Shopping for groceries is a common practice that has become somewhat of a lost art. Make the most of your grocery shopping experience and consider these 6 tips when making your next trip to the store.
1. Check your supplies in advance:
Before making the trip to the grocery store, take a look at what you already have in your fridge or cupboards. Walking into a grocery store aimlessly will not only end up costing you time, but it’ll also cost you more money! Before heading to the store, be sure to make a list of what you need. What we like to do is make a stack of generic grocery lists. Each weekend we take a list and cross off what we don’t need to buy for the week. This list saves us a ton of time!
2. Use coupons and always check for specials in the grocery store flyer:
Nutritious food doesn’t have to be expensive food. There are always specials in the flyers that may be for items on your list. Fruits and vegetables that are in season will be cheaper than those that are not in season. Most grocery stores also have a rack or section with produce that is nearing it’s expiration date and they are usually available at a discounted price. These items may not be great to eat fresh, but could be used for your smoothies.
3. Shop when you’re not hungry!
Going to a grocery store when you are hungry is a very common mistake. People that are hungry tend to purchase more unnecessary foods and they especially get caught in making those impulse buys. Either eat a meal or have a good snack prior to your grocery shop.
4. Check the “best before” dates and try generic brands.
If you’re buying pre-packaged food products, it’s always important to make sure the food isn’t expired and has a “best before” date that gives you enough time to enjoy it. The other big money saver is buying generic or store brand products. Most of the time, the generic brand or store brand is the exact same product without the mass marketing that the Big Food companies have.
5. Products displayed at eye level are often the most expensive!
Usually, stores will stock their products in a way to make the most money they can. One trick they use is to stock their shelves with the expensive items at the average person’s eye-level. Take it upon yourself to look on the upper and lower shelves too, often those products are just as good if not better and usually cheaper.
6. Use more home made foods than ready-to-go fast foods:
It really all comes down to planning your grocery shop efficiently. The more foods you can make in your kitchen rather than opening packages and using the microwave, the healthier you and your family will be. It may take a bit more time, but it is time well spent and your body will thank you for it. Plan ahead and eat well!
If you have some other great tips to share, please leave them in the comment section below.
Happy shopping!
~ Plant Trainers
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