5 Ways to Speed Up Your Grocery Shopping Trip

If you're reading this article, you're probably looking for ways to make the grocery trip less expensive, more exciting, and less daunting. Here you have it- I have compiled 5 easy ways for you to get up and go to the grocery store armed with the confidence that it will be one super quick and organized trip!

One: Set Aside a Specific Day and Time

This seems like a simple step that might often be skipped- but it is very important. Why? Because having that set aside day and time reminds you that you do need to prepare for this trip to make it the most effective. Preparedness is key to your super quick grocery trip. Say Sunday is your day because you don't have to work, you can leave the kids at the sitter for cheaper (or if you're ambitious, bring them with you!), have recently gotten a paycheck... or any day for that matter that suits your personal life. Get yourself into the habit that every week on THIS DAY you go and do the grocery shopping. This, in turn, leads to my next tip.

Two: Make a List, No... Make Two Lists

You've accomplished the set day and time goal... good. Now, you must come prepared for the trip with a list. A good idea is to create two lists: one will be the "meals for the week" list and the other will be the "ingredients needed" list (or you can call that second one your "grocery" list). For example, on Monday you're having hamburgers. Add to your grocery list the following items: hamburger meat, buns, ketchup. Go through your list and write down all of the ingredients you'll need to make the week's meals and then you have your grocery list.

Three: Don't Buy What You Don't Need

Now that you have your day, your time, and your lists, you need to figure out what you already have so that you don't buy what you don't need. So, after you've compiled your lists (leave the "meals" one at home and from here on out we'll only need our "grocery" list) bring the list with you in the kitchen and cross off all of the things you already have enough of. When you made your list, you wrote down ketchup only to find that you actually have that sitting in your fridge (half full!)- Cross it off. This will save you money and time.

Four: Organize Your List

Picture the grocery store. Where do you start? In the produce section or in the dairy section? Now, once you've got that pictured, organize your list by sections. Put all produce at the top of your list if you begin there, followed by the pasta ingredients if that's where you'll go after produce, and so on. This will help to make your trip super quick!

Five: Coupons- Leave Some at Home!

You know you've seen them: that woman standing in aisle 5, blocking the way for everyone else while she digs through her coupon book. She's trying to figure out if Heinz mustard is a better deal with the coupon than the store brand. The lady that "just knew" she had a coupon in here "somewhere" for that. You've pointed, you've laughed, you've furrowed your brow... I'm sure. Clipping coupons isn't for everyone. But, if you are a coupon clipper, save yourself some time by taking with you only the coupons you need. You'll know which ones you'll need by compiling your list ahead of time. Great time saver!

There you have it, 5 easy ways to take that grocery trip to the express lane. With these tips the task should no longer be daunting, it may even be fun!