News Taffy

So how do you approach your grocery shopping? Do you make a hasty list just before heading out the door? Is the grocery store a stopping point on your way home from work to grab a few things? There are better ways to shop that will save time and money and I will share some tips today.

A few people have grocery shopping down to a fine art and claim to only shop once a month. I’m not sure what they do about perishables like milk, bread and fresh fruits and vegetables. I shop twice a week due to lack of room in the refrigerator as much as needing fresh milk, etc. Being highly organized, (I am not OCD or anal retentive; I looked those up in the dictionary!) I keep a list going at all times. When I notice we are low on something, it goes on the list. The list is also roughly grouped into sections such as dairy, meat, etc. to make shopping easier. The night before I plan to shop I sit down with coupons, any sales circulars and cookbooks to plan meals for several days in advance. That way, anything I need is on the list and I know exactly what we will eat for at least the next three or four days. I look at our calendar as well and if a really busy night is coming up, I plan a quick meal or leftovers for that day. It is fairly simple to do this and I usually get everything we need. I try to stick to the list and not let temptation pad the grocery bill. However, if I spot a deal I will grab it.

That brings up another point. I am not one of those super coupon shoppers but I wish I was. I was behind a woman at Krogers recently who cut her grocery bill in half with all the coupons she had! It was impressive and I keep saying I’m going to learn how to do that too. Still I try not to let good coupons expire before I use them. In other words, go ahead and stock up on staples and items you use frequently when you have a good coupon, especially if you can pair it with a sale at the store. Even if you don’t need the item right then, it is worthwhile to save the money on things like shampoo, paper items and canned goods. That does not mean you should be like my Uncle. I am told he had enough toilet paper, underwear and socks to last into the next century when he died. Some people just can’t resist a sale.

To save more money at the store, the family member least prone to impulse purchases should do most of the shopping. I don’t like to send my husband to the store because there is no telling what all he will bring home. Also, try to leave the kids at home. Not only are they a distraction and slow things down, they often talk you into things you don’t need.

So a little effort in organization pays off! You will spend less time shopping, have meals planned with everything necessary on hand taking stress and guesswork out of meal preparations. You should save money on gas by making less frequent trips to the store as well as on groceries by using coupons and watching for sales. My last tip is to use cloth bags. Not only is it better for the environment, your groceries won’t tip over in the car, spilling everywhere nor will the bags rip open while you carry them in the house. I hope your next grocery shopping trip is more pleasant and productive.

Until next week,
Lisa Tedder