My brain is constantly going – going – going! When it’s time to go grocery shopping, out the door I fly.
I must be forgetting something! Kids! Where are they? Right, they are at home with Daddy. Weird feeling. Definitely weird. No diapers to remember, kids to entertain, frequent trips to the bathroom, flying through the air to catch a pacifier before it hits the grimy floor, that constant tugging at your sleeve, repetitious renditions of your name (Mama, Mommy, MOMEEEE, Ma), estimating when the next child might be hungry, tired, you name it…
So when it comes time to “switch gears”, it is hard, really hard. Does anyone else suffer from grocery shopping brain fog?
You might be experiencing fog if you ask yourself:
1. What did I come here for?
2. Did I put that in my cart already?
3. Where is the isle for that item again?
4. Why am I so dizzy? (just look at the picture above and you will get the “feeling”)
Here are 3 ways to eliminate the fog, remember what you came for, and stay within budget:
1. Always always always make a list. Stick to it. Cross things off.
2. Don’t go with a empty, hungry, growling stomach.
3. THIS IS GREAT: Take a calculator! Now, I tried this last time. Instead of calculating items as I went along, I wrote down numbers on a piece of paper.
If the item was $3.25, I rounded down and wrote “3“.
If the item was $5.65, I rounded up and wrote a “6“.
After I got 3/4 of my shopping done, I found a quiet corner and tallied up my list of numbers. It came to $100.00. This gave me about $30-$50 more to spend.
I was amazed! When I got to the checkout line, and the total came up, it was right within my budget! No more guessing, no more overspending, no more headache!
Try it out for yourself. Anyone else experience the fog and know what I mean? Or, maybe I’m just a dizzy blonde. Cause I have been known for that in “my day”, y’all.
Definitely been there Trace! I liked your ideas with the list and calculator. Also if you organize your list by the dept’s in the store that helps as well. Know your store and put the departments in order of where you walk and map it out before you go. This cuts down on time and research has shown that for every minute more you spend in the store, the amount of money you spend goes up. Great post, enjoyed reading it.
I like the calculator idea!! I usually have a list and I even organize my list according to departments and I think of where those departments are in the store so i don’t have to walk all over the place.
And, yes, eating before you go is a must, otherwise, I grab a donut from the bakery! 🙂
I soooooooo have the grocery shopping fog! What is worse is when my husband and the kids actually go along with me. I am trying to shop and guard the cart from items not on the list. I still haven’t figured out that one yet!
Great tips! Thanks for sharing! I definitely find myself overwhelmed while grocery shopping with my toddler, so these will be helpful!
Well, good advice. I’ll have to get Catherine to follow your blog and take advantage of what you offer. I’ll also have to see if we can work out an arrangement to have you spruce up my blog 🙂
Good advice. I’ll have to get Catherine to follow your blog and glean some of your wisdom. I’ll also have to get you to spruce up my blog for me 🙂
I’ve been doing the rounding thing for quite some time now…it always works…and sometimes I have a little extra to put back for a rainy day!!
Sooo funny……my roommate just came home from shopping and the first thing she said to me was, “I should have never gone shopping when I was so hungry.” hehehe
I know exactly what your talking about Traci, it’s whew now I can unwind. Even though my children are grown I have the care of your grandpa. When I get a respite on Thursday’s I walk in the grocery store and think, now focus Beverly. That’s something you can’t do with small kids, or a ill spouse. Great job Traci, I’m sooo proud of you, Love Grandma
Ha! The fog – oh yes! Great tips – especially the calculator one. I’ve taken a calculator and it really is helpful. 🙂
This is ONE thing I have to be grateful for because of my illness, NO GROCERY SHOPPING! :0) But I do remember those days of trying to take 3 children shopping and I do not miss it for a second!
I hope you are having a great Monday so far. I am having a super cool first give-away. It is a Pay It Forward Give-Away. Wanna play?
Teresa <><