Shopping only once a week and going to the store on your busiest day is the key to spending less on groceries. Over the past few months I have stuck to a simple rule: Grocery shopping once a week.
If you are not in the store, you cannot spend money, you can't fall prey to slick marketing and "buy more, save more" types of incentives. With the exception of baby items (formula, diapers) I have found that the once a week schedule works just fine. If we run out of milk or eggs, I just become more creative by using other stuff and patiently wait until "shopping day".
Now I am taking a huge step forward. I sat down one day and looked at the calendar. I realized that if I go grocery shopping on certain days, i will not spend much time in the store. For me it's Mondays. I work late on Monday and just want to get home as soon as possible.
If my "once a week" shopping trip will take place on Monday after work, I will speed in and out of the grocery store and follow my list. No more meandering down each aisle. I tried it this week and only spent $32. Compared to more than twice that the prior weeks.
Try it; it works great. Requires discipline and creativity (substituting ingredients or postponing certain recipes until shopping day).
I've been doing something like this for years - before I start my list I make a "menu" for the week. And I do this based on the ad from the store, to utilize their sales or just to get a suggestion. Then, I can make my list 'cause I know what I want/have/need! I also make my list based on the different departments - so if I'm making meatloaf I put the ground beef under meat, eggs under dairy, and baking potatoes under produce (gotta have potatoes w/meatloaf!) I will also check on the breadcrumbs, ketchup, and sour cream, too. The family has gotten used to this and I will find suggestions from them on the menu - that's alot of help, too. Then, when I go to the store I try really hard to stick to the list - once in a while I'll see a special that I missed in the ad. But I like your suggestion of shopping on my busiest day - "gotta go, gotta go"!
Saves time as well as money. I shop once a week also. No longer drive; once a week saves on cabfare. Following only my list and keeping pantry stocked ahead a few days avoids emergencies.
I agree (regardless what Bella Swan's identity might be)--good tip.
One more thing to consider. In addition to YOUR schedule, consider the store's sale schedule when you pick your day of the week. For example, two of my local groceries run sales from Wednesday through Tuesday. But if I shop for sale items on Wednesday, often the sale price isn't yet posted on the shelf and/or entered into the computer, and it takes longer to accomplish check-out because I tend to look over the cashier's shoulder and argue every wrong penny. :) However, if I go later than Saturday, the sale items are often already out of stock. So for my store, Thursday or Friday are the best choices.
Most grocery sales are either W-Tu or Su-Sa. Find out your preferred store's schedule before you make yours.
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