Sometimes life throws things at us that we don’t expect. In fact, research shows that most people go through a crisis of some sort about every six months. Even if you’re usually really on top of things, a tough season can make even basic things seem really hard. But we have to keep eating, don’t we? While I’m all about frugal tips on the macro and micro level, here’s how to simplify grocery shopping when you’re overwhelmed.

How to Simplify Grocery Shopping When You’re Overwhelmed

Don’t worry so much about saving a dollar or two

Recently our life had been very chaotic, and one Saturday morning I realized we were down to only one roll of toilet paper in the whole house. This doesn’t usually happen, as I try to stay stocked up, but somehow I dropped the ball. Instead of stressing about what store had toilet paper on sale, I grabbed a 30-pack when I went to Costco that afternoon.

Sometimes it’s worth it to spend even more than an extra dollar or two

Your mental health is important, and especially if you get to a point where you’re going to choose between takeout and something from the store, the store will almost always be cheaper. One of our families’ best easy dinner options is a frozen stuffed crust pizza. These are usually about $5.50 and come in a variety of flavors, and we prefer them over the $7 Little Caesar’s Pizza near us. It’s also something we can keep in the deep freezer for crazy days.

Limit decision making

This is where the mental load really starts to take its toll. If you’re the primary person managing your home, you probably don’t even realize how many decisions you’re making each day. You can’t avoid all of the decisions, but you can avoid some. You can ask your kids to make a meal plan or list two snacks they’d like you to get. You can ask your spouse to help you come up with ideas for lunches he can pack. You can also make executive decisions like, “We’re going to eat cereal and fruit for breakfast this week.” Make several decisions that will last you for a while.

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