If you're frustrated by empty shelves or low-quality produce and meat, it’s time to change up your grocery shopping routine.

I’ve probably mentioned before that my wife and I prefer to do our grocery shopping once a week. It's usually later in the evening when we can get started, and more often than not, it's on a weekday. However, after discovering some very helpful information, it looks like I’ll be trying out a new, stricter shopping schedule. If you're also looking for the best deals, top-quality products, and a smaller crowd, keep reading to learn how to make grocery shopping a breeze.

How Grocery Shopping Has Evolved in the United States

Tesco's Supermarket
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Hulton Archive
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First off, let's talk about how the supermarket format has drastically changed the grocery shopping experience. According to Time Magazine, Piggly Wiggly is credited with opening the first supermarket location in Memphis in 1916. It was bigger than other grocery stores at the time and offered products beyond just food. Piggly Wiggly was also different in that customers would do their own shopping.

How Supermarkets Made Shopping Easier and Cheaper

In the early days of grocery stores, customers would bring their list to the store clerk, who would then gather their items for them. However, this changed with the supermarket format, which allowed customers to browse and select their own products. This shift was essentially the beginning of competitive branding. Today, there are several giant retail chains—Walmart, Target, Kroger, etc.—each with its own product offerings.

The Best Time to Grocery Shop in Indiana Is About Midweek

Price Of A Roast Dinner Reaches Highest Level In A Decade
Photo Credit: Getty Images/Matthew Horwood
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Finding what you need at the grocery store has never been easier, but some days are easier to navigate than others. According to Taste of Home, the best day of the week to fill up your cart is Wednesday during the afternoon. This is because Tuesday night’s deliveries should be fully restocked on shelves by then, offering you first pick of the freshest goods.

Midweek Shopping Offers Better Deals and Markdowns

Another reason Wednesday afternoons are a great time to stock up on essentials is that there are typically fewer people shopping at that time. Additionally, Wednesday is when most grocery store chains roll out their new weekly specials and coupons. During the late afternoon and evening, stores may also begin marking down products that need to be moved off the shelves. In essence, Wednesday is the way to go all around.

What are the Meanings of Secret Codes You Might Hear While Shopping

On rare occasions, there will be announcements made using secret codes that only employees understand at the store. Some of these are pretty scary and if you hear them, you will want to exit the store ASAP.

Gallery Credit: Travis Sams

The Text Abbreviations Hoosiers Don’t Seem to Understand

Texting has come a long way in its 25-year history, but it seems folks in Indiana still have a lot to learn about popular texting acronyms and phrases. Here are the ones we struggle with the most.

Gallery Credit: Jake Foster

Life's A Beach At This Giant Indoor Ocean Playground In Indianapolis

You don't have to travel to the coast for the family to get a taste of the ocean. There's a little piece of fun ocean paradise in Indianapolis for your kiddos to enjoy.

Gallery Credit: Travis Sams

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