I shop in bulk and only a few times a year. Thus, my shopping trips are big! When going on shopping trips that are this big there are some logistical planning and preparation steps that must occur:
1. My car must be clean. Nothing not necessary for the trip is only taking up very valuable space.
2. I pack the cooler and sometimes small coolers as well. I use these to pack cold foods as my trips often takes several hours. Any items that should stay cool but do not it in the cooler are packaged together so that they can help keep each other cool. Coolers are always in the trunk and out of the sunlight.
3. I make sure that every cloth shopping bag in the house is in my car. Extra shopping bags are kept in the backseat as the trunk is filled first. This keeps them from becoming buried behind items and being inaccessible.
4. I pack a water bottle and a snack. Shopping while hungry or thirsty causes way more impulse to purchase any food items that sound good at the time. Eating a snack and making sure I am well hydrated combat the problem and save us money!
5. Dress comfortably (wear a skirt – my personal preference). Wear good shoes.
6. Before you leave make sure that you have your list, price book, membership cards, and payment methods appropriate for whichever stores you intend to shop at.
Once you have everything ready and packed in the car get ready to head out. Kiss hubby or drag him along (make sure that you packed a snack for him, too!) and get driving. You have a busy day of shopping and saving to start!
This post is a part of Kitchen Tip Tuesday!
Vanessa,
How often do you do this “big” shopping trip?? What all do you buy?
Becky, I am working on a post on this very topic – stay tuned! It should be up in the next week if all goes as planned!
Great tips! I don’t do “big shopping” quite as big as you do, but I do some stock up trips to 2 or 3 stores to stock up on all the great pantry staples for fall and winter cooking. I hear you on the clean car part — it drives me nuts to ride around and do all that in a dirty, cluttered car. I also make sure to put some good music on too.
Great tips!
I shop about once-a-month.