Grocery tips for families?

It sounds like you have developed a lovely little ritual/routine with your kids that means a lot to the both of you. If you are still enjoying the experience but just worried about the extra cost, you could try meal planning with your kids and making a list together. Explain to them that you are only going to buy what is on the list and stick to it. This will allow you to keep the tradition but limit the expenditure. I find meal planning lowers our grocery bill significantly and my kids like to be involved in choosing the foods that we will have for dinner as well as the things that will go in their lunch boxes for school etc. It really can be such a great experience together. but admittedly i enjoy doing the actual shop alone. In a busy household with 7 kids its often the only 'me' time I get :)

My kids also love to go out with me for groceries. I remember I was used to find so many extra things in the trolley and yes it did added a lot to the grocery bill.

I usually go for groceries twice a month. What I have done is that we have developed a master grocery list. Before every trip to grocery store, kids get to sit with me and develop a customized grocery list (from the master list). I have fixed a certain budget for treats, so kids know how much budget for treats is remaining and they can add items accordingly.

We have make it a rule that once our grocery list is finalized (with mutual consent), we have to stick with it. This has made shopping more disciplined and we still get to enjoy doing groceries together.

Thank you so much for your replies! It makes me happy that other moms do/did the same thing. It is so much fun, right? Thank you for all your suggestions. I agree that memories are more important, although budgeting is also vital in families.

My husband and I were talking last night because we are about to go grocery shopping this weekend. He also said that we should continue bringing the kids because they will eventually stop wanting to go and we should make the most of our time. We just have to be firm with our rule that each child will only be allowed to get something of their liking. It will be different for items which we think our kids really need.

This is bringing back memories! I used to bring my kids shopping all the time and it was so much fun. I think some little tips would help you keep the trip within your budget and still let you bring your kids along.

You could let each child make their own shopping list and they can be in charge of getting those items. It becomes more of a game than a free for all.

Our grocery store will give out free fruit to children. Check and see if yours will, too! The snack keeps them busy for at least a few aisles.

Limit non-list items to just a few, like 3-5. If you go above that limit, you can say that you can add it to your wishlist for next time.

I love that you go shopping together! And I can see how it increases your bottom line at the check-out too. Even if I shop with just my husband, we spend a lot more (he loves the throw-in extra meat).

Maybe only take one child at a time. This can be a special bonding time alone with mom, which is so important.

I would then suggest that you allow the child only to pick one extra treat. Then give your kiddo part of the list to find the items to keep them busy too. Maybe their list can include the snacky times that the rest of the family enjoy.

I shop at several stores. If I need to get a large load of groceries, it is defiantly easier and quicker to go it alone.

Shopping is a skill that you are teaching your children so I think it would be good to keep the children involved but maybe to a lesser degree.