Disclosure: I am a P&Gmom ambassador. As part of my affiliation with this group I have been compensated to test the Loblaws Click & Collect service. The opinions on this blog are my own.
I’m 44…cough…okay, almost 45. I’ve been married for close to 20 years, and I’m living it up in the suburbs with a diva kitty, a 170 pound great dane pup and two teenage girls. Life is constantly changing, always interesting and keeps me on my toes. One thing that doesn’t change? The need to go grocery shopping. Blerg. Routine. And full confession? It’s not my favourite thing to do.
One word that would most closely describe my usual grocery shopping routine? Chaos? For me, grocery shopping is a time consuming, scattered, disorganized, fly by the seat of my pants affair. My routine? Sunday night I realize we are OUT OF FOOD. I dig into the bottom of the freezer and praise the freezer gods for the gift of the last four chicken breasts in the house. I scrounge around for the last box of stuffing, throw some cream of chicken something on top, and hope against hope there is a canned veggie of corn that will elevate Sunday nights dinner to semi-nutrious status. Once dinner’s over, I can breathe. We can all survive until Monday.
Monday is when the dreaded grocery shopping can begin. I load the car up with my big old green bins, head into the beautiful store and simply go for it! I wander through the grocery store, meander up the aisles and begin to fill my cart. I’m sure to load up on lunchtime essentials for the school week. Well fed kids, are happy kids. I throw in extra fruits and veggies. Can’t pass by the cheeses without trying something new. Then we must add crackers to go with the cheese. Cheese makes me think of pasta. Pasta needs sauce. Sauce equals spagahetti. Did I get all the veggies I need to make a ceasear salad? Eventually I make it though the dairy aisle where my helter skelter style of shopping continues. By the time I reach the coffee, jam, and frozen desserts I know I’ve wasted too much time in the store. It’s time to get back to the outside world. At this point a quick perrusal of my cart reminds me I need at least one more protein to call this grocery shop a success, so head back to the meat department. I then make a dash for the cashier and pick the shortest line I can find. I’m a Mama on the move, I’ve lost almost an hour in the store? Gah. As I check out I already know I will be back shopping again on Thursday. No way is this enough food to last the entire week.
The sad part? This little shopping “routine” of mine? It’s the same every single time. For a women who prides herself on her shopping skills, my grocery shopping skills need some polishing. For 20 plus years my mantra has been, get in, get out, then have to do it again? I think it’s time to change up this grocery routine! Suggestions welcome!
I don’t mind groceries shopping, it gives me the excuse to get out of the house on my own, but I do it on the same day,with the list and in the quiet hours. And I hate to go back for just one thing that I forgot, so I usually don’t and think of something else instead.
I make a list and start at one end of the store usually produce and mark things off as I get them, my list is separated by produce, meat and so on, after 38 years I have it down pat!
I absolutely love grocery shopping but not when I’m hungry. If I don’t eat before going, I buy things I don’t need.
I have a love/hate relationship with the grocery store. On the one hand, I love seeing what is new and what is on sale and getting good deals. But, I hate the time grocery shopping takes, the crowds, the noise, the parking… I try to do a big shop once a month with little pick-ups as needed.
I tend to plot things out and when I grocery shopping I go through the flyers for price matching and I make my grocery list. I also get my coupons ready and then I head out.
I am the same. I take long grocery shopping and most of the time I love it. It’s fun for me to get that new kind of cheese.
But lately I think it takes to long. I always go with a very detailed list. But I like to browse.
I am not a lover of grocery shopping but am fortunate that I can usually do it in the early afternoon when it is not too busy!
I hate grocery shopping. I don’t even go anymore LOL. I just send the hubby out, he’s gotten as good as me at price comparison and couponing!
I am not going to lie, I actually LOVE grocery shopping. mind you there is always an item I forget to get that I forgot to put on my list and don’t realize till I get home and send hubby back to the grocery store the next day but other then that it is one of our family things to do. The grocery shopping day changes every week but usually one day out of the weekend we do our really big shop for the week and of course we will run out of something throughout the week and make another trip for a couple items. What I do it a create a list in my phone. As I run out of things I add it to the list and also go through the cupboards and fridge before leaving to make sure (or try to make sure) that I have everything covered. We always shop at the same grocery store so that I know where everything is. I make my list based on that grocery store. So when I add things to the list it is in order of the aisles and (ie: fruit, then veggies, then meats etc) and then that way when you find the items you can delete it from your list.
hey that happens to me most of the time. better than BF with his list of only and ONLY 6 items (of different stuff, multiple items of the same thing like 2 tubes of yogurt doesn’t count) each time we go grocery shopping. drives me nuts!
I normally take a list but so many times I buy way to much, and stuff I don’t really need, the problem is I love grocery shopping, walking up and down the isles, looking at all the products, new and old, checking everything out. I just don’t like paying and putting away, ugh!!
My tip? Get your husband to do it! 😉
I loathe the grocery store. And cooking. Luckily, he loves both so the only time you find me at the grocery is if I need to pick up some wine or some baking supplies.
I agree with Judy, a list is definitely needed and a pen to cross off what’s in your basket as you buy it. Works well for me and I can guarantee that should I forget my list I will also forget to buy something that I need to buy.
I tend to do one big shopping a month and then just top up with the perishables once a week, along with the sale items. And I always go with a list, otherwise I forget half of what I need and come home with items that we didn’t need.
Shopping for groceries is not on the top of my list of FUN things to do. I am happiest if I don’t have to drag any kids along with me! When my kids were younger I even bought the bullet and ordered groceries to be delivered!
Now I work from a list. If I don’t have a list I usually come home missing a dozen things and have to head back out again a few days later!