Grocery shopping—we all do it, yet we rarely find ways to make this necessary chore easier and faster. With our schedules getting tighter and tighter, grocery shopping has become something we do more often, yet it seems as though we just can’t find enough time to make the most of the trip.
Of course, there are times when we just need to grab a few things and head out as fast as we can, which is understandable; after all, you never know when you’ll have time to cook a proper meal. But, for the most part, grocery shopping should be an enjoyable experience that gives you a chance to stock your kitchen with some of your favorite products, as well as other ingredients that you might not find at your local convenience store.
Eco-conscious consumers may want to opt for recycled toilet paper in order to protect their waste output in a responsible manner. The key to making this experience as easy and smooth as possible is to simplify things as much as possible so that you can walk out of the store with exactly what you came for and nothing more. To help you simplify your shopping experience, we’ve compiled a list of five easy ways to grocery shop smarter and faster.
1. Organize Your List
Most of us keep a grocery list somewhere handy—in a notebook, on our phones, or in some other place where we’ll always be able to find it when we need it. And for many of us, there’s usually more than one list; one for each store we shop at frequently, or even multiple lists if you don’t use only one store for all your shopping needs. While having multiple lists can definitely make things easier when you shop, that doesn’t mean all those lists are organized in a way that makes them easy to use every time you go shopping.
Use apps like Google Keep app to organize your various grocery lists with checklists so that you can easily see what items you already have and what items will require additional research before hitting buy. This way, no matter which store you choose for your trip or which specific item you decide to buy first (assuming it hasn’t already been bought), getting everything on your list will be much simpler.
2. Take Advantage of Online Grocery Shopping
With online grocery shopping, you no longer have to waste time shopping in multiple stores for everything you need; instead, you can shop from home (or on your phone) and then get everything delivered right to your door in one convenient trip.
Depending on where you live, online grocery shopping may be more or less prevalent; however, it’s quickly becoming a common option that many people are choosing over running into their local store every week. Of course, if you’re someone who likes getting out of their house once in a while, then there’s nothing wrong with visiting a physical store—just make sure that whatever list you use to keep track of what you need is well organized so that when it comes time for actual shopping, your trip is as efficient as possible!
3. Check Expiration Dates
Save yourself some time (and money) by checking expiration dates before you leave for grocery shopping.
Rather than having to make multiple trips or take your time (and risk forgetting something), pick up everything on your list in one trip, making sure that any items that have expiration dates near your grocery shopping day have been purchased first. Not only will you get everything you need in one trip, but you’ll also be able to use coupons more efficiently as well!
By purchasing items with close expiration dates before using a coupon, you can usually maximize how much of a discount you receive while still ensuring that those items won’t expire before you can use them—it’s a win-win!
4. Shop Alone
This might seem like a pretty straightforward suggestion, but the truth is that many people usually do their grocery shopping with friends or family members; and while this certainly does make the experience more enjoyable, the reality is that this type of shopping makes things more complicated and time-consuming than they need to be. And what’s more, if you’re a forgetful person, this habit could very well make things worse.
A shopping trip with multiple people (especially those who aren’t as organized as you) can make for a long, confusing, and annoying shopping trip. Instead, go grocery shopping alone—you’ll be able to take your time and check expiration dates more efficiently, as well as avoid adding items to your list that you don’t really need.
5. Pick Your Checkout Line Wisely
If you don’t want to get stuck in the grocery store checkout line forever, it pays to pick the line with the shortest number of people in it when you get to the store. Even if you like to go to your local grocery store at midnight, a full weekend day is probably going to mean more shoppers; hence, a longer wait time. And while you can’t do anything about how long it takes everyone else to pay for their groceries, picking a line that’s moving faster means that you’ll spend less time waiting for everyone else.
Of course, some days might be busier than others (if there’s an event happening or just because of sheer volume) but try your best to make sure that there aren’t as many people in front of you in line as possible!
In conclusion, grocery shopping doesn’t have to be a complicated or frustrating experience; instead, with these five simple tips in mind, you can make sure that your next trip is as efficient and smooth as possible. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and start saving yourself some time!