the list
- The one thing most of us never leave home without these days is our cell phone. I started keeping running lists of groceries, drug store items, to-do lists, etc. on my phone. That way I don't have to look for the list or worry about taking it with me. This has turned into a true life saver many times.
- —Guest lindy0718
groceries
- Adrienne, thanks so much for your columns. Iso appreciate what you do for us, but I have never commented. Groceries are the big thing today, because we did our once a month grocery trip today. We try to get most everything we need for a month because it is a fifty mile trip. I am so fortunate that he shops with me. We both love food, and compare the produce, meat, etc. together. He is severly ptsd and has an extremely painful back injury, so shopping is no picnic for him either. We decided today that when we go to the grocery, that is all we do. We will save the hardware, gas station, haircuts. drugstore etc for a second trip. We have developed many little tricks to help. It takes me all day to unpack. Much gets broken up into smaller portions for the freezer. Icouldn't do it without him. We like our lists. On my bad days I barely make it, but I don't like to show that I am having trouble. so that helps me be tough and stay upright and get through the chore.
- —Guest mary lyn
Master list
- I made a master list of regularly purchased items, organized by aisle of the store, and printed up multiple copies. It would go on the fridge, and when I run out of something, I just put a tick by that item on the list. It took a few trials of tweaking before I had it in order, but once I did, it the investment paid off big time. But then I discovered that I can get groceries delivered at home. Bliss! I can't imagine how I would cope without it.
- —Guest happyturtle
grocery list
- I actually made a chart by aisle of the path I walk through the grocery store. On it I left several spaces for write-ins, but also typed in the most frequently purchased items in each aisle. Then all I have to do is check next to the items I need. This also helps with budgeting, because I check to see what sales are at my store online and mark those items I need as well.
- —Guest tina
grocery shopping
- thanks for the article. I find it helps me to have a list that is written with everything on the list catgoorized frozen with frozen, etc.and if i'm useing coupons have what i entend to use in a binder and take them out as I pick-up the item. this way i don't have to find the coupon at the register.aletha
- —Guest aletha mobley
shopping
- I always ask to have the cold items bagged togther. if I am very tired when I arrive home, I leave the other bags in the car and just wrestle the cold items into the house. And the cat food!
- —Guest karenhart
Preprinted grocery list
- I made up a list in excel with the most common foods, cleaning supplies, paper products and personal items that I keep in the house. It gives me something to go by to check to see what I need.
- —Guest Judy
My least favorite chore!
- Like a lot of other folks, I shop during off hours and use a shopping list (it's on my computer) organized according to aisle--nothing worse than having to walk from one end of the store to the other more than once! I always use a cart, to hold my purse. And one other thing that has really helped has been getting to know the people who work in Albertsons, where I do my grocery shopping--once I did, I found I was more relaxed, looking forward to chatting with people, and they always carry my groceries out to the car! This has made grocery shopping much less of a horrible chore. I never remember their names, but that's what nametags are for, after all! DKC
- —Guest DonnaK
Use the riding carts
- I'm lucky enough to live in Arizona, where many old people come for the winter, so our grocery stores have many riding carts (scooters). Without these, I don't think I could manage the grocery shopping - too fatiguing. These carts are very easy to learn to operate, so use them always if you have them available.
- —edwards29
too much walking
- I have found that I am exhausted by all the walking. I use a nearby smaller supermarket, and have adapted most of the tips in the article over the years. This last week I found I really needed to go to WallMart, usually a dreaded task, too big, too loud, too stimulating. I used my newly aquired handicap parking sticker, easy in, and I did not misplace my car on return, it had a little blue sign above letting me know right where it was! I also broke down and used one of the electric carts, OMG it was so much easier, I was not drained for 2-3 hours after the trip, I'm never walking a store again on a bad day, or maybe even on a good day. If the tools are there, use them!!
- —Guest weeroo
GROCERY SHOPPING
- THANKS FOR THE TIPS. I TRY TO DO MOST OF WHAT YOU SUGGESTED. IT IS HELPFUL IF YOU GO TO THE SAME STORE & THEY GET TO KNOW YOU. #1 FOR ME IS FOR ALL THE COLD ITEMS BEING BAGGED TOGETHER. THAT WAY, WHEN I GET HOME I ONLY UNLOAD THE COLD ITEMS. LATER OR THE NEXT DAY UNLOAD THE REST. JUST ASK TO HAVE SOMEONE LOAD YOUR GROCERIES INTO THE CAR. REMIND THEM ABOUT THE COLD ITEMS NEED TO BE IN A PLACE THAT YOU CAN PUT YOUR HANDS ON IST. THAT IS A BIG HELP. MOST STORES WANT TO KEEP YOUR BUSINESS. IT DOESN'T HURT TO ASK FOR ANY KIND OF HELP WHEREVER YOU ARE.
- —Guest JUDI
grocery shopping tips
- Great tips! A few I can add is..1) take a look where the pharmacy is..its midway in mine and I take the opportunity to sit in the waiting area for a few minutes to catch my breath before I continue on...2) when bagging the food I ask that refrigerated and frozen foods be put together so that when I get home I only need to bring in the perishables first...the rest can be brought in later!
- —Guest Tammy
Thank You for the suggestions
- I thought I had a short memory loss because of a slight hardening of the artirary, I didn't know it came with Fibnromaglia.
- —Guest Donna Pride
finally giving in
- You have some great tips here, most of which I have over time learned. It's so great that you have them listed because if I had had a list like that, it would have made my life so much easier. Please don't misunderstand that statement..nothing is easy about grocery shopping and never will be!! I finally had to give in and start using an electric cart. I fought this for a LONG time but simply can't walk more than through the produce section at the beginning. You can't get as much in them so you either do your shopping in shorter trips or have someone else go along to put things in a regular cart. I was so embarrassed by this at first but eventually realized that it was the only way I could get through it. I also have the handicapped thing that I can't seem to think of right now..nothing like fibro fog! lol
- —kshelton21
Have Someone Go With You
- I have my husband go with me. Actually, he does most of the shopping. We keep a continual list going all the time until it's grocery shopping time (generally when it's absolutely necessary)-as we both have some memory problems (half-timers we call it-lol). I hold unto the cart while he pushes it, if I get dizzy/tired - the market we go to has benches to sit on in several areas and I will let him know I'm going to sit down. He will continue the shopping. It's seldom he doesn't finish it. Having someone go with you ensures that, most times, you will get your grocery shopping done. It also makes sure you can relax and not stress. Stress will make your condition worse so it's best not to do it. If you need to leave earlier then let your partner know to check out.
- —Guest pamel
