5 tips to get in and out of the grocery store in half the time!

Hey mamas! This post is for those of you who dread going to the grocery store, especially with kids. It’s not that we don’t love our kids and it’s not that they’re not fun; but trips to the store with kids can 1. take twice as long as expected, 2. be no fun at all for the kids (unless we gave them everything they wanted, which would be SO much easier but ah, not very possible or beneficial), and 3. be headache inducing what with all the things you need to think about and questions you have to answer before being able to run home. Trust me, I understand this feeling even with a little one, so I’ve come up with tips to help my fellow mamas make trips to the grocery store as painless as possible. Here they are:

1 Make a list!

I can’t stress enough how important this is for getting in and out of the grocery store! Whether it’’s on paper or on your phone (check out this awesome list-making app I wrote about here) take a list with you so that you know exactly where you’re headed and what you need before you find yourself standing in the isle wondering how you’re doing on toilet paper.

2 Order your list by store location

I’ve found that most grocery stores are organized in a somewhat similar loop. You walk in and you have your produce, near that is canned goods, then every single isle in the middle where you’ll find cereal and baking goods (etc.). Sandwich meat will be on the back wall and dairy and bread will be on the opposite side from where you started.  Putting your list in order by location in the store will either save you time having to run back and forth for items or simply just make it easier to find what’s next on the list in the area closest to you.

3 Decide ahead of time which check out line will be fastest for you (self check-out or those hosted by a cashier).

If you’re planning on just running in and out of the store with 1 or 2 things, then self check out is the way to go fo sho. BUT if you’ve got a full cart (no matter if you think it’ll be faster if you just do it yourself) a cashiered check-out line is probably your fastest bet. Some (not all, sadly) are getting great at training fast cashiers and will even have an attendant there to put your bags back in the cart for you; in which case, a hosted cashier line is definitely the way to go!

4 Have coupons ready.

When I get in go-mode (which is about 50% of the time) I tend to notice when others are not in go-mode like me. This can be so frustrating when the shopper in font of me in line is taking their time scanning each product, rummaging through their purse for coupons, their credit card, then taking about 5 years to get their bags and move on. (To be honest, they’re probably going at a normal pace; it’s probably just my heightened senses from over coffee consumption and stress that’s making me watch their every slow move). ANYWAY, my point is, don’t be that person. Think about your sequence of events, what you’ll need ready, what to put on the conveyer belt first (e.i. the heavy bulky things) so that the bread and eggs don’t get squished.

5 Make sure to check out the people in line in front of you!

I’m not jsut saying count the number of customers in line in front of you, but really creep on them! See how much stuff they have in their basket. There may be one person in front of you who decided to do a month’s worth of shopping in one trip or 3 people who are just buying what they need for dinner that night. Odds are, those who popped in for just a few things want to get out of there quick like you and will be the faster line.

So there you have it! 5 tips that will get you in and out of the grocery store in a snap! Take it from a mama who is a pro at go-mode 😉
Got some tips that can help the other mamas (and me) get in and out of the store in a jiffy? Share them here! And before you go, take the time to subscribe or follow for more tips to make moms even more awesome!