Grocery Shopping- How it works for us

I did a post a while ago about cutting down costs as far as groceries go. You can find that here. I know that every family is different and that what works for one family doesn't work for another. I have also learned that as Logan grows and our family changes I need to change how I do things too. I decided that since things have changed so much for us as far as convenience and cost efficiency go I would do an updated post. I love reading other families helpful hints and have found many other mom's blogs very helpful. As always though, take what you can use and leave the rest. :)

I have three main reasons for shopping the way that I do now. Here they are:

• Logan is in a very active and exploratory stage in life and can make it about 30 minutes (on average) peacefully, strapped into a cart. Some days it is less time and some days it is more. I usually bring something along to keep him entertained, but sometimes it works and sometimes he could care less about it. I have also found that (for our family) it works best to get my shopping done during the day rather than after he is asleep at night. My nights with Dan are so important for both of us and we value that time together as a couple. We do have a lot going on at night so when we do get the time to unwind and reconnect it is crucial for our marriage. Since we do make plans at least 2-3 nights a week (which is our choice because we love spending time with family and friends too) and he goes to bed early another 2-3 nights a week for work, those few nights that we have together are SO important for our marriage. We both know it, and I hate wasting a night I could be spending with him at the grocery store (it makes for a grumpy momma).
• It is the most cost efficient for us
• It means only going to the grocery store once a week. Grocery shopping has never been something I enjoy especially at the store we go to. Crowded aisles make me stressed. However, I find it is worth it at this point in my life to save the money that we save. This may change in the future as Logan begins to potty train because the only thing worse than the crowded aisles, is having to walk through the back of the store to an old and yucky bathroom.

 

So here is the layout of what works for me...

 

I pick one grocery store to shop at every week. In general I find that price wise I do much better at Market Basket than the store that is closest to us. I shop at a few different MB stores locations, but for my weekly trip I almost always use MB. I know that other people find other stores to be cheaper for them. For example, My SIL shops at a different store and finds it to be cheaper for her family. I have a friend that loves grocery shopping and finds the best deals at multiple stores and shops a few each week. I know that wouldn't work right now with Logan so we choose one store and stick to it!

I shop according to aisle numbers. Most stores have a sheet with almost any food you can think of and the aisle number that it can be found in. I usually shop at one of two MB locations so I have a shopping file that holds these sheets. Here are a few pictures for reference. 

Items that are usually in my "Shopping File"

I write the aisle number next to each item on my shopping list.
After transferring this to my final (more organized) list it looks like the next picture.

The list that I actually use at the grocery store.

I plan with a sales flyer every week.  I usually have an ongoing list of "needs" on the fridge. Once a week I tear that off and add anything that I could stock up on that is in the sales flyer. For example, If I still have a bag of frozen broccoli in the fridge it may not end up on my shopping list this week, but if I see the brand of frozen veggies that we get is on sale that week I will add it to my list and stock up while I can get the best price on it.

I shop at Sams and McKinnons once a month. There are a few things that I absolutely hate running out of. I have found that it works best for us money wise and so that I don't lose my mind running out for a pack of diapers while Logan is wearing the last one, to shop for these things in bulk. I make a Sams trip about once a month for things like dish soap, paper towels, toilet paper, diapers, wipes, meat (sometimes), and a few other things. I do the same with McKinnons, except I use them to buy meat in bulk. At times, I wind up picking up some meat at the grocery store (because we don't have a chest freezer yet) but in general I buy about a month's worth of meat at McKinnon's every trip. Their meat seems more real to me and I can find it just as cheap or cheaper than the grocery store prices when I buy it on sale. I buy large packages and separate them into meal sized portions when I get home before sticking them into the freezer.

I have found that by shopping this way we cut way down on money and food wasted. I had been throwing away food so often because it had gone bad in the fridge, all because of poor planning. We have also been eating much healthier because I am only going down the aisles that we need something from. When I don't go down all of the extra aisles just to browse I don't wind up buying cookies or other prepared foods. If we have a sweet craving during the week, I usually just make it from scratch with the ingredients I have at home (I almost always have all of the baking ingredients that I need).

This method has cut our grocery bill in half (or more).

Goal: While I plan to continue using this method for grocery shopping (as long as it works for us) I have also set a goal for myself. My lovely SIL, Andrea does a wonderful job with planning out all of her dinners every week. She picks what dinners she would like to make for the family throughout that week and shops according to the ingredients she needs for those recipes. I would love to get a little more organized and plan my meals out too. Right now I just make sure to have the core ingredients in the house and I can usually come up with meals using those. However, sometimes I do find myself packing Logan up and running for the store last minute. (No fun)

Hope this helped a little!