Have you ever visited the grocery store hoping to quickly purchase a few essential items but 20 minutes later, there you are, walking out of the store with five shopping bags full of groceries? If this sounds familiar, you are not alone.

Pexels | It’s time to take back control from the grocery store. You are the captain, now.

There’s no shame in admitting that almost everyone gets carried away at a grocery store and buys things that they didn’t need for the month. While it doesn’t do much harm since you still get to use whatever you ended up purchasing but if you are looking to save some money,  these “harmless” splurges can quickly add up.

Since this problem is a pretty common one, here are some tips to help you reign it in when you’re trundling along the aisles with a shopping cart.

1. Plan Your Strategy

This is an important tip because most reckless purchases come when you don’t have your trip already planned. So, before you roll into the store, plan out the trip and take into consideration the things that you really need. This will help you stay on track and not stray away from buying $150 worth of groceries when you only popped in for toothpaste. There are also times when you already have an item at home but buy another one at the grocery store only to shake your head in disbelief when you realize that you now have two whole packs of all-spice powder.

2. Go By Yourself

Yes, having company is always fun but at the grocery store, it can lead you to buy things that you don’t necessarily need. If you have your significant other or children tagging along, you might as well buckle up because, at the counter, you will always have a cart full of things you never had in mind when you first walked in. So, it might be wise  to make those groceries runs all by yourself next time around.

Pexels | Cutting out distractions, one family member at a time

3. Seek Out Sales

Saving money can be tough but there are so many end-of-the-season sales or when stores put up promotions to clear their inventory. This is a great way to get what you need for a fraction of the price it normally sells for. So, sign up for their email notificationso that you’re one of those early birds  whenever a sale is around the corner.

Pexels | Two words every saver loves: sale and discount

Here are some simple tips that are going to save you some cash and hopefully some time as well.