If you’ve got a solid list (on paper and highlighted of course), it’s going to take you no more than 40 minutes once you walk in the door. While you’re in there, take advantage of these tips and bring home the best quality food for the least cost.
Don’t shop hungry.
Try to plan your shopping trip to follow a meal, so you won’t be tempted to buy a bunch of impulse stuff. Your printed list will help you stay focused on the areas of the store that you need to visit, and out of the junk aisles.
Ask the Produce Person.
If you don’t know what something is, or you’re not sure where to find something one of your recipes calls for, just ask. There’s almost always a produce employee roaming around. They are generally pretty knowledgeable about their department. And, they often offer samples of fruits or vegetables if you ask. Not sure what a star fruit is? The Produce Person will probably be happy to show you the star that appears when you cut the fruit in half, and will usually give you a taste!
Grab the produce in the back.
When produce is stocked on shelves, they place whatever needs to be sold first (the least fresh) in the front and put the freshest foods in the back. It may sound shameless, but move that front trash aside and grab the fresh stuff. This is especially true of those plastic bins of greens… the one on top and in the front is more likely to be half rotten by the time you get it home.
Ask the Meat Counter Person.
If you’ve never made BBQ’d Baby Back Ribs, just ask the person behind the counter. We once had no less than three employees at the store helping us find the right BBQ rub and sauce, and left the store thorough instructions to make the best ribs I’ve ever had. Sometimes if I’m feeling uninspired, I’ll ask the Meat Counter Person what I should make. They always have a good idea for a tasty meal, but also know what’s best and fresh in their case.
Gather frozen foods last.
If you’re buying anything frozen, put it in your basket at the end of your shopping adventure. And, if you’re bagging your own groceries, be sure to pack frozen items up with other frozen or refrigerated items so they can help keep each other cold.
Help bag your groceries.
I learned this tip when our daughter worked at Trader Joes. The person bagging your groceries always appreciates the help, and it makes them feel more human if you jump in and share the task with them. Also, it’s good to know where and how your food is packed up — especially those frozen foods.
Getting know know the store employees is always a good idea in general. If you are known as a valued, courteous customer, you’re going to have people lining up to help you when you need it.
Don’t forget about the bulk foods!
If you really want to save money on groceries, and you live near a store that offers bulk foods (Winco, Food4Less, Market of Choice are just a few in Oregon with bulk foods), shop there! There are so many great foods available in bulk!
Baking goods like:
- spices!
- flour(s)
- sugar(s)
- Baking soda and powder
- Nuts and dried fruits
- Oats and other grains
Dry foods like:
- Pasta
- Beans
- Rice
- Soup mixes
- Sauce mixes
- Hot cereals
- Cold cereals
And, plenty of snacks as well!
Most commonly, I buy all of my granola ingredients in bulk: oats, slivered and chopped almonds, dried cranberries, and raisins. But, I also buy all different kinds of pasta and rice… it’s so much less expensive than prepackaged foods. Mixed nuts and snack bars for lunches are great. And, the best deal of all, spices!
With spices, it’s also great that you can buy as much or as little as you like.
I make gingerbread cutout cookies every Christmas, and they call for about 5 different spices. I like to get them fresh each year, so the flavors are nice and bright. When you’re buying spices like allspice or cardamom, that you probably will use almost never outside of making gingerbread cookies at Christmas, it’s nice not to have to buy a whole jar of each. That poor spice will likely sit on your shelf mostly unused for years to come – sad and stale. Did I mention how expensive spices in prepackaged jars are??
Bulk foods are nearly always cheaper than packaged foods, and it takes just a few seconds to bag them up and label them. I try to get them in jars as soon as I get home so I don’t have a pile of bags in my pantry. Most bulk spice areas also offer small plastic spice containers – stock up on these as well, so your spices can live an organized life. Glass quart jars with lids make perfect storage for pasta, beans, lentils, and baking goods… and when they’re all lined up on the shelf, they make your pantry look seriously legit.
Also, be sure to notice in your grocery receipt just how much of a savings you’re getting. You’ll also save the landfills from a lot of extra packaging!
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Learn how to Plan, Shop & Cook for Life with this Beginner's Strategy
