Running Errands

About twice a year I do what I consider a really big shop.  Usually in the spring and in the fall.  I guess in the fall I'm all about stocking the house for winter and in the spring I'm all about replenishing the things we used.  This past Saturday was my big fall run so I thought I'd share how I go about planning and preparing for "my big day".  I have other errand days during the year as well and I plan for those the same way so this method works for me no matter how big or small my list is.  Which brings me to the most important part.  The List!

Draft A Plan & Make A List

I spent about two weeks preparing and planning for this particular errand run.  First I took an inventory of what we had on hand and was able to determine what we still needed and some things I felt it would be nice to have.  I checked ads and sales at various stores and did a little research, even downloaded some coupons, but for the most part I know what stores carry the items I wanted to buy at the best price.

I drafted a list of all the things I needed and it went through a lot of changes and tweaks until I was sure I had it all down.  Then I re-wrote my list grouping all of these items by the store I planned to purchase those items from.  Once that was completed I apparently felt the need to doodle.

On the back of my list I mapped out the order of the stores as I planned to shop.  I took into consideration their location, what time each store opened and figured out the most efficient way to map out my route without back tracking or wasting time and fuel.

Check The Weather & Get Prepared

That morning I got up fairly early, grabbed a cup of coffee and got dressed.  I put on comfy clothes dressing in layers.  It was chilly that morning, but the weather was slated to be warmer and sunny.  I always check the weather forecast the day before so I know what to wear and what to expect for driving.  Another reason to check the weather is to also determine if I need to pack a cooler and ice in the trunk of my car for cold or frozen foods.

I fixed myself a Keto Coffee for the road and packed myself a snack for when I got hungry.  I didn't want to waste time or money stopping to eat so I made sure I had good with me.  I also like to take water along too for when I get thirsty.

Set A Time Limit And Get Going...  Alone

I am much more efficient operating alone then with "helpers".  I don't get distracted and can focus on the task at hand.  I usually set out when the rest of the household is sleeping so no one really notices that I'm gone anyway.  They just get to wake up in time to help me unload the car!

Finding this bread at Fred Meyer on markdown meant
I didn't need to make a stop at Franz Bakery on Saturday morning

My goal this time was to not make this an all day thing.  Once noon hits both the stores and the roads are busy and it just seems to take longer.  I wanted to make sure I was done and home before noon.  This time, because of the size, I did this run over two days.  I actually ended up with two separate routes.

On the way home Friday night I stopped at Fred Meyer, went next door to Home Depot and then hit Dollar Tree after that.  It saved me a lot of time especially as these three stores were not in route with the rest of stops I needed to make and would require some back tracking.  Saturday morning I did the second route and was able to complete all my stops and shopping getting home with 30 minutes to spare.  An hour later I had everything unloaded and put away.

Other Things I Do 

• I make sure I have enough fuel in the car and that the trunk is empty.
• I double check my list and review my plan before leaving the driveway.
• I mark things off the list as I get them and check off each store I have been too.
• I make sure I've allotted plenty of time to run my errands with a little extra space, just in case.  I also keep tabs on what time it is as I'm going along.
• I take time to eat my snack, drink and take a potty break when I need to.  It is easy to want to push those things off to save time, but it is important to take care of yourself as part of the process.
• I have a budgeted amount of money as well as some extra $$ in case I run into a bargain on something we might need or could use more of.
• I dress for success.  I want to look nice, feel good and make sure I'm comfortable.  My errands require a lot of walking, bending, lifting and crawling in and out of a vehicle.
• I park far away from the entrance of each store.  This allows me to open up the trunk and all the car doors if I need to without being in anyone's way.  I can also take my time loading and rearranging things if I need to.
• I seek out and park in the shade whenever possible so I'm not heating up my car unnecessarily.
• I always put my shopping carts away in the cart corral and toss out any trash I accumulate along the way into a trash bin rather than waiting until I get home.

By having a plan and executing it like this I'm able to get a lot done in a fairly short amount of time without wasting money or fuel in the process.  I'm always trying to get the most value out of the money I spend and this helps me do exactly that.  I hope this helps or inspires you for the next time you have to run errands on a larger scale or even the usual ones each week.