| I do my grocery shopping regularly, about once every | | | | they should, these pricing mistakes annoy me because |
| two weeks. Usually I would go on a weekday (to | | | | they ruin my budget. And it’s very confusing to |
| avoid weekend shoppers): I’d compose a list the | | | | someone who is as bad enough a mathematician as I |
| night before, finalise my budget, clip coupons from the | | | | am. Luckily, this doesn’t happen often. |
| Sunday paper, print online coupons and promo codes | | | | Kids: Oh, of course I adore my own children. But I have |
| and bring them with me as I make my way the next | | | | never – and will never – bring them with me to |
| day to the grocery store. (Store locations usually | | | | the grocery. It’s annoying when you’re trying to |
| match online offers anyway.) | | | | shop and there are these little boys and girls playing |
| But it’s not as wee and happy and effortless as it | | | | with the wheeled carts, or throwing tantrums because |
| sounds. I have been doing this for several years now, | | | | they weren’t bought Skittles. Sometimes, small as |
| and from my experiences at the shops I have come | | | | they are, they are the ones who block the aisles and |
| up with a list of grocery shopping pet peeves. | | | | prevent you from reaching that can of mushroom |
| Long queues: Nobody wants to wait hours just falling in | | | | soup. |
| line at the cashier! Especially if you aren’t carrying | | | | Couponing limits: I try to be as frugal as possible when |
| that many items in the first place, and had wanted to | | | | grocery shopping. Thus, I collect coupons from the |
| just come and go. Some insensitive customers, | | | | papers and from the Internet before scheduling a trip |
| however, take too long on transactions: putting an item | | | | to the grocery store. More than once, however, I had |
| back in the shelf, forgetting an onion, using coupons for | | | | been told that I can only use one coupon per purchase. |
| every item, harrassing the lady at the cash register, or | | | | If I was buying four cartons of orange juice and had |
| counting change at an unbelievably leisurely pace. | | | | four “one dollar off” coupons for those, would I |
| That’s why if a store has an express check out | | | | be able to redeem it for each carton? Apparently not. |
| counter – for those with baskets only, and not carts | | | | Well, not always. Sometimes one’s interpretation of |
| – then that’s where I would fall in line. | | | | a promo would differ from the interpretation of the |
| Pricing mistakes: I always check the price of a grocery | | | | store cashier. |
| item before hauling them into my cart or basket. Of | | | | Because of these pet peeves, I am now considering |
| course, whenever possible, I always go for discounted | | | | shopping online for my groceries. Who knows? With |
| ones, for stuff that’s on sale. There have been | | | | coupons and promo codes available all over the |
| times, however, when a grocery store would have put | | | | Internet, I just may lessen my twice-a-month trips to |
| up the wrong price. Maybe the promo has expired; | | | | Wal-Mart. And I won’t have to worry about my |
| maybe the inventory staff are to be blamed. | | | | grocery gripes. |
| Nonetheless, like when sale items don’t ring up as | | | | |