Monday, March 25, 2013

5 Tips When Grocery Shopping with your Wife


Earlier in my marriage, I would dread the time of the week when it came to getting groceries. Something about it just annoyed me to no end. My wife and I would decide that we needed groceries and we would take off. I didn't like the idea of spending this much money for just food nor did I like shopping around other people at the "Supermarket", they only added to my anger and frustration.

After about a half hour of meandering down aisles and disagreeing what to get, we would get mad at each other, annoyed with those around us and the rest of the day would be ruined. Don't call me crazy yet, I think this happens more then we think.

Next time you're at the grocery store, look for the man tagging along with his wife. Now, I know that there are men out there that don't mind a good grocery store experience, but I would say they are a minority. Anyway, keep your eye out for the younger couple. The woman will typically be with the cart and the list and the man will be walking somewhere behind her hating life. I see it all the time. 

So here's what I have come up with gentlemen. After dealing with this scenario for a few years and learning from my mistakes, here are my top 5 tips when grocery shopping with your wife or lady friend.


1) Make the list together
We are men and we have to eat at some point. Am I right? This is the first crucial step to grocery store experience success! Gather in the kitchen and decide on your breakfast, dinner and lunch options. Say what you need or want out loud to each other and add it to the list. Surprises at the store are never good. Get the list done and agree to stick to it. Got coupons? If so, get to clipping and compare those to the list and use the ones you need. At this point you both agree on the food and therefore the expectations are established!

2) Go with her
If you have agreed on a list and you have a game plan, get in the car and go with her. You can make this a good experience gentleman. It is within your power. Marriage is all about communication and teamwork. Consider these times together a test on how you will handle harder and more complicated decisions that will come. Work together.

3) Grab a pre-game snack
OK, this is a little trick I recently started applying to the G-store experience. Like that? Anyway, upon arrival to the store, find the bakery or coffee shop and get something little. I like to grab a favorite cookie and a small coffee. Maybe you'd go for the bag of chips and soda. Whatever it is, grab something little as soon as you get there. It will make you happier, it will calm you down and it will take your focus off the store chaos.

4) Mark off the list and coupons
In my experience, the longer you are at the store, the worse it gets. The tension starts to escalate, the emotions start to get crazy and that coffee was finished far too long ago. Again, work together. Someone take the cart and someone take the list. Mark things off the list as found and move to the next item. Ladies, if you're reading this, men love to have a task. In a respectful way, try to get your man to find specific items as you look for the harder to find items. This will make him feel important and part of the team. Keep track of those coupons too.

5) Watch the total go down
Got everything? Good! Get in line and get out of there! Lately, my wife and I have been competing to see who can save more money at the register. Most recently, between coupons and bonus savings, she saved around $52 dollars off the top. I tried to take the trophy from her the next time, but only pulled off a healthy $49 dollars. I was slightly disappointed, but still satisfied overall. Anyway, hand over your coups and watch the tally go down at the end. 

Give each other a high five. Load up the car and head home to enjoy some great food!

That's it! What do you think? 
Will these tips help your next 
experience be the best one ever?

I'd love to hear about your grocery store experiences or how you and your wife find ways to work together!

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Check out 5 tips when Grocery Shopping with your Wife! via @Manturity  > Tweet This!
Grocery Shopping with your wife? Check out 5 great tips here >>  Tweet This!

photo credit: © Ljupco Smokovski - Fotolia.com

14 comments:

  1. I'm single, but this early warning will go far when I do take that step! Looks practical. Thanks.

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    1. Always better to be prepared! Thanks for checking out the post.

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  2. I ask my husband what he would like from the store, I go shopping, than he helps to bring in the groceries from the car, put away and eat them. This works for us..lol

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    1. Awesome! I'm sure that took some working out at the beginning though. Thank you for the comment Kimberly

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  3. I enjoy doing the grocery shopping! I do most of the cooking in our home so I enjoy picking out the foods I will be preparing! Great tips! I use many of them already and can echo their effectivness!

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    1. Sounds like you and your wife have worked out a great plan! That's what it's all about! Thanks for sharing your thoughts Stephen.

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  4. Thanks for the memories and new ideas for the next outing. This is just me but, going from the back of the store working our way to the front, isle by isle is only inviting the kids to loose their patience... Thanks for reminding me I am not alone.

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    1. We are definitely not alone! My wife and I just had our first child and I can already see how they will add a new mix to the shopping schedule. Thanks for the comment Jeff.

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  5. I like the pre-game snack idea...wish I would have thought of it---> makes the errand 'almost' like a date? Are you eating the snack WHILE you're shopping, though? I'm a 'rule follower' & our local grocery doesn't have a separate coffee shop so it would bother me to open up a food item before it was paid for. LOL I'd also like to add: never plan to COOK on grocery shopping days--just grab a pizza to toss in the oven...but this might be cause we have 4 kids & grocery shopping to feed 6 people is quite an endeavor. LOL

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    1. Yes, I eat the snack while shopping. I'm sure each store has their own policies on food. Thanks for adding the great tip! I can see how that would work better.

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  6. After 20+ years of grocery shopping with my wife, I've found that pushing the cart gives me better control over what goes in it and also helps me lean on something when my feet start to hurt.

    Also, my wife, and I have a tendency to be compulsive, so we help each other with the Ohhh.... buying tendencies. If you see something not on your list and your first reaction is to say Ohhh..., then you need to talk about that purchase together.

    Lastly, don't go to the grocery store on Fridays or Saturdays, and especially Costco on Sundays. Everyone is there to much on the samples. We like to go during the middle of the day, or after 8:00pm.

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    1. Hey, great tips! Thanks for taking a minute to share with everyone. I can totally relate on the Ohh occurrences, they can happen in an instant! Great ideas on the days to shop and I agree that the mid week run is much calmer.

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  7. These are great tips! When I send my husband out he always comes back with the wrong things and when I go by myself, I spend too much. When we go together we argue about which brand to get. Thank you for this inofrmation. We are headed to a grocery stores in Memphis and will apply these! Happy shopping!

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