Where to buy?
Groceries
There are several options for affordable supermarkets in Binghamton: Aldi, Walmart, Weis, Price Chopper, and Wegmans, with Aldi being the most affordable one and with similar quality to the other ones. The downside of Aldi is the location and the lack of ethnic produce. There are also Indian, Chinese, Halal, and Euromarket. Another option to consider is Dollar Tree and Family Dollar stores. Something important to consider is using reusable bags when buying at grocery stores, which is mandated for the State of New York.
Some supermarkets -Price Chopper, Aldi, Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Indian stores- are close to OCCT and BC Transit bus lines located on Main St. Others -Weis, and halal stores- are located near Downtown Binghamton or near Main St. There is one Walmart Supercenter located in Johnson City. Before going to the grocery store, plan ahead, bring reusable bags, google the location, and look for the bus schedule. If you find yourself with too many bags once you are done shopping, you may want to call for an Uber or Lyft to take you home.
Winter essentials
While the summers can be hot and humid, winters in Binghamton are long and cold. Expect a lot of snowfall and negative temperatures over the winter break. Be sure to buy some warm coats and boots as you prepare for the winter -some places to look at for good and affordable winter clothing options are Burlington, Boscovs, Plato’s Closet and Goodwill. Burlington is located at Oakdale Mall in Johnson City, which is accessible by bus, while Boscovs is at the heart of Downtown Bing. Plato's closet and Goodwill are located in Vestal and you can commute by bus.
TIP FOR WINTER
Keep in mind that winter in Binghamton lasts several months, with little sun and dark days, so you need to make your room as cozy as possible and don’t forget to take daily vitamin D. You will have time to prepare while you are here taking your fall semester here. Enjoy the beautiful fall while it lasts.
TIP FOR WINTER
TIP FOR SUPERMARKETS LOCATION
Some supermarket brands like ALDI, WEIS, WALMART, have several stores in different parts of the city. When you google them first, do it from your phone's map apps, as they will open the ones closest to your living place, with transit options (also as map app feature). Therefore, you can plan accordingly how to get there at your best convenience. Also, bear in mind that NY state has banned the use of plastic bags, supermarkets have cheap tote bags which you can buy when you shop for the first time and reuse them.