by Barb Hopkins

Created on: February 11, 2009   Last Updated: March 02, 2009

You do not need to be a licensed driver to steer a shopping cart, although some days I honestly believe grocery stores should make their customers maneuver their cart through a practice course before allowing them unassisted through crowded aisles.

Most shoppers do not need a GPS, compass, or even map to help them navigate through their local mega-mart. What we all do need when cruising the aisles of the grocery store, is a little knowledge of shopping cart etiquette and the following tips.

* Choose a good cart.

Take 10 seconds and actually look at the cart you are grabbing before you get away from the cart corral. Are all four wheels pointed in a forward direction? Are any of them lumpy? If yes, choose a different cart because if you are fighting a crazy wheel through the aisles, irritation will set in and make the trip even harder.

Is the plastic handle secure? Handles that are loose, slip and slide while you are trying to steer and are never a good thing. Is the cart wet from rain? Ditch it and try to find a dry one, as you don't want your cereal boxes to get damp while you shop. Make sure that the cart is free from the last shopper's debris. Old ads and a half-eaten cookie are not items you want mixed in with your freshly picked produce.

* Have a plan.

The easiest, quickest, and most efficient way to complete a trip to the grocery store is always have a plan. A plan includes a shopping list. Most weekly shoppers purchase their groceries at the same store week after week. Using the same store in this manner provides you with a familiarity with the store's layout. Organize your list with layout of the store in mind.

Decide where you like to begin your shopping and think about the route you usually take. List each item you plan to buy in the order where it can be found in the store. If you have a shopping route, your cart navigation will be more efficient. Quick turns into aisles for forgotten items will be limited allowing you a more stress-free shopping experience.

* Practice smart cart loading.

It's hard to cruise the crowded aisles of the grocery store if you are fighting to keep your groceries from falling out of the cart. The bargain you found on the 12-roll package of toilet paper is fantastic but if it is falling off the top of your other purchases as you round the corner to the cereal aisle, you need to rethink the way you load your cart.

Since you have a list, you already know that you are purchasing big items like the toilet paper and three packs of soda.

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