5 Super Easy Time Saving Hacks for Grocery Shopping

Top 5 Time Saving Hacks for Grocery Shopping

Grocery shopping is one of my favorite mundane tasks. I know that sounds silly, but it’s true! I’m a planner by nature, so mapping out our weekly meals and creating a list is a small way I get to let my Type A flag fly. I also like the rhythm of going through the store. I’ve got my set little routine and it brings me joy. The routine on laundry brings me less joy, but I digress.

Today I’m sharing 5 time saving hacks for grocery shopping so that you can spend your time doing everything else you need to. 

Plan Your Menu

Create a weekly or monthly menu for your family. I like to cycle some fan favorites throughout the month so that we don’t get bored get a variety of healthy foods in our diet. This also helps me from spending waaayyy too much on takeout. You can check out my post on saving on groceries here. 

My usual weekly menu will look something like this: 

• Monday – Baked Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Veggies
• Tuesday – Salmon, Rice, Roasted Carrots
• Wednesday – Leftovers
• Thursday – Tacos
• Friday – Spaghetti
• Saturday – Chicken Fried Rice // Enchiladas, Peppers
• Sunday – Sandwiches, Apples, Chips // Leftovers

I usually do my shopping on mondays, and it is a busy day in general, so I try to do a meal that I can just throw in the oven or crockpot. I cook fresh dinners almost everyday of the week. This is important to our family, so I make a point to plan our meals around it.

I plan for two meals on Saturday and Sundays because there are usually enough leftovers that I don’t need to make lunches from scratch during the week. 

Because I have a menu, I can make a list of what I need from the store, instead of guessing once I get there. It also helps save money because I am not buying extras of things. Knowing what is in your fridge and pantry can save you tons!

Menu planning helps save you time at the grocery store because you’re not having to come up with meal ideas on the spot. You’re not mindlessly adding things to your cart and then making a loop back through the store to grab something else you just thought of. You can subscribe below to grab my free meal planning printable to make like a little bit easier.

Buy in Bulk

This might seem counterintuitive, but hear me out. If you can get your staples in bulk, you can save yourself a lot of time. You won’t need to run out for sugar in the middle of baking a cake if you keep 5-20 lbs stored regularly. 

By doing one large bulk order each month (or every other month), you can stay stocked on regularly used items. This will cut down on the amount of shopping you need to do each week. Thus, limiting the amount of time you actually spend grocery shopping. 

You won’t need to peruse the paper goods aisle if you have a bulk container of toilet paper at home. You won’t need to remember 4 different pasta types if you have a large supply at home. All of these little things help to cut down on the amount of time wasted.

Do Not Stray From Your List or Route

Once you have your list, don’t deviate. There are so many flashy ads and sales and branding in the grocery store these days, it can be soooo easy to toss extras in your cart. This causes you to spend more time than you need in the store. 

Likewise, don’t spend time in aisles that you have no business being in. Go directly to the aisles that you know you need something from. I like the ‘perimeter rule’ for healthy eating. It states that you should only shop the perimeter of the store (produce, meat, deli, dairy) and skip the middle aisles to avoid less healthy foods. 

While I don’t think it is necessary to avoid the middle aisles completely, I do think it is helpful to skip aisles (like the home goods aisle at Aldi!) where you might find yourself wasting time and money. It is so easy to peruse and spend an extra thirty minutes finding goodies to take home. Believe me, your wallet will thank you as well. 

Order Curbside Pickup

I think I’m late to the party, but I’ve only recently discovered curbside pickup. This was a game changer when we were sick for a month! No seriously, I even wrote a whole post on keeping you kid entertained when you feel like death. Since then, I have reliably done curbside pickup and it has seriously saved me at minimum $30 each week, as well as a whole hour each week inside Walmart. 

I am guilty of perusing the clearance aisles (hellooooo cute 50 cent notebook and $1 birthday candles!!) but seriously I waste so much time and money on stuff I don’t really need. Plus, the amount of unhealthy snacks I shovel into my cart is not the behavior I want to model for my kid. 

Btw, this is not a sponsored post, I just love this concept. There are several chains that offer some version of curbside pickup, Walmart is just what I have in my area. 

By using curbside pickup, you’re saving yourself so much time. You can order the things you actually need, see your total in advance, and schedule it for later in the same day, or even the next day. That means I can hit the gym and grab our groceries on the way home, which saves me even more time because I don’t have to make another trip!

Shop When You Have Somewhere Else to Be

To limit the amount of time spent in the store, give yourself a deadline. If you know you need to be out of the store by 3 to make it home in time for your playdate, you are less likely to dilly dally. Give yourself enough time to get what you need and then get out of there! 

This is a time saving hack for grocery shopping that also applies to other areas of your life. By grouping errands or scheduling time-sucking tasks before other events, you are more likely to stick to your schedule.

Shop Alone if Possible

Most of the time, I have my toddler with me when I go grocery shopping. If I can go alone, the shopping seems to go much quicker. I think this is because I don’t have to stop shopping to redirect him, wipe his nose, take a potty break, etc… If you fly solo while grocery shopping, you can get in and out with much less fuss. 

PS: I share weekly tips for mom over on my Instagram page. Be sure to give me a follow!

Grocery shopping can be time consuming if you’re unprepared. By using these time saving hacks for grocery shopping, you can get more done each day. If you are looking for ways to be more productive, check out this post. What tips would you add to this list? Let me know in the comments below!