Save Time and Money at the Grocery Store
Today’s blog is a guest post from Laura Taylor, owner of Honest to Goodness, a kitchen concierge who services the greater Seattle area. She will help you with menu planning, in-home meal preparation, grocery shopping, party planning, and more.
People hate grocery shopping for a number of reasons, including not having enough time. In order to get in, get out, and get on with your day, follow these simple tactics to save time and money:
- Develop a meal plan and corresponding grocery list for the week before you get to the store. Having a plan of action will keep you on track and minimize the “what’s for dinner?” stress.
- Use a hand basket or the small shopping cart. You’ll be less inclined to impulse buy on more items when you have less space to fill.
- Shop primarily on the perimeter of the store. Michael Pollan’s Food Rules book provides guidance on choosing real food, most of which is not found in the aisles.
- Buy in bulk or stock up on non-perishable items when they’re on a good sale. Having your favorite items in good supply at home means fewer trips to the store.
- Use the self-checkout lanes.
- Shop in the morning or late evening to avoid crowds.
You’ll notice that coupons are not listed as a money-saving tactic. Even though it’s possible to save a few bucks with them, I don’t clip coupons anymore. Here’s why: the bulk of my grocery purchases are fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, and whole grains. None of these items are coupon-worthy, and I’m okay with that, as are my wallet and my waistline.
Honest to Goodness has an exclusive offer for Innovatively Organized clients: a List of Pantry Staples to get you on track with the foundations for healthy eating and snacking. Email Laura to get your copy today!For more pantry organizing tips, check out the Innovatively Organized blog.
