The key to a successful grocery trip starts before you even leave the house. With a little planning, you can save yourself a whole lot of time, money, and stress.
- Make a list
Check your pantry, freezer, and fridge. Planning meals for the week ahead can make a big difference. Instead of standing in the kitchen at 6 p.m wondering what to make for dinner, you’ll already have the ingredients you need.
2. Fill the Rainbow
As you move through the aisles, make it a goal to have a rainbow filled cart. This means rather than getting foods that are all yellow/beige, adding some red peppers, carrots, spinach, or blueberries. A colorful cart is a simple way to ensure a wider range of nutrition.
3. Never Shop Hungry
One of the easiest ways to overspend at the grocery store is to shop while hungry. When hunger strikes, sweets and cravings become much harder to resist. Eating a meal or snack beforehand can help lead to more thoughtful choices.
4. Bring Reusable Bags
After a long shopping trip, the last thing anyone wants is for the cheap plastic bags to tear, leaving your groceries rolling through the parking lot. An easy way to avoid this is to bring reusable bags. Reusable bags are more reliable and better for the environment. Rather than having a million plastic bags lingering all over your house, keep two or three reusable bags in your pantry and bring them on each grocery run!
5. Have a Budget
Limiting yourself to a certain amount each shopping trip makes you think about the necessities. While a budget doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy a treat or two, it simply prevents all those extra items from being purchased.
Grocery shopping doesn’t have to be a stressful task. Taking a few minutes to prepare before each errand can make the trips quicker, easier, and way more efficient!
#Grocerystore #Lifehacks #Budget
Anne Dubecky, Marketing and Communication Intern
