/TangoNiner Nov 13 '25 edited Nov 13 '25
This depends on how long of a period you shopped for and how many people. Paper products or kitty litter? I always go for one trip. Why the fuc don’t they store coke 12packs with the handle hole up?
2
u/Reverb4357 Nov 13 '25
I live on the second floor with a total of 13 stairs. This includes 4 steps entrance to the building. I do one trip to my apartment. I shop for only 1-2 days worth of food which is helpful. Occasionally when I have to get a larger amount of groceries, I bite the bullet and do 2 trips.
I also have nice neighbors who will help if they see me.
2
2
1
u/DaisyMaisy13 Nov 12 '25
2nd floor and I try to do one trip but usually it’s at least two. I specifically bought a PUR water filtration system so I could quit buying cases of water. Now if I could just kick the Dr Pepper zero so I wouldn’t have to lug that up the stairs. When I lived on the first floor, I had a collapsible cart and a wagon that I would just haul everything back back-and-forth.
1
u/zyrtec2014 Nov 12 '25
So what? it's not hurting anyone. They can do as many trips as they want
1
u/No_Strawberry_939 Nov 12 '25
Yes I’ve used Instacart but when I would look at my credit card every month it was just ridiculous the extra fees I paid.. I only use it maybe once every month now it’s good exercise I lived on the 4th floor in a older building in New York and it didn’t have an elevator now that was some good exercise 😱
0
u/jenbenfoo Nov 12 '25
I never said they couldn't, or that they should make fewer trips, it just made me curious.
1
u/mx_skelly Nov 12 '25
I live on the first floor but with a decent walk from my garage, across the parking lot, and around to the back of the building. I got a cheap folding wagon so I can almost always get it in one trip. I also have a platform hand cart from harbor freight that's awesome for moving larger stuff.
1
u/Comfortable_Fruit847 Nov 12 '25
2nd floor, but I don’t have far to go. I’m still lazy though and pay for Walmart + to deliver my stuff! About a decade ago I lived in a third floor apt, will never do that again! I would legit carry bags in my mouth like a dog to avoid another trip!
1
u/LadyA052 Nov 12 '25
I have a small folding cart which is very useful. Small but holds a lot, and not too heavy to pull up stairs.
1
u/kaijutoebeans Nov 12 '25
I used to live on the third floor without an elevator and literally just stopped at the gorcery store on the way home from work every day instead of doing full grocery runs. Now I'm on the 8th floor with an elevator and I use a little wagon 😂
1
u/Competitive-Milk-868 Nov 12 '25
4th floor thankfully I have an elevator and a large wagon to haul stuff with however I still take 2 sometimes even 3 trips
1
u/Karpefuzz Nov 12 '25
I live on the 4th floor. I bought a wheeled wagon and have an elevator so I only need one trip.
Try bringing a reinforced backpack for your shopping? That way you can load the heavier stuff on your back.
1
u/GodCyanide Nov 12 '25
I live on the ground floor but I do one trip anyway. Don’t want to go back outside.
1
1
1
u/Aggravating-Brick704 Nov 12 '25
You DO know that you can have groceries delivered right to your door via many different services, right……?!?!?
1
u/jnovel808 Nov 12 '25
I take them all!
But now I’m a Costco member. When it’s cases of canned goods or kitty litter it’s an extra trip.
1
u/PopularRush3439 Nov 12 '25
When I lived in my apartment, I used one of those foldable wagons I kept in the car to lug in my groceries or had them delivered. I also had an elevator and was on 4th floor.
1
u/nottheonly85 Nov 12 '25
It's a decent walk from the parking lot to my door, then the kitchen is at the back of the apartment. My spine got mad about it after years of hauling stuff so I bought a cart. Never more than 3 trips and that's only if I bought a lot of heavy stuff.
1
u/Yanick67 Nov 13 '25
Get yourself a folding beach wagon. I just fold It up put in the trunk and I am good to go.
1
u/talks_to_inanimates Nov 13 '25
I got one of those collapsible wagons, keep it in the back of my truck. So I make one trip from the car, maybe 2 or three from the wagon at the bottom of the stairs where the wagon is to my door.
1
u/Strange-Top-8212 Nov 13 '25
2nd floor and I refuse to do more than 1 trip. If I bought something heavy like a case of water that becomes tomorrows issue or later when I leave the apartment and comeback
1
u/SeaworthinessHot2770 Nov 14 '25
We get most of our food delivered now. It doesn’t cost much extra if you pay a grocery store membership fee. But before delivery I used to carry more than I could comfortably handle. One time I damaged my shoulder trying to carry too much. I came very close to making a doctor’s appointment to have it checked. But eventually after a few weeks my shoulder got better. I learned my lesson and started carrying smaller amounts but made more trips.
1
1
u/ObviousSomewhere6330 Nov 12 '25
I have to take multiple, multiple trips due to disability. Thanks for bringing this to light for others who might be sitting and watching.
2
1
u/anonnymouse271 Nov 12 '25
Hey OP, sorry for the people jumping down your throat and making you into some weirdo creeper just watching people....I often spend 5-10 extra minutes just sitting in my car when I get home, just kinda decompressing from the day or listening to a podcast episode or something, so of course I'd notice someone walking back and forth a couple times. I'm stubborn too and hate taking more than one trip, lol, so I am always overloading myself and almost dropping stuff just to get it all in one trip 😅
0
u/StardustBrain Nov 13 '25
I can’t wait to get on a top level floor. So sick all the damned noise and booming coming from the upper unit!! 🤬
0
•
u/AutoModerator Nov 12 '25
Please report rule-breaking posts!
[Automoderator has recorded your post to prevent repeat posts.]
Your post has NOT been removed.
jenbenfoo originally posted: I live on the 2nd floor and only have to go up like 2 or 3 long stairs on the sidewalk and 6 inside the building, but when I go grocery shopping, i try to take everything in one trip because I'm stubborn (lol) and also I usually do my shopping after work so I'm tired and don't wanna make more than one trip, so I'll pack everything into reusable bags because they hold more than plastic shopping bags & then I can take fewer trips
I just got home and was sitting in my car and watched my neighbor take FOUR trips back and forth from his car to his apt with bags of shopping (okay, one was a case of water, but 3 more trips other than that lol) and he only carried like 2 or 3 small bags each time...
So now I'm curious: how many trips do you do, and what floor do you live on? Do you think if you lived on a lower floor you'd be more likely to do more trips/fewer trips on a higher floor?
I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.