Smart Tips For Efficient Shopping

Efficient and ergonomic shopping is a requisite skill for meal planning.  After all, what can one cook if there are no groceries at hand or if there are too many missing items?  Shopping calls for more than just passion.  A meal planner should not just be a passionate shopper, but a smart one, a consummate shopper if need be.  Here are smart tips for smart shopping.

Shop no more than twice a week.

If you can get by with once-a-week shopping, that is a good time-saver.  But most meal planners find that shopping twice a week could be more healthful, especially if one uses the second trip to the grocery as a means to refill the fruit bowl or stock up on new produce.

Have a running list in public areas of your house.

Somewhere in your kitchen or in highly-trafficked hallways of your house, hang a whiteboard with a pen so everybody can jot down what he needs.  Your kids can jot down the school supplies they’ve run out of, for example.  This will help you complete your grocery list so you can avoid unnecessary return trips to the store.

Organize your grocery list.

You should have a separate list for each store you’ll be going to.  Have a list for the farmers’ market and another list for the grocery.  Furthermore, you should organize each list according to the store’s layout.  This requires that you already have a mental map of your favorite store’s floor plan and arrangement.

Organize your grocery handbag.

After going through your master household supplies list and including the items jotted down by your family, and after taking the time to organize your list, it’s time to organize the handbag that you’ll be bringing along to the grocery.  For instance, you should have your grocery lists, some coupons and of course, your money.  Some also like to bring along their menu plan for the week.

Shop according to your schedule.

The best time to shop differs from shopper to shopper.  For some, it would be best to shop on the way home from work.  For others who can make it, the first hour when the store opens or the last hour before closing may be the least crowded time.  Still for some, online shopping may be the best option.

If you can help it, make shopping a one-stop experience.

Rather than hopping from one place to another buying what you need, find a place where you can buy all that you need to buy and do some other things besides.  Some shop in a store just beside the dry cleaner or the beauty parlor, for instance.  This is another great time- and money-saving tip.