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If you work a regular 9-to-5 job, then grocery shopping during the middle of the week can be tricky. This means that just like millions of other people, you will be stuck fighting the crowds on the weekends to ensure that your kitchen is fully stocked for the days ahead — and it could end up being a fight with your food budget, as well.
Research shows, however, that if you can squeeze in a midweek grocery shopping trip, your wallet and your sanity may be greatly rewarded. With that in mind, here are the worst days of the week to buy your groceries.
Avoid Weekends
According to Drive Research, 59% of consumers surveyed do their grocery shopping Friday, Saturday or Sunday. Therefore, waiting until the end of the week or going on the weekend could mean big crowds and less selection. You may be stuck paying a higher price for an item because the less expensive version is unavailable.
Avoiding weekends is a good rule of thumb regardless of which retailer you are visiting. One slight exception might be hitting up Aldi on a Sunday. The discount grocer is known for putting new items in its Hot Deals section on this day, according to Delish. Hot Deals tend to be limited in inventory, so if you really want to score big on one of these trendy products, then you’ll want to break the weekend rule.
Unless it is unavoidable, do not buy groceries on Saturdays and Sundays (except maybe a quick trip to Aldi).
On Wednesdays We Buy Groceries
Wednesdays should be the day you buy groceries. As explained by Instacart, most grocery stores start their weekly specials on Wednesday.
The grocery delivery company also says shoppers may be able to take advantage of “double discounts” since retailers may honor the previous week’s deals. The article further recommends shopping later in the day to try and get last-minute price reductions on perishable items.
Therefore, switching your weekly shop to midweek could save you significant amounts of money and help you avoid crowds.
Plan Based on Restocks
Nearly every grocer restocks products during the middle of the week in anticipation of higher traffic on the weekends. Instacart notes that most of the bigger stores do daily restocking, but smaller grocers tend to replenish products twice a week, generally Tuesday and Friday. It will vary, however, depending on the location. You can always ask when new products come in so that you can be the first to take advantage of the fresh inventory.
Thus, if you truly want specific items that tend to sell out, find out the retailer’s restock schedule and adjust accordingly.
Plan Ahead
The reality for many of us is that shopping on the weekend simply can’t be avoided. Between work, school, youth sports, homework and, well, life, midweek shopping doesn’t fit into the mix. So, if you are stuck with the masses waiting in the checkout lines on Saturday or Sunday, you shouldn’t worry too much. There are still ways to save.
If you can get out of the door pretty early, you can reduce your wait time since the stores aren’t as likely to be crowded in the early morning hours. The same goes for later in the evening. You can also cut costs by preparing a detailed list so that you don’t buy as much on impulse. Finally, you can look for free pick-up or delivery services that might help you avoid the headache altogether.
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FAQs
Sunday Is Also the Worst Day to Go Grocery Shopping
What day of the week are Grocery Stores best stocked? ›
The best day to shop for the freshest ingredients
If your store stocks daily, then first thing any morning should be fine. Otherwise, Tuesday or Wednesday mornings are often best. Again, you'll want to find out the delivery schedules for your favorite stores so you can plan accordingly.
What day of the week are groceries cheapest? ›
There is a strategy to buying the best items and saving money, according to registered dietician Steph Grasso, as she shares on her TikTok. If you want to catch the cheapest deals on groceries, the secret is to shop on Wednesdays.
What day of week is best to do groceries? ›
Thanks to mid-week restocks, new promotions and fewer crowds, Wednesday is the best day of the week for grocery shopping — at least according to Taste of Home. The mid-week grocery shop can help stretch your monthly budget a bit further and allow you to score additional discounts.
Is Black Friday a good day to grocery shop? ›
Are Grocery Stores Busy on Black Friday? Yes, grocery stores can get busy on Black Friday. Shoppers flock to these stores not just for traditional Black Friday deals, but also for holiday meal preparations. If you prefer a more relaxed shopping experience, consider shopping early in the day or later in the evening.
What is the most common grocery shopping day? ›
Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1:59 p.m. is the most popular time to go grocery shopping.
What is the biggest grocery shopping day? ›
Sunday also lost its rank as the busiest grocery shopping day of the week. Instead, Saturday was the top-ranked shopping day for five of the 12 weeks since stay-at-home orders began, while Friday and Sunday each had the most spend for four of these weeks. The other four days also saw increases.
What's the best day to shop at Walmart? ›
Samantha Landau, consumer expert at TopCashback USA, said, “Monday and Tuesday mornings are great times to shop at Walmart. Many Walmart stores receive new shipments and restock their shelves over the weekend.” She said this makes the beginning of the week a preferred time to shop.
How much should a week of groceries cost? ›
The average family spends about $270 at the grocery store per week, but that number increases when children are taken into account. Families with kids spend an average of $331 a week on groceries or 41% more than families without kids.
Should you go grocery shopping once a week? ›
Having a big weekly shop is the most useful plan on average. You can be organised by planning your meals and creating a shopping list in advance. This can help you avoid forgetting items or buying unnecessary items.
Best Day to Grocery Shop for the Best Quality Meat, Dairy and Seafood. Another plus of shopping on Wednesdays is that the meat, dairy and seafood section should be newly restocked with fresh picks. For the best selection, you'll want to get to these sections as close to opening hours as possible.
Is it better to go to the grocery store in the morning or at night? ›
Going early in the morning may also help you get fresh picks, she said. "There may be an abundance of food, especially in the produce aisle. If you're shopping for freshly prepared items they may run out if you shop later." Google can provide you with the busiest and slowest times for shopping at different stores.
Are groceries cheaper on certain days? ›
“Wednesdays are the best day to shop for food, as this is when most supermarkets release new circulars, ensuring you have the first pick of the top deals,” said Woroch. She added that stores typically also honor last week's deals, so you'll likely have bonus sale items to choose from as well.
Why is Black Friday so cheap? ›
Retailers may spend an entire year planning their Black Friday sales. They use the day as an opportunity to unload overstock inventory and offer doorbusters and discounts on seasonal items, such as holiday decorations and typical holiday gifts.
What is the busiest grocery shopping day before Thanksgiving? ›
Turkey Wednesday – the Wednesday before Thanksgiving – is the Black Friday of the grocery sector. It's the single busiest day of the year for many grocery chains nationwide when consumers flock to their local supermarkets in search of turkeys, stuffing ingredients, and other last-minute supplies.
What is the best day to shop at Market Basket? ›
“The best days to shop at Market Basket are usually mid-week, specifically on Wednesdays and Thursdays,” Herman said. “This is when many Market Basket locations tend to restock their shelves with fresh produce and other items.
