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2.0 STRATEGIES FOR SHOPPING AT A GROCERY STORE - SUPERMARKET DISCOUNTS

GOAL: To spend the least amount of money and time for the food and supplies you buy on a regular basis.

2.0.1 BEFORE YOU SHOP AT A GROCERY STORE

== Shop with a list. Planning is basic to good shopping; it saves time and money. Don't rely on your memory. You'll end up with things you never meant to buy and forget things you should have bought. Then you'll have to make a run to a convenience store and pay double.

== Have a master list. A complete list of all the things you regularly buy can help jog your memory when making a specific weekly list. Your master list should include everything: food, drugs, soaps, cosmetics, pet needs, auto and office supplies and misc. items. This list will also help when deciding what to stockpile.

== Know the layout of the stores where you shop. This saves you time. Naturally, if you discover a new store with good prices, it will take you a while to learn the floor plan.

== Avoid store hopping. Going to more than a couple of stores takes time, makes you tired and wastes gas. Try to do your major shopping at no more than 2 stores per week.

== Shop when it's not crowded. Aim to shop Tuesday - Thursday, in the morning or late evening. Avoid pay days at the middle and end of the month.

== Plan to go alone. Your children and your spouse will just slow you down, unless you work well together as a team. They also may nag you to buy impulse items.

== Plan to shop only once a week. Except for bread and milk, you should be able to get what you need at one or two stores on a given day.

== Read sales fliers before you go.

== If you use coupons always take them with you. Coupons do you no good sitting in your house.

== Take your price comparison book. Use it to compare sale items.

== Take your calculator or buy a slim compact solar calculator. You'll need this to compute unit pricing.

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