Making a Shopping List So You Don’t Impulse Shop at the Food Store

Ah, grocery shopping; we either love it or hate it. We always wind up buying more than we need or sneak in a few boxes of cookies or candies on our way to the check-out line, especially if we are hungry. One of the ways you can decrease the amount of groceries you buy on impulse is to make a list of only those items that need to be replaced. Sometimes, we go the supermarket with a list in our heads, but inevitably buy more than we need.

Another way to deviate from impulse shopping at the food store is to organize the pantry closet. More often than not, canned goods are hidden at the back of the shelf or in the back of the refrigerator so that at first glance, we really don’t know what we have on hand.

By organizing the pantry room or closet, you can then either attach a clip board for your grocery list, or keep a grocery list on the refrigerator or peg-board in your kitchen. In this way, as soon as you run out of an item you can add it to the list.

Let’s face it; we are all victims of impulse buying especially when it comes to food. Shopping at a large well-known supermarket that has its own in-house bakery whose aromas call you to that section of the market, or signs indicating a new delectable product has been introduced in aisle 4; or in some food shopping clubs, you may pass an employee who is offering a sample taste of something you know is going to be delicious.

These are the temptations we face at the food store. However, if we have a nutritious and healthy lunch and then go food shopping, studies assert we are less likely to impulse buy. With the economy currently in a state of flux, and while most of us embarking on diets to promote better health and well-being, it may be a good idea to stick to the grocery list and avoid aisles where the items needed are not located.