In too many  families the idea of the husband or dad doing the grocery store is radical. Doing our weekly shopping on a regular basis, I know that is the case. There are not a lot of husbands or men grocery shopping when I am out.  In this post I will explain a few reasons I do our shopping and why maybe your husband should as wel.

To be honest at one time I was stingy with the grocery budget and my wife might say I still am at times.  Part of the reason I do the shopping is because if we end up going over budget by $20 this week, I bought it. This avoids money arguments (we might argue if I don’t buy enough lunches or snacks, however).

I am much more analytical. I look at the cost per oz. for everything. Many people think I am crazy but that is just how my brain is wired.  I am not an engineer but I probably think like one. My wife is not that way, so while I may spend slightly more one week because chicken is $1 a pound or that the 2 smaller bags of chips because they are on sale are actually a much better deal then the family size bag. Amanda gets distracted by ideas she saw on pinterest that randomly pop in her head, or any other number of creative ideas she gets while at the store.

I understand retail and I am very efficient. I can tell you where on the shelf nearly everything is that I buy regularly. My mind thinks in maps and pictures. I am not looking around and seeing the things the store wants me to buy. I do comparison shop per oz. when it makes sense. I am also not brand loyal at all. Sometimes a name brand is cheaper than generic (not usually), but I won’t be swayed by fancy packaging or marketing.

I know the system, I am a methodical shopper and grocery stores advertise some products below cost because they want you to come in and shop and buy other things.  Anytime there is a limit there is a good chance that it is a deal worth stocking up on.

It doesn’t stress me out.  I spend hours in a store every day and another hour or so shopping is not stressful. I don’t have strangers commenting on how many kids I have (it happens more then you would think with moms). Strangers are not saying to a guy with a beard and a few kids, “You know what causes that, don’t you?”

Grocery shopping stresses out my wife, especially if she has to take all the kids. Since we homeschool, if she has to take time out of the school day to get groceries, it ends up being a whole day of schooling lost. Instead, I usually go get groceries while she helps out at local ministry in town with our oldest child and our youngest child. Our two middle kids go to a Mom’s Morning Out that morning. It works out and gives me some one on one time with our second child, who tends to need more Father/Son time.

You remember how I said my wife likes to be creative? One thing we had to sit down and talk about was how I could make her less unsatisfied with me choosing groceries. What we figured out is that she just wants to have some creative allowance. So having things like chocolate chips and other baking supplies really makes a difference to her. Also, little add ins like some frozen peppers and onions, mushrooms, olives, rotel, etc.

Overall, there may not be a best person to do the shopping.  Maybe, the saver needs to do some shopping so they will understand how much it costs your family to eat. Shopping together is another option that will work for some couples. Overall, never go into the store before you have a plan. Deviate from the plan if you find great bargains that you know you can use in the coming weeks. Spend an extra $5 this week on a great deal so you can save $10 next week that is a 100% return on investment in just a week

Happy Shopping, whoever is going this week!