6 Time-Saving Tips for Winter Grocery Shopping
Busy moms everywhere know the importance of saving time. In fact, finding simple ways to make things simpler is one of my obsessions in life—especially when it comes to tasks I really don’t enjoy. And I have to admit, I don’t particularly like going grocery shopping. I don’t hate it, but there are other things I’d rather be doing with my time, like watching The Fresh Beat Band with my kids and playing with my new Kindle Fire. Add in the cold and (possible) snowy weather in the winter, and I couldn’t be less motivated to hit the market. That’s why I love these tips for how to get in and out of the grocery store in a snap.
Always have a list. Research shows that people who shop with a list spend less time at the store and less money. Chelsea Gladden, founder of BreezyMam.com, suggests organizing it by aisle. “For example, put all of your vegetables together and all of your cleaning supplies together so you only make one trip down each aisle,” she says. She’s right—taking a few minutes to get your list in order can actually save you 15 minutes or more at the market.
Download this. Grocery IQ is an app that lets you create a shopping list by adding in items manually or scanning barcodes while in the store. You can add quantities, prices to comparison shop, and organize the list by aisle. You can also synch it with another phone (like your husband’s) so that you’re both working off the same list. And at .99 cents, this app won’t break your budget.
Coordinate your coupons. I am one of those annoying people that decide to flip through all of her coupons during checkout—and it’s a habit I’m trying to break. Not only does it hold up the line of people behind me, but I usually miss out on some good deals because I forgot I had certain coupons with me. Making that all-important shopping list—and then matching up the items I need with the coupons I have—will save me both time and money.
Go at the right time. My local supermarket is a madhouse in the afternoon and especially on weekends. So now I try to hit the stores on weekday mornings, right after I drop my oldest son off at preschool. I’ve also gone after the boys are in bed (and most people are home for the night). Not only do I always get a prime parking spot, but I also save time on the checkout line, as well as the deli counter and butcher station.
Shop online. This is perfect for cold and snowy days when you don’t want to bundle yourself (and the kids) up to head out. ShopRite’s Shop from Home site allows you to either pick up your order at the store or have the groceries delivered for a small fee. The site will even save your past shopping carts so you won’t have to search for the same items again and again. Other online grocery shopping sites include Peapod (www.peapod.com), Net Grocer (www.netgrocer.com), and Fresh Direct (www.freshdirect.com).
Buy in bulk. If you have the pantry space or an extra freezer in your home (many moms I know swear by this), then it might be a good idea to stock up on meat, veggies and other foods when they go on sale. You can also hit stores like BJs and Costco for deals, and then only go to the market as needed.
