How to Stop Crisis Grocery Shopping and Save Big

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By Terria Fleming
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Canned ham is a good pantry food

What is "crisis shopping" anyway? And how can I avoid doing it so that I can save money on my grocery budget? Read on to find out.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

money to buy food
ability to transport groceries home
list

Step 1

Crisis shopping can take many forms but the main definition of crisis shopping is to shop when you are not prepared, or during (rather than before) some natural disaster or emergency near your home, shopping when you are not at your best, or are in a hurry.
Step 2

honey should be in your cupboard

Step one in avoiding crisis shopping is planning and preparation. If you think things through, you can easily prepare for almost any event or occurance that might come up, in regards to food and your groceries.

A few items on your kitchen shelf, or an entire food pantry crammed full with food to last for months, can make the difference between only shopping when you want and need to, and becoming a victim of constant crisis shopping.

Only you know what food items your family prefers, and how much of these food items you want to store in your kitchen, but a few easy to use staples like canned tuna and canned ham, tomato sauce, pasta, rice, beans, and peanut butter are always good ideas.
Step 3

purchase fresh fruits and vegetables too

Some examples of crisis shopping include, but are not limited to:
shopping after you hear about a natural emergency/disaster in your area (hurricanes, earthquakes, windstorms, etc).
By the time you hear about the emergency, or become aware of it, the local grocery stores shelves might already be almost cleaned out.
Far better to have some canned food on your home shelf for emergency use, than wind up hungry or in some long line at an emergency relief center.
Step 4

eggs are always handy

Another example of crisis shopping would be shopping when you're hungry. You will buy more food than you planned on when you shop hungry, unless you have super human will-power. So eat before you go shopping.
Along these same lines, shopping alone is best too, as kids in particular always want something that isn't on your list.
Step 5

When you need to eat or to cook a meal, but haven't got anything to eat at your house, would be another example of crisis food shopping.
If you prepare, and plan ahead, there will always be the makings of several easy-to-fix meals in your cupboard.
Step 6

When you are tired and/or cranky is not a good time to go grocery shopping either. You will be tempted to purchase some luxury treat or food that will "make you feel better".
Step 7

Grocery shopping on your way home from work, is another bad idea. Again you're tired and not at your best, so you probably will buy whatever is easiest to fix, because you haven't got anything easy to prepare in your kitchen cupboards, or refrigerator.

Once again, we go back to planning ahead and preparation. That is the key to avoiding all of these crisis grocery shopping trips.
Step 8

You are bored and so you go shopping, or to the grocery store, looking for "something to do". Not a good idea, as you'll be wasting time, and gas if you drive there.

Try to prepare a list of alternative activities to do when you get bored, and do something from your list instead of going shopping.
Maybe something you always wanted to try like tennis, or painting, or whatever makes you feel good.
Step 9

Another "crisis shopping" trip to the grocery store might occur because you have unexpected company arrive at your house, and you have nothing to feed them.

Once again, prepare by stocking up with some easy to put together food items that make for quick, handy dinners.