How to Avoid Time-Stealers - Your Grocery Plan

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By TracyBrown
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Save time at the grocery store.

This article is the first in a series of how to avoid "time-stealers" - those extra minutes that can be lost in necessary everyday activities. By doing some careful preparation, and sticking to a well-developed plan, you can cut back on lost time AND frustration! The steps below will help you STREAMLINE your GROCERY SHOPPING experience.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Pen
Paper
Maybe your computer
YOU

Step 1

Number 1 is a "pre-step" of sorts. BE STRATEGIC. Start by taking the time to go to your favorite supermarket one day and note briefly on paper what is in aisle one, two, three, etc. so that when you write out your grocery list, you can put it in the order of your walk through the store. This will help eliminate back-tracking when you are shopping in the future.
Step 2

Know your grocery store's open hours and when the peak shopping times occur. Again this is a bit of a "pre-step", but common sense already tells you that 12:00-1:00pm and 5:00-7:00pm are probably busy hours at your grocery store during the week. Sometimes shopping very early in the morning (or late at night) can help you ZOOM through the store with little traffic to maneuver and short lines at the checkout.
Step 3

Write out your weekly meals in ADVANCE - why? Because then you can decide what you need to purchase in order to complete your menus. This will also help you avoid "running out" for that missing ingredient - which can be another time-stealer! Also keep in mind that you do not have to obey this dinner schedule - you might find out it's a better timesaver some Thursday night to order pizza instead of making meatloaf! Remember to plan your menu BEFORE writing your shopping list.
Step 4

Now that you have your dinner plans on paper, WRITE out that shopping list! Not only can this help SAVE YOU MONEY by giving you a clear view of what you actually need, it will save you time because you have a list to work off of. No trying to decide what to eat "on the fly".
Step 5

Does your grocery store have a website? UTILIZE their online tools! For example, Wegmans (located in NY, NJ, PA, MD, and VA) has a website in which you can create an account for free, build grocery shopping lists based on an individual store, and gives you the aisle number or department of each item you choose! It also provides prices of store products, weekly specials, and other TIME-SAVING items. This particular grocery store website also highlights interesting recipes that include the option to "add ingredients to your shopping list", sort by aisle, and then print. (You can have multiple grocery lists too!) It doesn't get any easier than this! If your own grocery store has a website, you may just be able to skip Step 1 above.
Step 6

If you drive, try to find a parking spot near a cart corral. This is especially useful if it is raining!
Step 7

If you can, shop ALONE. It's all about YOU and YOUR MISSION. While you are at it, it's not multi-tasking if you are on your cell phone and grocery shopping. In fact, it can slow you down if you are on the cell phone as you are not concentrating on your task at hand and may be wasting precious time. (Ever notice shoppers on cell phones creating traffic jams? Don't be one of them!)
Step 8

When possible, pick a shopping cart that matches the size of your grocery list. Why? It's easier to maneuver the aisles and customer traffic with a smaller cart. Bigger isn't always better.
Step 9

Avoid food samples. There is usually a cart "traffic jam" wherever the free sample stand is stationed. Besides, you have a list you are working off of since you are a TIME-SAVER!
Step 10

Greeting cards - a potential time-waster. Ok, here's a confession. I think standing in the store and reading funny greeting cards is a great way to help lift your spirits. But since the purpose of this eHow is to help you avoid time-stealers, you must redefine how you buy greeting cards. Here is a tip: if you must buy a birthday card for your mother and in the process of searching for a card for her find a funny one for your best friend, BUY THE CARD FOR YOUR FRIEND. This will save you time in the future when his/her birthday comes around.
Step 11

Alright, you are a now SUPER SHOPPER and are moving through the grocery store like an OLYMPIC CHAMP when suddenly, you turn into the next aisle on your list and it's a customer and cart mine field! STOP! Instead, choose the next aisle and circle back to the missed aisle on your way to the checkout. Better to lose one minute in a back track than several in a traffic jam.
Step 12

At the checkout, put away the checkbook and use that checking account debit card! It's better to swipe your card than waste time digging for your checkbook and your license or check-cashing card, writing out the check, etc. The customers behind you will certainly APPRECIATE it too! Also, if your grocery store requires seeing your license for alcohol purchases, have the ID out before they request it.
Step 13

And finally COMBINE ERRANDS! Choose "other services" that are close to the grocery store (such as your dry cleaner). How about picking a grocery store with a pharmacy if you take a regular medication? Call the prescription in BEFORE going to the store, or, drop off the Rx at the pharmacy counter BEFORE starting your grocery shopping.