Grocery Shopping Tips

I found these tips in Taste of Home and thought them worth sharing.

1. Always shop on a full stomach. If you’re hungry while at the grocery store, you’ll buy more. (I can vouch for this one)

2. Shop only once a week and go alone. (I’ve found that if I go to the grocery store more than once a week I always end up buying more than I actually went in for. Also, if someone is with me I’m distracted and in a hurry. Plus, they have a knack for finding items that I really had not planned to buy.)

3. Make a grocery list. (This one is so helpful. If I go in without a list I usually miss items that I need and buy items that I don’t actually need. Plus a shopping list allows me to check my shelves to make sure I’m actually out of or low on an item.)

4. Purchase non-grocery items at discount stores, not the grocery store. (In comparing prices, if I need items such as shampoo, detergents/cleaners, etc. I find the price difference between he grocery store and a store such as Wal-Mart to be a great difference.)

5. Shop farm markets for inexpensive and good-quality seasonal produce. (This isn’t always continent for me but when I am able to shop the produce markets I do find that I can buy cheaper and in larger quantities allowing me to freeze for another day.)

6. Plan a weekly menu by using the store’s sales paper. (This isn’t always one that I follow but it is good advice. It also saves time by allowing you to know exactly what you will be preparing each day instead of going to the freezer/pantry to decide can be cooked for a meal. I’ve actually found times that I actually can’t decide what to cook and go out to eat.)

7. Shop when stores are quiet so you can compare prices without feeling rushed. (I like to go early on Saturday mornings while most people are sleeping or still drinking their morning coffee. If the store is crowded, I always feel that my buggy is in the way of other customers so I rush and miss unadvertised sales or price comparing.)