Why Does Grocery Shopping Take a Lot Longer Than it Used To?

If it seems like you are spending more time in the grocery store than you used to, the fact is you probably are, and there are several reasons for it.

Here's a little known fact. I love to grocery shop! My wife hates it. For me, it's one of life's simple pleasures - being surrounded by the sights and sounds of food. Still, I don't want to be in the store any longer than necessary.

According to the DailyMail, a new study has determined we spend about an hour and a half in the grocery store every week. That's three times longer than just 10 years ago. So, what's the reason for the increase? It's certainly not because we love fighting the traffic in the parking lot, squeezing down crowded aisles, waiting in long check out lines, and paying six bucks for a pound of bacon.

1) More Choices - We have a lot more options when it comes to just about everything whether it's milk and butter, bread, canned vegetables, or beverages.

2) Bargain Shopping - We apparently are spending more time looking for the best buy, including the use of coupons.

3) Bigger Stores - It's true. Grocery stores tend to be bigger than they used to. More choices means they need more room, so it takes us longer to navigate all of the aisles.

4) Budget Watching - Many of us are more budget-conscious than we used to be as the cost of living continues to rise and our wages hold steady. Consequently, we take more time figuring up how much we are spending as we go.

5) Nutrition Awareness - The fact is we are spending more time reading labels, checking nutritional value, calories, and toxic additives.