Most people pay for their groceries with three currencies - money, time and angst.
Grocery stores are getting bigger and more complicated. Unless you have all day, wandering aimlessly through the store can be frustrating, and it can wreck your budget, says Susan Mitchell, a nutritional consultant for SuperTarget stores.
"Start with a plan," she says, "preferably a running grocery list that you add to at home every time you run out of something." That can keep you moving swiftly through the store and cut down on impulse buying.
Here are some other time-and money-saving tips for your next shopping trip.
-Pick a shopping strategy and stick to it.
When most people shop, they either hunt or gather, says Adam Roberts, who wrote "The Amateur Gourmet: How to Shop, Chop, And Table-Hop Like A Pro (Almost)."
His theory is that most amateur cooks, and most Americans for that matter, are hunters who shop with a list and go about tracking down the items they need. And usually in a hurry.
Great chefs, his theory goes, are more likely to be gatherers, who go shopping just to see what looks good, what's in season or what strikes them as interesting.
-Keep a well-stocked pantry.
Sometimes the best tricks start at home. Grocery shopping can feel less overwhelming if you keep a well-stocked pantry, says Roberts. That means keeping things such as pasta, rice, eggs, cheese, olive oil, butter and spices on hand.
These items act as wonderful backdrops for whatever you bring home that's seasonal or fresh. And having plenty of goods on hand also can make the shopping take less time and feel less overwhelming.
It also can help you save money. If you know what's in your pantry before you leave the house, you'll be more likely to eat what's in your cupboard, says Liz Crawford, a consumer strategist at consumer research firm Iconoculture Inc.
-Use a menu plan.
Spend a few minutes before shopping to plan the meals for the coming week. And this doesn't just mean dinner; figure out lunches and breakfasts, too. Then assemble your shopping list based on those.
This saves time and money because you only buy what you need. And if you have a plan for using the foods you buy, they are less likely to sit uneaten in the back of the refrigerator.
"It may take 15 minutes or so on the front end," says Mitchell, "but you make it up in the time spent at the store, and you keep your budget in check. You can take advantage of your store's weekly sales when coming up with recipe and menu ideas."
-Know your store's layout.
Once you know what you need, the next thing that will improve your efficiency is knowing your grocer's layout, says Bill Chidley, vice-president of strategy and research at Design Forum, a retail design firm in Dayton, Ohio.
Pay attention to where your store places things you need. (Is the drink you want for your toddler in the juice section or the baby aisle? Are protein bars by the cereal or the vitamins?)
This helps you navigate the store and keeps you from crushing your bread and chips with bulkier items such as bottled water and laundry detergent, says Chidley, whose clients include chains such as Kroger and Meijer.
And know that the perimeter of the store, by design, is set up to slow you down.
