[lovemydh]

does it take you when you go shopping at Meijer. I can only do 1 shopping trip a week. With doing my coupons it takes me almost 2 hours 2 get everything done. That is improved becasue I am learning the store better. How long does it take u? Are there any shortcuts I could use 2 make it better?

[jonoma]

Not sure if this helps you, but we usually spend about 30 minutes in the store (with 2 kids and including checkout time).

1. Prepare your list and pull coupons ahead of time. Get everything ready in an envelope so that you have a 'plan of attack' before you even leave your door.

2. Organize your list by store aisles. If you ask, you can usually find a map near the ads at the front of the store. This will help you if you're not as familiar with where products are located.

3. Bring your ad with you or grab one at the front for reference just in case you need to double-check an offer. And price check anything you're not sure about - I never like being surprised at the register. The ad also comes in handy if you need to request any rainchecks!

I'm used to doing a few small trips like this, depending on the week. If milk or produce is at a very low price, I try to buy once at the beginning of the sale and again at the end to stretch our savings further.

I also don't buy health and beauty items at Meijer, as a rule. There are much better deals at the drugstores, etc. So I'm not criss-crossing the store trying to get everything I need. I stick to the grocery section only, unless there's a good deal on something else...

[bethaliz6894]

myself and 3 kids, 2 hours is about average. i can do it in 60-90 depending on if hubby keeps some of the kids and which ones.

[jap631]

I prepare a list and my coupons and also try to have the ad with me when I get my cart. I usually take my 2 yo DD. She gets a cookie at the bakery (free for kids) that keeps her quiet for a good 10 minutes and not touching things, and then I use the penny pony to bribe her for the rest of the time we're in there.

I shop at various times. I do work full time so I often go after work on a Thursday or Friday, or I go early Saturday morning. Sometimes I stop in on Sunday if I know I will need to do multiple trips (the milk example above, for example). Depending of course on the checkout time and how much stuff is on my list, it usually takes me 20 minutes on an average trip to get all my stuff and get in line.

The checkout experience is a totally different can of worms. Don't get me started on that...

[michariella]

I think 2 hours if you only go once a week is pretty good!
This is what I do:

-Go when there are fewer people in the store... and either go as a family so we can tag team kid watching ... or one of the adults goes solo
-Organize list according to grocery, produce, health/beauty,kids/baby

-Have all coupon amounts and deals arranged on notes ... and really understand the deals. Everyweek after we are done making the list about 1am on Sunday ... DH and I touch base for about 45 mins before any shopping that week and go through every deal in detail and what we have ordered for the week and amounts and different ideas if something is out etc. We both use the coupon sites and both go shopping, so having two heads always putting together deals really helps us out and gets us on the same page for the week. And that way I am not standing at the shelves trying to figure out sizes etc.

-I go for my "deal" shopping on Sunday morning ( I try to leave by 7:30 but doesn't always work) ... those are my must have for week sales... this is about a 45 min trip... usually in and out... I try to keep my OOP at no more than 40-50% of pre-Q price... if we go as a family run which is often, it's often only 20-30 mins

-I go once during the week for about an hour on really good sale weeks to stockpile in crazy amounts ( i.e. del monte deal that just recently happened)

-I go about 10-11pm on Sat for about 1.5 hours and go through the baby/infant/toddler section and check for clearances for the week and clothes close-outs. I also get any other deals for the week that I ordered Q's for from clipping service or trades set-up and to catch any deals I missed that I learned about from the buzz on all my internet sites. I also go this late because this is when I stockpile rainchecks as they are usually out of several deals... that way I can round up another week or two of trading for more Q's to match with my rainchecks.

[tonia185]

My trip is always 1 hour minn. this is due to the cashiers and the system not scanning coupons correctly so they have to hand input the mealbox coupons - it doesnt seem to matter what quality the print as the system doesnt scan them correctly - I never get out of line quickly - I'm getting very familiar with the store now but checkout is still an issue. I usually go by myself and it doesnt matter if its busy or the middle of the night - it is always the same issue. Of course I always aim for my favorite cashier who doesnt argue over the coupons but again with system issues it doesnt seem to matter.

[savings queen]

I usually go once a week, and it takes a good two hours. However, I take my time checking clearance items throughout the store. Before I go, I go through the ad with a fine tooth comb, check the mealbox coupons, and, of course, check AFC for any deals I might be missing! I pull my coupons out, put them in order of the store layout, and list the number of items to purchase. I agree with others saying to bring your ad because you never know when you'll need it. If I have a large order, or many coupons, I usually proceed to a cashier lane checkout. The self checkout is a hassle with the coupons needing to be approved by cashiers anyway!

[Couponclipper003]

1.5 hr w/out the kids and hubby

I love comparing everything so I take a while and usually go with a long list.

[Vhampyre]

I have anxiety issues so I plan as much as I can at home and then go. I keep a comp book in my bag with notes about deals and the coupons I plan to use paper clipped to the page. If I am doing multiple transactions, I have the coupons sorted with a post-it note. I have now taken to listing the total price per transaction on that post-it note so I can be certain on the spot if I got full credit for everything.

This way, I can shop even when my mind goes blank!

During the school year, I tend to make smallish transactions and a couple of trips just because I am on the road anyway. I can go in and get 5-10 items in less than 15 minutes at this time of the day. If I try to do the same in the afternoon when I pick my kids up, the same little trip can take me 20 minutes and then another 15 to checkout.

I like to go when it's hot and humid or cold and snowy. I like the extreme weather because the stores are empty. Plus, my favorite location has bus loads of seniors from the assisted living centers who supper shop and socialize in every aisle. Do any of you remember when Meijer used to have a child drop-off? I think they should put one of these in for seniors. God love 'em, but give them somewhere to sit and sip coffee without blocking the dang Chex Mix. Anyway, they tend to stay at home on bad weather days, so that's a plus.

I try to remember not to shop on the first day of the month. Usually what happens is, I come home frazzled and frustrated and declare that I will never shop again on the first day of the month only to repeat the same experience the following month. Not only are the stores clogged with people but I'll be honest, nothing gets my goat worse than seeing someone with two carts full of babies, mountain dew and Doritos and frozen pizza not a crumb of it on sale or a single coupon with a food stamp card. Before you all slap me, I know not everyone shops like this but man, the ones who do really raise my blood pressure.

I avoid shopping on Thursdays because the major employers in my area all pay at the same time.

Maybe once a month I take an afternoon to shop at Meijer and scour everywhere for clearance deals. I always check grocery clearance as a rule. I try to avoid Meijer clothing because I can get a better deal at the mall. I spent two and half hours once doing this.

If I take my husband, it's an hour minimum.

[danielephant]

2 hours is about right for me too...sad i know...it is normally me and DD and on a good day we can get out in an hour and 1/2


but i only go once a week or once every 2 weeks...so i guess that is ok

[bbruno]

I go only once a week also and I swear it takes me longer to checkout than to shop. I always feel bad for the people behind me. On a good day, it takes 1 1/2 hours without kids.

I designed a shopping list in excel in the order that I shop, each aisle has a section. I find it very useful, because I don't need a pen to cross things off, I don't ever have to back track because I forgot something. I organize my coupons ahead of time and put them in the order I am shopping in.

I have had many problems with coupons, so before I checkout, I always make sure I know how many and what dollar amounts of coupons I have. My shopping list has little boxes next to each item, one for mealbox coupons and the dollar amount and the same for man q. That way after I'm done checking out, I can quickly look at my receipt and know that all my coupons went through. Of course, I do watch very closely as they are scanning them, but it's hard with so many.

I also use the back of my shopping list to write down deals I read about here and/or coupons that I need to find, mealbox coupons I need to print, etc.

If anyone is interested, I would be happy to send them my excel spreadsheet. You would probably have to re-order it in the order that you shop. Just PM me your address.

[bebebear25]

It seems to take most people at least an hour. I usually go 1-2 times a week. It usually takes about an hour for me too. It doesn't matter if I'm alone, have my 2 babies with me or DH. With multiple transactions, issues leading to going to customer service and checking out clearance it is never just in and out.

[Csimeneta]

It takes me 2 hours once a week also.

[mommamerri]

Originally Posted by jap631

The checkout experience is a totally different can of worms. Don't get me started on that...

Same here!! There are times when I only buy a few items and able to get through mys tore quickly, and I REFUSE to use Uscan at my store, it takes about twice the time as the regular cashier and they still take FOREVER!