10 Ways to Streamline Your Shopping Time

We all have to shop, whether it's grocery shopping, clothes shopping, gift shopping - whatever! If we streamline our shopping time, we have more time for other things or more shopping! Here are a few tips:

1. Pre-plan errands – combine errands and appointments in the same area to reduce drive time or repeated trips. Add on errands before or after times when you are out anyway.

2. While shopping, if you find something you know you will need in the future, buy it, rather than having to track it down later.

3. Buy birthday gifts and cards in quantity. Think through birthdays for the next month or two and buy for all of them at the same time, rather than making a special trip for each occasion. Stock up on wrapping supplies at the same time. Keep a supply of items that can be used for unexpected gifts

4. Shop online. If you spend a certain amount, shipping is often free. Just make sure you allow enough time for delivery, especially at Christmas.

5. Go to the post office mid-morning or mid-afternoon when it is least busy.

6. Don't go to the bank on Monday or Friday or during the lunch hour, the busiest times.

7. Plan your menus, and grocery shop only once a week. If you're an every-afternoon-shop-for-dinner shopper, this will save hours and dollars each week. Stock up on milk, bread and other essentials to avoid emergency trips. Milk, juice and bread can be frozen. Remove a little milk or juice from the container so it doesn't explode. Use the most perishable produce first and use less perishable later in the week. Have frozen or canned alternatives if you run out of fresh.

8. Visit the grocery store during off hours. Shop when other people are eating dinner, after 9:00 p.m. or before 7:00 a.m. to avoid the crowds. Early morning shopping may allow you to take advantage of day-old bakery items at a greatly reduced price.

9. Schedule hair appointments to avoid the walk-in wait.

10. Shop during non-peak shopping hours whenever possible - during the week rather than on weekends.

By streamlining your shopping, you'll create less stress and more usable time for yourself in addition to saving money! Now, who couldn't use that?!

What do you do to streamline your shopping? Subscribers, click the title to see the entire blog and comment at the end of it.


More on shopping:
Using Your Drive Time Efficiently
Coupon Sources
Planning Dinner
Hassle Free Dinners