Warning: I saw my grocery bill drop $80 after I stopped shopping hungry

I used to always hit the store after work around 6pm starving. Last month I decided to try shopping right after breakfast on Saturday mornings instead. The difference was NIGHT and DAY. My normal weekly trip was running like $140 to $160 every time. Now I'm consistently at $60 to $80 for the same amount of food. The key thing is I grab way less impulse junk because nothing looks good on a full stomach. Plus I actually stick to my list instead of tossing in random snacks that looked good at the moment. Has anyone else noticed a big change just from changing what time of day you go?

2 comments

2 Comments

jadep4128d ago

Oh yeah, the starving shopping thing is real. I made the same switch a few years back and it's amazing how much less you toss in the cart when that hangry feeling isn't clouding your judgement. I swear I used to grab a bag of chips or a candy bar at checkout every single time because I was just desperate for something, now that's completely stopped. The list trick works way better on a full stomach too, I find myself actually sticking to what I wrote down instead of adding random stuff that looks okay at the moment.

ray_carr28d ago

Man, that checkout candy bar thing hits WAY too close to home. I used to think I was just weak willed, but nope, it was ALL the empty stomach talking. It's like your brain just goes into survival mode and suddenly a Snickers sounds like a life or death decision. Now I make sure to eat a banana or something before I even walk into the store, and it's like a total reset. The list thing works a thousand times better too, I actually cross stuff off instead of adding random frozen pizzas because they look good at the time. Solidarity, friend.