The Benefits of Batch Shopping and How to Do It

One simple trick to help save money, eliminate stress, reduce impulse buying, never run out of essential household items, and more. Learn the many benefits of batch shopping and how to do it!

Once upon a time, I was spending too much time on my phone in front of the kids. I know… SHOCKING.

So, I decided to do a little “digital detox”. I deleted my social media accounts and news apps, turned off my pop-up notifications, and cleaned out my inbox.

But, I still felt overwhelmed by the amount of unnecessary time I was spending behind a screen in front of my kids and my feelings of screen-time mom guilt still remained.

The issue, though, was that I wasn’t even sure why I was on my phone.

I wasn’t blogging, because I do that after they go to bed or during naps. I wasn’t looking at social media feeds or checking e-mail.

I just couldn’t quite put my finger on it until one day, after a UPS truck dropped off 4 or 5 boxes of stuff, a light bulb went off.

It was shopping.

Of course it didn’t feel like shopping. I wasn’t ordering clothes or shoes. This wasn’t impulse buying, therapy shopping, or any sort of addictive shopping habit. I was simply buying all the things we needed, like supplements, toilet paper, food, etc. when we needed them.

Each day seemed to bring the need of a different item… shampoo, laundry detergent, food, whatever! We would run out of something and I’d quickly log on to Amazon and buy it before I forgot. 

While I am so thankful for the convenience of NOT having to go to the store with kids in tow, I realize now that the convenience of being able to order anything at a moment’s notice was turning into a vicious, stressful, and time-consuming cycle.

But how to stop it? 

The solution I found was something I call batch shopping, and I’ve been using it now for about 4 years with phenomenal success.

What is Batch Shopping?

Batch shopping is when you do your shopping in… batches!

Basically, instead of ordering items on an as-needed basis (which could equate to multiple orders per day or week and result in my situation where you are always on your phone with a constant stream of packages delivered to your door), you are reserving your purchases to one or two big batches each month.

It is similar to a “no-spend” month, which you may have heard of before, except it is more like a no-spend 2 weeks, with an organization method to make sure you aren’t running out of items unexpectedly and always have what you need.

With a little bit of planning, I am now able to purchase everything we need from pantry essentials to household items to health supplements 2 days out of every month. I pay bills and balance the checkbook on the same days. These are my “batch” purchase days.

The only exception to this rule is shopping for produce and perishable food items, in which case I make a weekly errand to grab those foods so we always have them fresh.

Related: 12 Unique Ways to Save Money on a Healthy Food, Supplements, and More

I find this method drastically reduces stress because you always know what you have on hand and what you’re in need of, and you avoid A LOT of unnecessary spending and impulse buying. Here’s how I do it:

How to Implement the Batch Shopping Method

Step 1: Make a “master list” of all the items you buy on a regular basis.

This step is the hardest of the process because it takes the initial effort and time. However, this is important because it is an inventory of all the items you buy regularly, and once you’ve made the list you can quickly go through the house in the future to see what things you need or are about to run out of.

To make it easier, start and complete one space (i.e. bathroom, kitchen, etc.) at a time before moving on to the next. 

So, for example, evaluate and write down all of the products you need in the laundry room first, followed by everything in the kitchen cabinets, medicine cabinets, etc. until you’ve written down everything you buy on a frequent basis.

(By the way, this is also a really great time to get rid of clutter.)

Divide that list based on the store/website you usually buy the item from. So, for example, I have lists for Thrive Market, Amazon, and Whole Foods. I call these my master lists and they are stored in my planner, phone, and computer.

Step 2: Pick your batch shopping days.

These are the 1 or 2 days a month that you will place your orders and do your shopping.

For me, it made sense to use the 1^st and 15^th of every month for two reasons:

1. They are pay days, so it’s a great way to stay on top of finances, move money to savings, pay bills, etc.
2. If for some reason I forget to order an item on the 1^st, then waiting two weeks until the 15^th is actually pretty easy to do. Those two weeks go by quickly.

Also, the majority of my batch shopping is online shopping done from my own home, so it’s easy to pick the 1st and the 15th of each month since I don’t really care what day of the week they fall on. However, if I had to go out physically to a store, I’d probably pick two days out of the month where I know my schedule is a little more open for those errands.

Step 3: Set a reminder to start making your list in preparation for your batch shopping days.

I set a reminder for the 25^th of each month to start making a list of everything I need for my batch shopping day on the 1st of the next month. This gap gives me plenty of time to make the list without feeling rushed.

The master list(s) from Step 1 is what makes this task a breeze. As a stay-at-home mom, it’s something I can do with the kids. We go through the list and explore the house together as we figure out what we need for the next month.

Step 4: Place your order/shop for your items on your designated batch days, balance the checkbook, pay bills (if needed), and then go live your life!

Once the 1^st of the month rolls around, I have my list put together and spend an hour or so adding the items to each of the carts for my online stores. Very quickly, I am able to place the order, balance the checkbook, pay bills, and move on without having to think about it again until the 15^th.

If I have to purchase something in store, then I know that the 1^st and the 15^th (or around those dates, depending on our schedule) are the days that I will go.

The only thing this doesn’t apply to is perishable food, which is a weekly errand, or true “emergencies,” such as running out of a much-needed ingredient or vitamin/supplement.

At first, I thought this was going to be pretty difficult. It requires proactive planning and I thought that maybe I was being unreasonable by limiting our purchases to only two days a month. But I am pleasantly surprised with all the unexpected benefits.

The Major Benefits of Batch Shopping

• Budget Management – As the financial manager of a single income family, this has been a huge stress reliever because the money isn’t “moving” every day. This eliminates the need for me to constantly track our expenses every day to make sure we are within our budget. Now, it’s just something I need to do 2 days a month.
• Impulse Buying – Online shopping is a whole new world of impulse buying. It is SO easy to get sucked in and distracted by all of the “Recommended for You” products. It’s even easier to purchase items using 1-click. Limiting purchases to only two days out of every month helps to stop the impulse buying temptation. Plus, I personally add in an extra rule that if there is something I think I really want on the 1^st, then I have to wait until the 15^th to buy it. I find that my desire fades away over the next two weeks, saving money as a result.
• Creativity – This was unexpected, but can be very fun! Running out of deodorant, hair products, lotion, etc. isn’t really deemed a real emergency. So we get by without the things that we thought we really needed. No lotion? I’ll make my own using some of the shea butter, coconut oil, etc. we have around the house. No tissue? Use toilet paper instead. So far, we have yet to come across an item we can’t find an alternative for.
• Clutter – I never realized that a bunch of Amazon boxes every day contributed to clutter.  Then, we stopped receiving them and what a difference it makes! It’s really nice to not have to unpack something every single day and then break down the box for recycling, or deflate the 20-30 plastic packaging bags that come with it. Now, by only placing an order once or twice, I can choose to have the items shipped in fewer boxes. It’s great. Plus, it’s usually a big box – fun for kids to play in.
• Time – Now that I know my master lists pretty well, it takes me less than an hour to put my shopping list together and place the order. Then, I am off my phone/laptop, and ready to do other things without having to worry about placing any more orders for the next two weeks.

I am pleased that this one simple system has not only kept me off my phone, but provided an array of other benefits that have improved our home!

If you’re thinking that batch shopping might be something that could benefit you, just remember the 4 simple steps:

1. Make your master lists.
2. Pick your order dates.
3. Plan ahead and give yourself a few days to make the lists before you order.
4. Order your items. And then go live your life!

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