Is your bank balance under $100? Are you living day-to-day until payday? Do you have enough cash in your HSA to cover a cancer diagnosis tomorrow? A CT scan can cost $3,000 without insurance, and even with insurance, it can be around $800. If your car breaks down tomorrow and is totaled, do you have enough cash to buy a used car or rent one for a month? Yes, you might temporarily rely on your family members for commute ride, but is it fair to take up their valuable time due to your lack of home financial management? You are a grown-up. You need to be responsible yourself financially.
Luckily, I was taught by my parents to always keep at least $10,000 (preferably six months’ worth of living expenses) in cash. I use multiple tips to control my savings in various ways, and thanks to those, even if my spouse and I both lose our jobs tomorrow, we can survive for six months without becoming homeless.
Today, I’d like to share my grocery shopping tips that help me save money, time and energy. Let’s start with my basic principles.
My Basic Expectations:
My Grocery Expectations
– I want to spend the least amount of time possible on grocery shopping.
– I want to spend the least amount of money possible on groceries.
– I prefer to check produce and raw meat with my own eye at the store before purchasing. (so I avoid delivery and pickup services).
My Pantry and Freezer Expectations
– I keep the minimum necessary items in my pantry (ideally, zero stock).
– I keep the minimum necessary frozen foods
My Meal Expectations
– I do meal prep in batches, because I dislike cooking and want to minimize the number of times I cook.
– I want different menus for lunch and dinner, b/c I want to eat a variety of food
– I aim to cook as much as possible and eat a balanced diet (20g of protein per meal and 500g of fibrous vegetables per day).
– I try to avoid food additives as much as possible. However, when I need to take shortcuts, I incorporate frozen foods from Trader Joe’s or ready-made proteins from the local butcher to add variety and enjoy meals with ease.
To meet these expectations, here are my grocery shopping rules:
Let’s dive-in.
8 Grocery Shopping Tips:
Tip1. Decide Your Go-To Grocery Stores
I assume many people already do this, but just I wanted to eco. If you know what to buy at which grocery store, that would reduce your stress.
My go-to grocery store is like below:
- Produce, frozen meals, proteins–> Trader Joe’s
- Household and pet supplies –> Kroger
I compared the same products at both stores in the past, considering price, quality, and my personal experience. I heavily use these 2 grocery stores as today.
Knowing what to buy which store helps save brain energy by avoiding decision fatigue.
There are multiple scientific evidence that proves the Dicision fatigue (from Wikipedia) eats willpower. In Grocery Shopping as example, you will easily tempted to buy unplanned products.
Also, this proves this tip will help to save money ultimately.
Tip2. Organize Shopping Lists by Store
If you routinely go 2 or more grocery store like me, then this tip will reduce your stress.
By separating lists for each store, you minimize stress during shopping. Because you can focus on list which is dedicated for the store you are at.
For example, I have 2 lists for Trader Joe’s and Kroger. like below. I use Apple Notes.
When I go to Trader Joe’s , I open the Trader Joe’s list, avoiding distractions. This organization reduces shopping stress.
Tip3. Slay the List: Regularly Review and Refine
Lists can grow quickly. Your cooking dream sometimes expands.
So regularly review and ask yourself:
- Is this ingredient really necessary for next week’s menu?
- Do I really need to buy this today? Can I push to the next time?
- Will not buying it cause significant issues for next week’s menu?
- Is it just a convenient item? (Convenient items are usually unnecessary.)
- Can I substitute it with something already in my pantry or freezer?
This process often reduces the list by half or even a third, saving money.
Tip4. Track Your Supplies in the Pantry
Are you aware how much you keep stocked in your pantry?
As mentioned above, ideally I’d expect nothing in stock, but there are two rows of shelves full of stuff today…
Knowing what you have in your pantry saves time and save money .
If you can easily see a list of everything you have in your pantry, you can review your shopping list without having to go to the pantry each time, saving you time. Additionally, it can prevent accidents like buying the same item when you already have enough stock in your pantry, saving you money.
Tip5. Grocery Shopping Once a Week Max
This tip saves time.
To save time, I’ve made it a rule to visit only one grocery store once a week, unless there’s an urgent need.
Time perspective, my goal is round-tip 30 minutes.
10 min for driving, so only 20 minutes at the store.
Depending on the cacher line waiting time, but 15 minutes is enough time to get what I want.
You may think I am crazy, but I am lazy. I’d rather spend that remaining 30 minutes binge-watching Netflix than 1 hour grocery shopping.
So, I’ve set a schedule for myself: once a week to Trader Joe’s and once a month to Kroger.
Grocery shopping itself costs time and money.
If you spend 1 hour at grocery store and spend $100, you lose more than $100. Why? Because with that 1 hour, you could have generated some profit – i.o.w. “opportunity loss”. (if you are salary person, you can quickly calculate your hourly wage out of it, then you know how much you lose by 1 hour grocery shopping).
Now I’m done with my tips “before” the shopping, so let’s go next phase – “executing” the Grocery shopping
Tip6. Beat the Crowds: Shop Early
I recommend going to the grocery store as soon as it opens.
At Trader Joe’s, where I usually shop, the produce section is well-stocked even first thing in the morning. (Of course, this may vary from store to store, so it’s best to check for yourself.)
Early in the morning, the store is also not as crowded. Easy to shop around. Fast checking out.
Conversely, I avoid going around noon on weekends. The store is very crowded,
Tip7. Avoid Buying Sale Items
Every time you step into a grocery store, sale items will catch your eye.
Grocery stores are masters at tempting you with deals because that’s how they make money.
However, I don’t buy anything that’s not on my list.
Why? Because choosing “not to buy” is cheaper than buying something just because it’s on sale.
I repeat this 🙂 “Not buying” is cheaper than “buying on sale.”
Avoiding buying sales items save your potential loss of your money.
Tip8. Stick to the Aisle
This tip serves two purposes: saving time and avoiding the temptation of sale items.
If you’re a regular at your grocery store, you probably know where everything is. By taking the shortest route, you can finish your grocery shopping in the least amount of time.
Bonus Tips
Bonus Tip1. Reduce Food Waste
Did you know that reducing food waste is basically the same as saving money?
Think about it: food is something we exchange our hard-earned cash for. So, tossing out food is like throwing money away. By simply making a conscious effort to reduce food waste, you’re actually boosting your savings.
Bonus Tip2. Grocery Shopping as a Mindful Escape
I have two types of grocery shopping: routine and meditation.
Routine shopping follows the above rules. It isall about efficiency and sticking to a list
Meditation shopping is more like a meditative experience.
When it comes to saving money, my efficient shopping routine is key. But every few months, I like to treat myself to a leisurely, meditative grocery trip. It’s amazing how much this can refresh my mind!
I’ll set aside an hour or two, leave my shopping list at home, and wander aimlessly through the aisles. No cart, no basket – to avoid buying. I’ll explore new sections, discover seasonal treats, and get lost in the world of spices. It’s like a mini-adventure!
This mindful grocery shopping is a great way to unwind and escape the daily grind. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, I highly recommend giving it a try.
Bonus Tip3. Reconsider Your Costco Membership
My spouse loves going to Costco once a year, so I go too.
But honestly, I don’t really need a Costco membership.
The reason is that I can find better deals at Trader Joe’s for the items I usually buy. For example, I’ve compared the prices of organic chicken and salmon, and Trader Joe’s is cheaper in my area.
Also, I’ve had the painful experience of buying too much frozen food or ingredients that I couldn’t finish, which ended up being a waste of money.
I apply the same rule here – “Not buying” is cheaper than “buying on sale.”
Conclusion
How was it? These are my tips for saving money and time on grocery shopping. If your expectations for meals, pantry, and freezer are similar to mine, I hope you find these tips helpful. Let me know your thoughts!
Resources
You can check other contents for your productivity & Time management.
