Frugality Josh on 19 Jan 2009 05:20 am
Grocery Shopping- Making a List vs. Not Making a List
Grocery shopping is one of my largest monthly expenses. In a typical month, my Fiance and I will spend right around $300 on groceries and food. On top of the money, I absolutely despise the shopping itself. I hate searching for a parking spot. I hate fighting the other shoppers for positioning. And I hate waiting in the check out line.
Suffice it to say, I’m open to anything that will make grocery shopping less expensive, and equally important (to me), less time consuming. Since in the past shopping had always been a last minute decision for us (when we were absolutely forced to go due to being completely out of food), we rarely went prepared with a list of what we actually needed. As a result, we came home with more “impulse” items that we didn’t actually need.
I decided to run a little experiment comparing how much time and money it cost us to go shopping first without a list, then with a list. Both shopping trips were done with our cabinets and refrigerators virtually empty, meaning we needed the same amount of food both times. Here are the results of both trips:
Grocery Shopping Without a List
Total amount of money spent- $114.47
Total time spent from moment entering store to moment arriving in checkout line- 49 minutes
Number of days until next shopping trip- 12 days
Grocery Shopping With a List
Total amount of money spent- $108.08
Total time spent from moment entering store to moment arriving in checkout line- 27 minutes
Number of days until next shopping trip- 16 days
Verdict
Making a list wins this competition in a landslide victory. Overall, making a list saved us $6.39, 22 minutes and the food lasted four days longer.
On top of that, the food we purchased with a list led to more actual meals (as opposed to living off Ramen Noodles and mac and cheese for the last few days between trips) and less junk food purchased.
I know making a list before going grocery shopping isn’t a novel idea. I’d guess it is one most people already use to some extent. But this little experiment was proof to me they do save you money and especially time. If you don’t already make a list before shopping, try it out. The results will amaze you.
Our next step in decreasing our grocery costs is to start clipping coupons, something else I have never done. I suspect that will save us significant money, but also increase the time spent shopping slightly. I will let you know how it ends up.
Do you use a list when grocery shopping or have any other tips for reducing costs and time while doing it?
Please continue sending any personal finance related questions, suggestions and story tips to centsabilitytowealth@gmail.com
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Wow, I cannot believe the difference in a list as opposed to no list is. This is great and I will deffinitely take this advice and use it to the best of my ability.
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