Grocery shopping – do’s and don’ts!

We have all been caught in the trap. What is that trap? It’s the trap of buying too many items at the supermarket and the result is not being too happy when we get to the cashier. I can’t tell you the number of times I promised myself to only pick up one or two items and suddenly found myself in front of the cashier with a trolley full of groceries.

Be Prepared

Since single use plastic bags have been banned all shoppers must either take their own bags or purchase them from the store. As a result picking up a number of groceries that were not planned you run the risk of spending more or being inconvenienced.

I have decided to keep empty grocery bags in my car. That way if I buy more than I intended, I can simply run to the car for the bags.  Of course if you take public transportation you can still take the bags along with you as you shop.

Check the overall integrity of the bags you use for groceries as they can deteriorate over time if stored for a long period. You certainly don’t want the bags to burst at the worst possible time such as when you lift it to put in your trunk after exiting the store.

I saw this happen once while shopping and several items that the shopper had bought were now all over the ground.The management at the supermarket decided to replace the broken items but you might not be so fortunate, so check those bags carefully and don’t over pack them.

A good rule to follow is to place heavier items in the bottom of the bag. I would also invest in bags that are durable, some of the cloth ones are very easily damaged.

Get those lists

It is very easy to do impulse shopping whether at a supermarket or a regular store.  Remember your budget by making a list and sticking to what you need.

The list would have been carefully crafted at home and you would have taken into consideration the items that were required. Of course you might see a sale item not on your list but since it’s a good buy you decide to get it. However for the most part stick to the list!

Never buy dented or otherwise damaged goods even if on sale

Sometimes if it’s too good to be true, it usually has some hidden catch. Before buying items on what looks like an unbelievable sale check the quality of the product.

It might also be very near to its expiration date so that needs to be taken into consideration.

Finally the most important rule, never  shop while hungry or in an emotional state. Being in any of those two states can impair your judgement.

So what’s your take? How do you get the best out of your shopping experience? Let me hear from you!

Teri Ann Renee Paisley

Gleaner online writer

Tags: budget. lists, shopping, supermarket shopping