5 Steps You Can Use to Stop Overspending when Grocery Shopping

You know the feeling. You've just stepped into the grocery store to purchase your family's food needs for the couple of weeks. "This should be quick. I only need a small cart of food," you think to yourself. The next thing you know, you're hauling out a cart piled high with items, careful not to that head of lettuce fall from the top of the stack. Behind you, two bag boys are doing the same as you pop the trunk of your vehicle to load up.

How did this happen? You fell victim to the impulse shopping bug. Instead of concentrating on the items you need, you let your grubby little hands go wild, picking up cereal box after cereal box and then tossing the box of oatmeal cookies that proclaimed "On Sale!" on top. This condition effects many shoppers, men and women alike. These victims can't seem to skip a good deal or pass by the doughnut rack without picking up more than what they need.

Fear not! This condition can be managed! Here are 5 simple steps that will help you curb your appetites while grocery shopping.

1. Have a food tracking system at home
Make up a system of how many can, bags, etc. of food of a particular food you want to keep in your pantry. Do you want 8 cans of corn always available after shopping? How about 2 bags of chips to feed your hungry teenagers? Make a system that tells you how much of each item you want in your house and stick to this list. Before you go shopping, write down how much you need of each essential item and make sure you buy only as much as you need. Better yet, just mark down the food as you use it, and its already ready when you go to shop!

2. Write down what you need that isn't in your food tracking system
Do you want to buy a treat for you kids? Get their opinion on what that treat should be, whether it be cake, cookies, whatever. This doesn't need to be relegated to food, either. Perhaps you want to get new holiday decorations, or Aunt Margarie needs a birthday card. Write these down before you go and stick to the list. Pass by the extras that you think you might like, but don't need.

3. Don't leave the house hungry
This definitely sets you up for a food crazed shopping spree. When you're hungry, your brain tends to concentrate on food. it's a bodies way of signifying it needs energy. This means that if you're walking down aisles and aisles full of food, the food focused brain will say "Load up." Eat at least a small snack before you go. If you find yourself getting hungry in the store, on the other hand, don't be afraid to pick up a granola bar and eat it. Just remember to pay for it when you check out!

4. It possible, get your shopping done at one store
This is more of a problem in small towns, but try your hardest to shop in one store. This lessens the chance of stopping by a store that wasn't in the original shopping plan. If multiple stores must be shopped at, plan the route before hand, and don't make any extra stops.

5. Finally, buy what you want, not what is cheapest
Sure, if the item you want is, in fact, the cheapest, go ahead. Often, however, people tend to spend more time than necessary scrutinizing the many options and debating whether to go cheap or buy what is wanted. For the sake of storage space at home, buy what you want in the first place. Many find themselves unhappy when compromising desires and end up going back to the store to buy what they really wanted later on. Getting what you want in the first place saves time, money, and space.

With these tips, a shopper can avoid the problem of finding space for the last box of cookies in the over crowded cupboard. Not to mention the fact that the wallet arrives home much fatter than it otherwise would have. You can beat the compulsive shopping addiction. Just listen to common sense, practice a little self-discipline, and follow the guidelines above. Your money will be used on other personal matters, such as the kid's college fund. (Mom, are you reading this...)