Grocery shopping is one of the most common, but not all people can handle the task easily. Thankfully, experienced shoppers are here to help! Savvy grocery shoppers discussed their best go-to grocery store hacks and tips to make it easier for everyone.
Never Grocery Shop While Hungry
Far and away, the most-cited grocery shopping tip is never to go while hungry! While you may think that arriving at the store starving would lead to a quicker and more efficient experience, the opposite holds true. Experts argue that it leads to more impulse purchases, ultimately increasing the bill at the end of the day. Do yourself a favor and eat a delicious meal before going to the supermarket!
Make a List and Stick To It
Grocery shopping isn’t that different from balancing your monthly budget. You figure out your expenses and do whatever you can to stay under that amount. While it may seem old-fashioned, going to the grocery store armed with a physical list of things to buy makes the entire endeavor far simpler. A person who walks in with a list is determined to get in and out with the least distractions possible!
Buy Frozen Food To Save Money
Frozen foods have a terrible reputation in the culinary world, but they’re essential to lessening the burden on your bank account! “Don’t sleep on frozen foods; a lot can be made from them, and most importantly, they usually never go bad,” one woman explains. “As long as you throw them back in the freezer when you’re done, you’ll be good.” Most people (myself included) can’t tell the difference between frozen and fresh vegetables, so use this to your advantage and buy more frozen foods!
Order Online
Online ordering and curbside pickup became popular during the pandemic, but in 2023, it still has a huge advantage: It curbs impulse shopping! By ordering ahead of time on your phone or computer, you have complete control of what goes into your virtual cart, and you can always keep an eye on your running total to ensure you stay within budget. Plus, what’s more convenient than picking up bags of groceries, right?
Sign Up for Supermarket Loyalty Programs
Whether you shop at large supermarkets or small mom-and-pop grocers, there are tons of savings to be found by signing up for their loyalty program. Being a member often translates to minor savings on typical products, but the savings add up over time. In 2023, we all should be finding as many ways as possible to lighten the stress on our wallets, and it starts by signing up for loyalty cards and programs.
Limit Grocery Trips to Once per Week
Stop going to the store whenever you run out of an inconsequential ingredient! If you run out of toilet paper, then by all means, head to the store, but many believe going grocery shopping is an exercise in exhaustion. One person explains why: “Limit your shopping trips to once a week if you can,” one man advises. “It forces you to get organized and start planning. Also, it forces you to get creative in the kitchen when you run out and appreciate ingredients when you do have them.”
Plan Meals, Not Individual Ingredients
A meal plan isn’t just for social media influencers and gym-obsessed athletes; it’s for ordinary people like you and me who want to grasp their food expenses better! In addition, it’s a great way to ensure you take in the necessary vitamins and nutrients each time you sit down to eat. “Meal plan and create dishes that use the same ingredient multiple times,” explains one woman. “You’ll be amazed at how much money you’ll save by doing so.” Ultimately, meal planning leads to serious savings at the grocery store!
Go With a Friend
Heading to the grocery store, even if you’re armed with your list and are motivated, can be stressful and overwhelming. Therefore, many people advise grabbing a friend and taking them with you on your shopping journey (with the promise of buying them their favorite treat, of course). Tag-teaming your weekly trip to the store streamlines the process and makes it much more bearable.
Use Technology to Your Advantage
While making lists (and sticking to them) is a great way to keep yourself focused and budget-minded while grocery shopping, countless apps help you streamline the process even further! “I keep a Google Doc two-week menu plan with a running shopping list of needed items,” reveals one savvy shopper. “I then shop about once or twice a week and can view it on my phone as I shop.”
Buy In Bulk Whenever Possible
Buying in bulk has obvious financial benefits; for example, purchasing three-pound portions of ground beef is always more economical than a single pound. But feel free to get a little creative! One person reveals she routinely purchases giant bags of potato chips, and then, once she’s at home, she portions them into smaller bags to help combat addictive snacking.
Don’t Shy Away From Coupons
Growing up, I was constantly in awe of my mother spreading hundreds of coupons on our living room floor in preparation for that week’s grocery trip. Thankfully, in 2023, coupons still exist, but in digital form! Now, there’s no excuse not to take advantage of coupon savings. Any possible embarrassment you’d have by presenting physical coupons goes away, thanks to them all being on your phone. Isn’t technology fantastic?
Time Your Visit
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but approximately 96% of the world’s population goes to the grocery store immediately after their workday ends. Here’s some straightforward advice: Don’t go during this time! Save yourself the stress and go shopping during the late evening or early morning hours. You’ll be surprised how productive you are (and how quick it takes you)!
Visit Specialty Markets
Nobody enjoys going to multiple places to buy their food for the week, but by branching out, you’re opening up doors to better quality products and more savings! One frugal shopper puts it all into perspective. “I buy all my produce, noodles, rice, and canned goods from my local Asian supermarket,” confesses one man. “The quality is better, and the prices are way lower!”
Source: Reddit.
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