Grocery shopping is the worst.
Just kidding. Grocery shopping is actually something that I really enjoy.
But, that pleasant sense of accomplishment that I experience after a job well done or the zen-like feeling of being in the zone while scanning the rows of perfect produce is erased in a flash when the cashier says, “Ma’am, that will be three hundred seventy-two dollars and eighty-six cents, please,” and I suddenly wake from my reverie, wondering where the last three hours went.
Plus, I’m kind of pissed because he called me ma’am.
Know what I mean?
To help you get at least some of that time and money back, here are my tips for saving time and money at the grocery store:
Creating a list will help you to stay organized, and will save you from making multiple trips to the grocery store. Creating a list is also the first step involved in comparison shopping, and you can keep running lists going from week to week.
This will save you time, and will keep you from asking over and over again, "Where did I leave that slip of paper…?"
Wandering around the grocery store without a plan leads to impulse buys, and that’s not budget friendly. Instead, you want to have a solid game plan before you go shopping.
In addition to keeping a running grocery list where you can add items as soon as you run out of something, it helps to take a few minutes to plan out your meals for the week before you go to the store.
Weekly store flyers can help with this in a big way – available at the store, through the mail or online, grocery store circulars describe the latest sales, a.k.a. budget-friendly meal inspiration!
Build weekly meals around sale items, and save time at the store by knowing exactly what you’re looking for before you show up.
Buy in Bulk
Even if you’re low on storage space, this one is really helpful in terms of time and money savings.
Not only does buying in bulk save money, (since you’ll be buying sale items and large quantity items that have a lower unit price, and usually less packaging) you’ll also save time since having basic bulk items on hand will help you to make last minute meals in a snap.
Add items that can be frozen or stored in the cabinet for long periods to your list in larger quantities – it always makes more sense to stock up when things that you like to use in your kitchen are on sale!
I like to keep a decent stockpile of canned beans, pancake mix, jarred sauces, juice, vegetable or chicken stock, pasta, peanut butter and jelly in my kitchen at all times.
This is a helpful tool to record and remember favorite grocery items that you buy frequently, or items that you’ve shopped for in the past, as well as their prices. This will help you to comparison shop, to make sure you’re getting the best deals for your money.
Shop Online
Many stores today offer the opportunity to shop online for your groceries. Lots of them offer free shipping as well, or in-store pickup.
Nothing beats the convenience of being able to simply swing by the store on your way home from work or soccer practice, rather than bundling up the kids and spending an hour or two moving at a snail’s pace through the store on a Saturday.
Maybe shopping from your couch sounds like a luxury, but it’s one that you can afford since it’s almost guaranteed to save you money.
Here’s how:
Sites like Peapod, Instacart and Amazon Fresh let you browse by category, check ingredient labels, and even choose from this week’s variety of sale items. Though some stores require you to pay membership or delivery fees, I find that shopping online rather than browsing the aisles myself helps me to stick to my grocery shopping game plan.
When I’m not tempted by every end cap display or sale sign, I am able to focus on the items that I truly need to make meals for the week, and nothing more. Shopping online saves time too, since I can simply type "whole grain pasta" or "unsweetened almond milk" into the search bar and click on "buy" rather than driving to the store, scanning the aisles and waiting in line.
Clip Coupons (but Only Use Them on Items You Really Need!)
I offer this tip with a bit of caution, since coupons generally apply to brand-name items that are highly processed.
These tend to be more expensive items to begin with, and even if they’re deeply discounted, they’re more expensive in terms of health costs as well. This is because they’re usually packed with sugar, salt, fat, artificial dyes and preservatives.
It doesn’t make sense to fill up your cart with candy and other unhealthy items just because they’re on sale.
Having said that, I love using coupons to save money on items that I buy frequently, and you can occasionally find coupons for healthier items like milk, yogurt, or whole grain cereal. Sign up for deals on coupon websites, search your local newspaper, or visit your favorite grocery store’s website.
Many of my favorite brands offer coupons through their websites as well, and sometimes you will receive coupons in the mail as a thank you for leaving helpful feedback online. The only downside is that most online grocery retailers do not accept coupons.
So, what are you waiting for? It’s grocery shopping time!
Looking for more meal planning inspiration? Search Remember Stuff here.
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