Tips for Grocery Store Shopping Success

Tips for Grocery Store Shopping Success

While starting to buy food for myself I made a lot of mistakes and learned preparation is the key to a successful grocery shopping experience. Studies show that when we buy something unplanned, roughly 90 percent of us pick up items we think are a bargain. If you’re like me, it’s important to make sure those bargain items are both health promoting and conducive to your goals. Create a budget, prepare a list and stick to the perimeter – read more to see how these tips can help you save money and eat healthier.

Create a Budget

For a single person, new to grocery shopping, I recommend setting a daily food budget for the first two weeks – once you get the hang of it, start scaling from there. For example, you could start with just 10 bucks a day, then decide if you need to take a little away or add a little more to make it work. Keep adjusting every two weeks until you find what works for you.

For families already on a budget it definitely helps to buy in bulk. Also, try rotating food throughout the week to get the most out of your budget. For example, dinner today becomes lunch tomorrow. I like to use a four-day rotation, but if you need rotate everyday that seems to work as well.

If you’re looking to make changes to your diet you will need to experiment before setting a complete budget. Preparation is important, so decide on a menu for the week, price out the food, and then get shopping.

Prepare a List

Tempted by a box of doughnuts? Perhaps you have somehow wandered into the bakery aisle – how does that always seem to happen? Not only will your list help get you in and out quicker, but also I’m sure you’ll find it a much more organized approach to grocery shopping.

Stick to the Perimeter

This is where you’ll find all of the freshest food. And for a well balanced diet make sure to load up on plenty fresh produce – especially dark leafy green vegetables. I recommend local organic food if at all possible.

The bottom line comes down to preparation. In order to consistently see success at the grocery store create a budget, prepare a list and stick to the perimeter. With these tips in mind I’m sure that you will save money and eat healthier.