Grocery shopping is one of the inevitable chores in the house. It always has to get done whether you love or not. Many people dread going for grocery shopping and will always keep pushing it forward until they literally have nothing to eat in the house. It however doesn’t have to be as dreadful as some people want to put it. Here are a few simple tips and habits to help make your grocery shopping easier.
1. Have A Realistic Plan For Your Groceries
Make it a habit of planning ahead and have an idea of what you are going to cook within that week. You should also plan how many shopping bags you need and whether you need help for carrying shopping bags. This makes it much easier to know what kind of ingredients you need for various recipes. Be sure to take into consideration packed lunch, dinner recipes, and anything else you might have planned for the week. One of the best ways to know what will be required is by having a set meal plan for the entire week. The meal plan should help you identify which ingredients need to be refilled and what you already have. Doing so will see you save some money, improve efficiency, and also reduce food waste.
2. Have A Shopping List With You
The only way you can buy everything you need at one go is if you bring a shopping list with you. It doesn’t matter if you have a good memory or not, or if buying two things or a couple; a shopping list will help guide your expenditure, and prevent overspending. Creating a shopping list will only take a few minutes of your time, but save you return trips to the grocery store. You can either do it the good old way (write it on paper) or use tools on your smartphone for the same purpose. You can also take advantage of apps that help keep track of your groceries too.
3. Group Similar Items Together On Your List
Grouping similar items together (according to aisles in the store) can save you lots of time in the long run. Although you might not know precisely how items are arranged in the store, grouping similar items together should help you find them easily. The more organised you are with the list, the less time you will spend in the grocery store.
4. Stick To What’s On The List
One of the reasons many people create a shopping list is to prevent impulse buying. That said, it would be advisable to stick to your list, and only take extra items if absolutely necessary. Most of the items will seem important when on display, but seize to be important while in your fridge or kitchen. Take note of any new items you might want on your shopping list and include them in the next week’s list. You’ll undoubtedly remember the item if it’s essential.
5. Try Shopping During Off-Peak Hours
Most grocery stores will have fewer customers during off-peak hours. This thus means you can shop for anything and everything you want without bumping into other people, hence save lots of time. Going for grocery shopping early in the morning also means you’ll get fresh produce and fully-stocked shelves. Lines to the cashier will also be shorter too. Avoid weeknight evenings and Sunday afternoons if you can. Most people tend to shop at this time; one of the reasons grocery stores are always flooded with shoppers.