Most of us are short of time and going to the grocery store is one thing we all have a hard time making the time to do. Sometimes, it can even be stressful with crowds, kids and coupons on tow. Here are some tips for making sure you can get in and out without taking up too much of your day.
Tips for Speedy Grocery Shopping
Leave the kids (and/or spouse) at home. This is obviously going to be hard for some people, especially if you don’t have a spouse who can stay home with them or you don’t have children old enough to stay home by themselves for an hour or so. It is really important that you try to arrange childcare for this errand, though, because it will allow you to stay more focused on the task and spend less time dragging your kids around the store. Try making arrangements with neighbors. Watch each other’s children as a trade off.
Get your coupons organized before you go. If you go to several stress, put the coupons you will be using for them in separate envelopes. Leave coupons you won’t be using for that trip home. This way, as you go through the store, you can just cross items off your list of available coupons and have them all ready to go at the register. Here are tips for organizing coupons.
Use mobile coupons and cash back apps. Many mobile coupons can be added to your store rewards card before you leave the house. When you scan the card, your coupons are automatically credited to your account. No clipping or organizing needed. With cash back apps you just scan your receipt and your products with your phone after you get home, meaning you can save money even if you forgot to clip coupons or load rewards to your store cards. Here are some mobile coupons and cash back apps to try: Ibotta Cash Back App, Checkout 51 Cash Back App, Saving Star, and BerryCart.
Make a list. This is one sure-fire way to get in any out as it allows you to have some direction and puts you in ‘the zone”. You will know what aisles you can skip and which products to grab. Consider it your game plan. Along with making a list, make a meal plan so you know what to put on that list.
Go during non-peak times. This is usually early in the morning or late at night. Also, skip weekends entirely. If early morning and late at night are too hard to manage, try going on Tuesdays. This is usually the least busy day of the week, overall.
Separate your list into sections of the store. This way, you can cross them off your list as you go to those parts of the store and you will be assured that you got everything in one trip.
Utilize apps. There is a great app called “Out Of Milk” that allows you to track past purchases and prices while creating several lists. You could create a staples list, a list for certain meals or even a list for bulk buys. Here are the top money saving apps.
Keep a list of staples your family uses. This way, when one of them runs out, you can add it to a list for buying when you go to the store.
Buy items in bulk. This may seem like a money saving tips rather than a time-saving one, but it really is both. If you buy foods in bulk that you will use a lot of, you won’t have to go back to the store as often to get them. This is true for other items you can’t find in the bulk food containers such as breads (stick them in the freezer) and even fresh fruits. Here are tips for what to buy in bulk.
Have a plan for sale items. Make sure to check out the ads before you go so you know what is on sale on your list and where to find it.
How do you get in and out of the store quickly? I would love to hear your tips!
Clutter Collector says
I do nearly everything youve listed but Im still left with 2 problems…
1st, a list is GREAT as long as you remember to write things on it…
I leave a magnetic pad on the fridge so I can add stuff the MINUTE I run out or get close to running out…
Before this I used to forget to add stuff to my list ALL the time because Id walk out of the room and get sidetracked and poof it would fly out of my head
2nd the theory that with a list, you can avoid some store areas and save time isnt helpful in my case…
Local supermarket chains in my area also practice UN-advertised sales approach so if you dont want to miss a good savings opportunity, you HAVE to look EVERYWHERE, down every aisle, etc
You instead have to be dsciplined to not impulse buy (which Im sure is why the stores do this LOL)