As you know I’ve moved to the St. Louis area and I’ve been extremely busy learning the ropes of my new city! As I’ve written before I always organize my grocery list by the layout of the store. Once you shop a store enough times you eventually learn the layout but the first few months can feel like you’re shopping in a maze.
Grocery shopping - I would not suggest wearing a skirt & heals. Dress comfortably so you can move through the store quickly!
On my first trip to the grocery store my list was in complete disarray because the store is organized completely different than the store I shopped in Maryland. On the back of my grocery list I made a list of the aisle category in the order that I’ll shop. I essentially made a list or a map of how the store is organized. I typed my list and hung it on the fridge. Now when I go to make my list next week, I’ll be able to organize my list to make shopping quick and easy. No more running around looking for the crackers…I now know before I even go to the store that the crackers are in the 9th aisle with the snacks. I love saving time (sigh of relief).
If you always feel lost in your grocery store, try these tips:
- Shop the same store. This allows you to learn the store’s organization, prices, and even the workers who can help you if you’re lost or if an item is sold out.
- Try to map out the store like I did. This will help you learn the layout.
- Shop during the day or late in the evening when the store is not crowded so you do not feel rushed. Less people in the store saves you time moving up and down aisles and minimizes your wait time at check-out.
- Shop at consistent intervals. Don’t wait 3 weeks to get to the grocery store and then go again in 5 days. Go weekly or bi-weekly so your list is somewhat consistent. Your needs and usage habits are generally the same from week to week so your grocery list will be more consistent. With little variation in your list you’re likely to get through the store more quickly. After time, you’ll develop a habit of what you buy.
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I hate grocery shopping! EMealz has actually made it a more enjoyable experience for me (http://e-mealz.com/). It is a paid service, but it’s reasonably priced. Every week, the suggested meals will help you save time AND money in the grocery! Each recipe is designed with the following days in mind so that you don’t waste a lot. Then, the ingredients are laid out by grocery store aisle to make it easy to find when you are there. You can actually pick from a selected number of grocery stores or use the generic option if your store isn’t available. They have sample menus on the website.
Thanks Lindsay! I’d love to hear more about EMealz…sounds like a great solution for a busy woman!
I just wrote about a similar tip on my blog! I am definitely a huge fan of organizing your list by store layout. Not only is it faster, but it makes it less likely that you’ll miss something on your list. Even if you only get it mostly right, it’s a step in the right direction.
It takes me about an hour to grocery shop. I go once a week. I could probably do it a bit quicker, but to be honest I love to “window shop” and see what’s new, especially in produce!