Thursday, February 4, 2010

Thought Provoking Thursday


How do you spend your time in the grocery store?

Yesterday, I was asked how I manage the time I spend while shopping.

Personally, I always start shopping before I ever set foot in the store. I make sure to view the store's sales flyer online and visit blogs that highlight the weekly deals, and then I gather store, online and newspaper coupons that correspond with the items that I plan to purchase.

When I do step into the store (usually accompanied with my two year old son) I make sure to grab a sales flyer to use as a reference if necessary.

Next, I like to make a quick pass through the fresh fruits and vegetables in hopes of finding a reduced produce cart. I also stroll past the meat section to pick up anything that may be on my list, and then I keep my eyes open for reduced meats (like a whole chicken) to either make for dinner that night or freeze.

As I pass by the dairy cases, I pick up the items on my list... and then we make a pit stop, for my son to visit the goldfish. This pit stop is actually for both of us! I take these few fishy minutes to review my grocery list and plan which aisles I need to stroll down. Usually, I only need to shop from the shelves of two-three aisles! I LOVE that knowing what I need keeps my time spent in the store at a minimum!

After we kiss the fish goodbye, we pick up the few remaining items on our list, and then we visit the fresh fruits and vegetables section for real!

After I have picked out our fresh foods, I take a quick second to park in front of the checkout lanes and review my coupons... just to make sure that I have picked the items that the coupons that I am planning to spend are requiring!

If I need to make separate piles of coupons for purchasing my groceries in more than one transaction... this step aside time allows me to stress free make my plan of attack!

Lastly, following checking out, my son rides Sandy, the penny horse... twice! He deserves it, he's a great shopper!

I strategically stick to shopping the perimeter of the store... where most of the fresh and healthier items are located!

I like to think that my shopping strategy allows me to spend less (coupons), shop less (time anyway!), and eat healthier!


How do YOU plan strategically?

10 comments:

Amber

I am super impressed that you usually have your son with you when you shop. As the mother of a 3 year old boy, I make all efforts to go to the store alone! It seems I mess up at least one thing (sale or coupon) when an active and busy guy is with me - despite planning ahead!

Amy K

I too spend time in front of the fish to seperate my coupons into my different transactions. Usually it's the quietest place in the store and good entertainment for my children.

Julie

No goldfish here, but sometimes my 4-year-old gets to watch the lobster tank while I do a final check of my list and coupon match-ups.
Our stores offer a slice of cheese at the deli or a cookie at the bakery. My son believes those are rewards the store gives to children who have been good shoppers. Usually I head to the bakery area so he can practice his manners and ask for a cookie just before I'm ready to check out. Somehow that cookie makes the wait in the check-out line more bearable.

Staying Lean

I also organize before I get to the store checking the match up websites printing my list early in the week then taking out my coupons to match. I have an envelope for each store and throw them in. Then before I get to the store hopefully well before but occassionally in the car I organize the items by store layout back to front. For instance Blanc Kroger frozen is in back, then dairy. Meijer cleaning products are at the back. I shop produce first as well but mostly that comes from Aldi's I look through the organic section for mark downs. At VGs for markdown meat. Then I work the store back to front picking up what I need to be efficient.

Staying Lean

I also organize before I get to the store checking the match up websites printing my list early in the week then taking out my coupons to match. I have an envelope for each store and throw them in. Then before I get to the store hopefully well before but occassionally in the car I organize the items by store layout back to front. For instance Blanc Kroger frozen is in back, then dairy. Meijer cleaning products are at the back. I shop produce first as well but mostly that comes from Aldi's I look through the organic section for mark downs. At VGs for markdown meat. Then I work the store back to front picking up what I need to be efficient.

Theresa

How big a dork am I that I can glance at the contents of your cart and guess at when you took the picture? :)

Laura Webber

Hi Theresa... yep, its a December pic!

Ellen

Sometimes when I enter the grocery store and there's a 'hot' item in terms of coupons & catalinas, I'll go & check item/items & stock up with that first & then relax the rest of the trip.

Melanie

I am just starting (within the past 3 weeks) and I have a plan even before I walk into the store. I am a mother of 3 with a full time job, so- my shopping is done either before work or during my lunch. I have to say, so far so good, with one exception: The Kroger buy 10 participating items and get $5 off your order. Unfortunately, most of the items were cleared from the shelves, so I had to dig into the sales ad and do some readjusting.

I am 100% certain that I'm not quite ready to tackle 3 kids, 1 cart, and coupons quite yet. Maybe next week!! ;)

Laura Webber

Hi Ellen,
Yep, sometimes I bee line to the hot items as well!

Melanie, I remember my first few weeks of couponing... you'll get there! Your kids will adjust!