Shopping is an art and especially rewarding when shopping for the biggest bargain.
When shopping, think ahead to the blue box. Whenever possible, leave the packaging at the
store, such as shoe stores. Buy at the Bulk stores so that you can just get the quantity you want
and not have the packaging, such as cereals. Invest in some large plastic containers and fill them
up with cereals, rice, cake mixes, muffin mixes and baking supplies etc. which are bought from Bulk Barn stores.
How To Plan A Shopping Trip
Keep a pencil and list conveniently in your kitchen and every time you notice something running low, make sure you mark it down on your list. This list will become the beginning plan for your shopping trip.
Decide on how often you will shop. If you are far away from stores and with the gas prices going up and up, you might want to think long-range about less frequent shopping, but for the beginning, I think weekly would be good to start with. I mean this will be a, get everything trip and if something is left out it will have to wait until next week.
Always, and I can’t emphasize this enough, check for the sale items in the store flyers or internet website http://www.grocerysavings.ca/ and take your own bag collection with you.
Check the cupboards for all the basics; you don’t want to run out of general items such as salt, oil, margarine, etc.
Get out your recipes and meal ideas and a blank calendar and fill in with meals for the week.
Keep in mind that you are busy and need simple meals or crockpot meals. And also days off so you can have the fun of an easy or favourite family meal for those days. Things like macaroni or hamburgers or whatever you like.
Plan out your meal list. Think of the whole meal and make sure you have everything you need to cook them. Also, decide what baking or desserts you will make.
Write down a list of lunch items for the week. These don't have to be on a planned menu.
Make breakfast very simple and nourishing with oatmeal, dry cereals, eggs, or pancakes. Stay away from buying expensive luxury breakfast items and keep enough on hand. Many boxed cereals are very expensive, high in sugar and low in nutrition.
Make your grocery list according to the stores you shop at; No Frills; Bulk Barn; Shoppers Drug Mart; WalMart, etc.
Clean out the fridge to make room for the new items and plan a quick meal for when you get home.
Once you have stocked your cupboards you will only be buying sale items and especially only things that you need.
Never impulse buy. If you have children that want things when you shop, leave them at home until your proper shopping routine has been established.
Once you have all the shopping items on your list, make one sweep of the store to make sure that you have not missed anything that is on sale that you use all the time.
Always take advantage of in-store sales, but only if it is something you use all the time.
Tip of the week:
Take advantage of the No Name or Store Brand items. There are savings as high as 50% to be had from these.
Comedy Corner
Man to friend: "my wife treats me like a god." Friend: "how so?" Man: "She gives me burnt offerings every night."