There are a number of things you can do to reduce the time spent shopping and reduce the your shopping bill.  The following techniques are a few I and my wife have picked up over the years.

    1)  As much as I would like to see you do it, booting up HHS2 every time you realize you need an item is impractical.  Instead I suggest that you: a) buy a magnetic backed note pad for your refrigerator and make note of your needs as they arise or b) print out your whole HHS2 file and post it somewhere where item can be marked as there need arise. We have found method “a” to be the easiest to manage.

    2)  Boot up HHS2 whenever you are clipping your coupons.  The two compliment each other and help produce a more complete shopping list.

    3)  Never “just go shopping.”  Always plan a shopping trip.  The most expensive way to buy is to impulse buy.  The best way to avoid impulse buying is to plan a shopping trip buy drawing up a shopping list and buying only what’s on the list.

    4)  If while you’re shopping you see an item your impulse tells you to buy, instead of buying it right then write it down.  When you get home review your list and see if your impulse still tells you to buy it.  If you still have an impulse to buy it, comparison shop to find the item at the most reasonable price.

    5)  Keep the prices in HHS2 as current as possible by the price on your shopping list and the price on the shelves or on the register tape. Update the prices in HHS2 as necessary.  If you’re shopping on a budget HHS2 will give you an estimate of how much your shopping trip is going to cost you before you go shopping.  This allows you to make shopping choices at home instead of in the store.  Choices made in the store will tend to be more expensive because of all the promotional hype the merchants put up.

    6)  When shopping for food never go to the grocery store on an empty stomach.  Shop after eating a meal, the bigger the better.  That way you will shop with your mind instead of with your hunger.

    7)  If the arrangement of grocery stores in you neighborhood will allow it, you should go from store to store shopping for only each stores “loss leader.”  Loss leaders are a stores advertised specials, which are usually being sold at a loss, which are meant to get you in the store.  The store then expects to make a profit on your impulse buying.  This technique is not effective in area where the stores are located long distances apart.  What you will save on the goods you’ll lose in gas and time.