Problem: I would forget to buy things we needed because I was disorganized once I was in the store, or it never made it on the list. Or, I would forget to buy things that were on sale because I was in disarray.
Making a grocery list isn’t something I take likely. I only go to the store once a month, and I REALLY try to only buy things that are on sale, and keep a stockpile of other things we use frequently. Here are the steps I take to make sure I get it right!
1. I have a magnetic pad on the fridge that my family writes our needs on. I don’t want them trying to figure out what category they go under (you can read more about my list in this post), so I’d just prefer they go on that list. Also, sometimes I can only get the item at a unique store, so I don’t cross it off that list until we get it.
2. On the opposite side I keep a list of things we’re running low on (more about that on the day I talk about our pantry — coming soon!). Those are things I want to keep an eye out for in the ads.
3. On Wednesdays, the ads come. I settle into the couch with my price book. I write down all the things that are on sale that we buy fairly frequently or are in need of at that time.
4. I usually check grocery smart to see if I missed anything good in the ads (I’m only human. Yes, it’s true). I feel like they find things I don’t find, but I also find things in the ads they don’t find — so it is worth my time. This blog entry will explain smart source in more detail.
5. Then I take the price book, along with my magnetic pad and combine the sale items with the need items onto the grocery list. My grocery budget for the week is 80 dollars. I can do a quick scan to see if 80 bucks is going to do that list, or if I’m over or if I should add some of the things we’re low on. It seems to balance out somehow.
So, that’s how I make a grocery list. You can find my actual grocery shopping tips here, as well as some other grocery tips here and here. Last year (I hope to update it sometime soon) I did a target pricing for staples, canned goods, snacks and paper goods that you might find helpful as well!
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