How To Grocery Shop Without Breaking the Bank

How many times have you walked into the grocery store and ended up with random ingredients that don’t add up to a meal? All a sudden your cart is full of snacks and you walk out spending way more money than you anticipated. Don’t fret. We have some tricks and tips to help you get organized, save some cash, and make the best use of your time.

1. Plan your meals

The first step to organizing is to think ahead. What meals are you making for the week? Do you have dinners in mind? Do you need breakfast items? Start by writing down your meal plan, break down ingredients needed to accomplish your plan. You may notice that you have items that overlap or you can begin to plan with like-minded fixings, which can inspire you to create dinner plans.

2. Make a list

It’s time to make a list of what you need. Besides paper and a pen, we have found it easy and convenient to create notes in our smartphones. Write down ingredients needed based on your weekly plan, organizing them by areas of the grocery store. Think about the sections and aisles. This will make your time efficient once you get to the store.

Need a way to structure yourself? Grab a planner dedicated to keeping your grocery shopping organized. You can make lists, plan menus and jot down recipes.

3. Look at sales

Most stores publish their weekly food sales on Tuesdays or Wednesdays online. Take some time and look through them. This may inspire your meal plan and list. If you find an ingredient you use often that you are able to freeze, you could also stock up.

4. Pick a convenient time and day

Your schedule is busy and we’re sure you don’t want to spend hours shopping, especially if you aim to do this once a week. There are high times for grocery shopping. Of course, you have to work around your schedule, but if you have some flexibility, you can check this off your to do list easily. The best times to shop are early morning or later in the day. Weekdays are preferable, but avoid lunch times or right before dinner. Weekends are a very busy time at grocery stores, but if you can shop before mid-day, you may find the lines aren’t that long. Avoid days or weekends right before major holidays. Two days before Christmas is not the best option! Choose a day and time and make it part of your weekly routine.

5. Don’t shop hungry

The easiest way to purchase extra goodies is to go to the store when you are hungry. Convenience food and snacks will end up in your cart and your bill will skyrocket. Grab a meal or a snack before you leave and you won’t be tempted to grab those cookies that look incredibly delicious. Stick to your list!

6. Time to explore the store

You are now prepared. You have the tools and you are ready to go. Shopping doesn’t have to be such a chore. It can be enjoyable, especially if you are trying out new recipes. This is a time to be creative and choose things you like.