Young or old, grocery shopping can be quite a challenge if you’re intending to stock up on many things and you haven’t compiled a list, or if you’ve bought a handful of items that require extra hands and assistance. For older adults, although grocery shopping is a good form of exercise to stay healthy, it can get tedious especially if you have to make a trip down to the store, walk around to get your items amid the crowd, and source for the best items within your budget.
Thankfully, we’ve compiled a list of grocery shopping tips that you and your loved ones can follow so you can make full use of your trip to the supermarket and enjoy the grocery shopping experience.
Make a List
Ever experienced going to a supermarket and blanking out, forgetting what you have to buy? If you’re often forgetful, it would be helpful to make a list of the intended purchases before making a trip down to the mart. This not only helps you to save money but also saves time when it comes to looking through shelves and rows of items while searching for your item. You can also avoid repurchasing items that you already have at home so you can keep your impulse purchases to a minimum, and not overspend.
Online Grocery Shopping
In case you haven’t already heard, many grocery chains and supermarkets are switching to e-commerce platforms to sell their goods, so seniors like yourself can shop for your groceries at your convenience and pace. Housebound seniors may also find that online shopping is hassle-free, as you wouldn’t need to squeeze your way through the crowd or face other angry shoppers.
In today’s age of digitalization and the rise of e-commerce, you can even make purchases from overseas that the local stores wouldn’t offer, such as your all-time favorite Korean snacks if you’re craving for them. It is one of the many virtual activities you can consider if you want to keep up with the trend!
Look Out for Vouchers
Many grocery stores and supermarkets offer vouchers for your next purchase if you’ve hit minimum spending for your current purchase. In addition, some stores have a ‘Senior’s Day’ where older adults aged 60 and above can get up to a 20% discount on their total grocery bill if you show your identification card as proof. This initiative allows seniors to manage their expenses properly and relieves a burden off their shoulders since most older adults do not work after hitting retirement age. Remember to clarify and check in with the counters as it varies for the different supermarkets!
Make Use of Delivery Services
Adding on to online grocery shopping, you may want to consider having your groceries delivered so you don’t have to make a trip down to the mart just to collect your goods. Furthermore, if you’ve made huge purchases and there are simply too many bags to carry, it would be a hassle especially for seniors who are physically not as strong anymore.
Do take note that certain supermarkets offer free delivery services once you’ve hit the minimum spending, whether you’re shopping online or at the physical store!
Choose the Store Wisely
Although every supermarket may look and sound the same, a larger grocery store is more likely to have greater perks as compared to the smaller ones – be it discounts, vouchers, or coupons. Plan your travel time and journey wisely so you can avoid going to the store during peak hours!
