How to Grocery Shop To Save Time and Money

In tough economic times, one of the ways to reduce spending is by adjusting your eating habits. Eating out less, buying in bulk, and cooking more from scratch are all great ways to save money.

But long work hours and less time to cook can make those take out meals very attractive. How then, is the average person supposed to feed everyone three meals a day and work a full day besides?

Here are a few tips to help you balance the need to save money and still work a full time job.

1. Shop At The Right Grocery Store

   Shopping at a local supermarket that is convenient to your travel route not only reduces the time you spend going to and from the store, it helps save on gas.
   
   Choose two days a week to stop on your way home from work to shop, one at the beginning of the week and one nearer the end. Allow about an hour for each trip. By setting a time limit, you'll focus on getting the task done, rather than browsing for things to buy.
   
   When choosing the supermarket, choose one that best suits your needs. Shopping at several stores to save a few pennies or get a different name brand of canned corn is a waste of time and fuel.

2. Shop For Quick Meals and Make-Ahead Meals

   Don't shy away from prepared pasta sauces or bagged salad fixings. While these may be a little more costly, the time you save will ultimately save you money.
   
   After a long day, cooking from scratch is not an attractive idea. But if you have the items needed to pull together a quick and healthy meal in under an hour, you'll likely drive past the drive thru.
   
   Keep the convenient foods on hand for the quick meals. But choose one day when you cook the make-ahead meals. For example, cook a roast in the slow cooker and you can make Italian beef, hot beef sandwiches, sliced beef and roasted potatoes. Serve any of these with soup or salad during the busy week. For your lunch, you can brown bag it with cold beef sandwiches and fruit.

3. Focus On The List, But Be Flexible

   Lists keep you on task. If you make a list of the basics, you won't need to run out for milk, which can turn into a thirty-dollar trip. Have a master list of the staples you use, and use this on your shopping trips.
   
   But don't miss the good stuff! If chicken breasts are on sale for $1.99 a pound, make that purchase. By keeping several items in the freezer, you'll begin to lower your weekly bill. Eventually, you won't have to buy everything you need each and every week.

4. Cheap Doesn't Always Save You Money

   The cereal on the bottom rows may be less expensive, but if your kids won't eat it because it tastes funny to them, you'll just end up with stale cereal. That's a waste of your cash.
   
   Don't buy what you or your family won't eat. That doesn't mean you have to buy the expensive brands; it means you should buy the brands you and your family like.

5. Be Adventurous

   While setting up a shopping routine allows you to reduce the time you spend in the grocery store and makes cooking easier, you don't want to get tired of the foods you eat.
   
   Each week, try something new. It may be a snack, a new fruit or vegetable, or a new recipe. This will keep mealtime interesting, and teach your kids about new foods.
   
   And don't forget dessert. Keeping fresh fruits on hand for dessert is great, but sometimes you just need chocolate. Every once in a while, pick up something from the bakery, or try a new cake recipe.

Mealtimes should be fun, and food should be enjoyable. It shouldn't be a chore to have dinner with the family, or make lunches everyday. By reducing the time spent shopping and cooking, and saving money, mealtimes won't be something to get through, they'll be something to look forward to.