6 STEPS FOR BETTER GROCERY SHOPPING THIS FESTIVE SEASON

6 Steps for Better Grocery Shopping this Festive Season

Inviting guests over for an ‘open house’ during the festive season is a stressful, yet joyful experience. In Indonesia, a country made up of multiple racial and religious compositions, specific requirements should be taken into consideration, especially with the food served to your guests. This can be a difficult task, and therefore engaging a caterer to provide the food for your ‘open house’ is a viable option worth considering. However, should you decide to prepare the meals on your own, then grocery shopping should be at the top of your to-do list. Here are 5 strategic tips that you can incorporate for a good grocery shopping experience this festive season. Check it!

Devise a Grocery Shopping Game Plan

Grocery shopping during the festive season is different as compared to shopping on normal days. Therefore, it is fundamental that you have a strategic shopping plan in place before your feet even step through the store’s doors. To avoid forgetting a particular item, identify the ingredients required by listing them down individually for each meal. Be sure to also seek out any discounts or promotions that may be offered by a store in order to get more value for your money. Another option to consider would be to purchase the required ingredients in bulk, with stores such as Zero Waste Bali, Naked.inc and Saruga Pack-Free Store providing an alternative that is not only cheaper, but environmentally-friendly as well. 

The rain can put a serious damper on plans to drive to a store and getting grocery shopping done. Therefore, instead of waiting for the rain to stop like the rest of the crowd, treat it as an opportunity to stock up on as many items as possible. Consider also the option of purchasing an additional quantity of ingredients required to prepare your planned dishes. The good thing about purchasing cooking ingredients is that these items aren’t exclusively sold during festive seasons only, which is why purchasing them in bulk will help you avoid having to head to the store at the last-minute. Another alternative to consider would be to shop during off-peak hours, as this will enable you to browse the aisles without having to wade through a sea of shoppers. Phew!

Getting Grocery Done Without Having To Get Off Your Couch

If shopping for groceries physically is an idea that is disinteresting to you, opt to get your groceries delivered to your doorstep instead. Stores such as Sukamart and Hypermart currently offer the option of delivery, which enables you to save both time and money. Do also browse for any shopping deals or offerings that you can take advantage of, especially so for the festive season. In order to drive online traffic to their websites, stores may offer discounts and promotions on online purchases for ingredients that you may require. Pretty neat, huh?

Charge Your Batteries Before Heading Out

Preparing your mind and body for the stressful task of getting groceries starts before you even leave home. Eating a well-balanced and satiating meal will not allow you to focus entirely on the task at hand, but also help you avoid hunger pangs that will cost you more time and money. Alternatively, opt to pack healthy snacks which are easy-to-eat such as sandwiches, nuts and fruits which will keep you full and help you get some good grocery shopping done. Munch on the go, yo!

Hitch A Ride 

To avoid dealing with the stress caused by driving through traffic and looking for a parking spot, why not lean towards the option of letting someone else drive you to the store instead. Booking a ride through a ride-sharing app will allow you to focus on the task ahead, and also provide you with enough time to ensure that you haven’t missed out any items that you may require to make your ‘open house’ experience as memorable as possible for your guests. Look also towards the option of car-pooling with friends and family members, which will help you save time and make your grocery shopping a smooth and enjoyable process. Grocery shopping never felt so nourishing!

Grocery Shopping Does Not Have To Be A Drab Affair

Proper time management and strategic execution of the task will allow you to have some extra time to enjoy the shopping experience. If your shopping excursion involves family members or friends, use the available free time to involve yourself in the store’s festivities, such as picture-taking at a photo booth, watching live performances or allowing your kids to participate in activities such as sand art, playing in inflatables or watching a magic show. This will not only make shopping a fun affair, it allows you to boost your mental health through the strengthening of relationships with family members or friends.

Regardless of whether your ‘open house’ involves a small or large gathering of guests, remove stress out of the picture through strategic planning of each task. Facing hiccups during the process is completely normal, which is why you should stay relaxed in order to problem-solve or discover alternative methods of execution. Most importantly, be sure to enjoy the entire shopping experience, as it is, after all a time of festivity and celebration!