And do they save you money?
Personally, I have to always make a grocery list. My memory is just one big sieve so as soon as I run out of anything I write it down. Funny that this list comprised of mostly “other” stuff, not food. Some foodie I am!
I have been reading a lot of save-money-on-food books and realized, they all tend to be the same and have the same messages. One of them is: make a list and stick to it. So I am asking the question, do you make a list and stick to it?
I go to the grocery store practically every other day and I find that eases the pressure off of the syndrome “I have to buy everything for the rest of the week today or I can’t have it” syndrome. A lot of the books recommend only going shopping once a week and I found by doing that, I was more inclined to pick up a lot of un-planned snacks and treats. I had all this fear that there would not be enough. Now at the time I was living in a suburban mountain top so that fear was true but still…
Personally I find that going shopping with my list for the next two days prevents me from having to carry too much on my walk home and prevents food loss because my food is always fresh. Statistically, people lose most of their food budget not just on eating out but on the food they throw away.
For me, a list keeps on track, reminds me to plan my meal in advance and prevents me from wandering around the grocery store wondering what to buy. But hey, everybody is different. I would love to hear whether or not you make a list and if it helps you save money on groceries?
because of our budget we have to go grocery shopping once every two weeks – and we use a list – It is kept on a constant basis – as we run out of things – they are added to the list- otherwise I would forget, I would forget my head if it was not attached-LOL
lists are a great way to save money I am the same as you I go every other day but I confess I always end up spending more and I am blessed with a fresh market and whole foods!!
I have a permanent list on my computer. When I am going shopping, I print it and check off what I need. And yes, I pretty much stick to it. But because I dislike going to the store (once I’m there, I’m fine) I put it off as long as possible and I have to buy so much at one time that I can’t tell if I’m saving money! (Perhaps it is time to rethink this strategy …) In the past it has also been useful to draw up weekly menus; that way I can play around with new recipes and still have the ingredients on hand, not have to resort to the trip to the store when I’m tired and hungry.
I like the idea of shopping more frequently though. I may try it for the summer, when I have time.
Like you, I go on a bus to the grocery store, therefore make several trips a week. It helps save money for me, because I’m buying produce as I need it, and I don’t end up with a fridge filled with rotting lettuce etc.
I’ve always made somewhat of a list, but have recently been trying to meal plan and buy only what I need.
With so much fresh fruit in season, I find I’m overloading my kitchen with it whenever I can afford to. That never goes bad though…my hatchling will eat a quart of strawberries or a pint of blueberries while watching TV!
I think overall, lists save money.
Cool post.
Yes…huge list maker here. We do not have a car and are a mile from the grocery..so for several years we walked or took a cab. So careful planning. I now have one of my preschoolers mom’s who barters personal shopping with me..I watch, she shops. So my list is very thought out and specific. I have found that I cut down on at least $100.00 a month on incidental buying. She shops only the list and nothing else..I looove it. It saves me huge amounts of time shlepping back and forth and I feel pampered when I say I have my own personal shopper – lol. Works for me!!
Hugs,Sarah
Yes I don’t leave without a list and a calculator. I also put at the bottom of the list the menu for the week. I have it on the computer and then add or subtract things as needed. Friday morning I print out the list and off I go!
Like most everyone – we are on a tight budget – but I think of the list as more of a guideline than anything else. A good sale on something can – and often does – rearrange the whole thing!
we shop once a week, swampy drives me or else i go stir crazy! i go armed with a planned menu, list and swampy using his mobile as a calculator. i keep a tight track on our money so that we can sometimes treat ourselves~like our new bookcase!
We do major grocery shopping twice a month. We buy in bulk at Costco and then we go to the local store for produce and smaller items. We tend to go back to the store at least once in between because we need fresh produce and milk. As for savings – most of our savings come from buying meat, poultry and dry items in bulk. I always use a grocery list that I have customized on the computer. I tend to stick to the list and try to plan meals so that food doesn’t get wasted. Many times lunch tends to be leftovers.
Grocery lists are a must. If not, then you have to go back out to get more stuff: which wastes time and money.
I always make a list– even for little trips (3-5 items) to the store; if I don’t write it down, I forget it. I blame my FMS foggy brain. Making a list also helps me keep on track and not impulse buy. I keep a magnetized pad of paper on the fridge and write items down as I run out.
Lists are a must – keeps us on track and from forgetting things. My boyfriend is really good at combing the flyers looking for the best deals on the essentials.
Lately, we’ve been finding some great savings at Zellers of all places. Never for produce and fresh goods, but cleaning supplies, tp & paper towels and toiletries. Walmart and Shoppers Drugmart’s got good deals on some of our regular staples too, so he’ll find them and on the weekends we go together. If he spies a deal, we stock up. You should see him if pop goes on sale!
We also go to Costco for the best deal in the land on bagged spinach – I’m always amazed that it never goes to waste. Mushrooms, shallots, tomatoes, peppers are usually a good deal there too. Fresh and frozen meats are usually more affordable there too. Laundry soap and dish washing detergents are way cheaper in the long run in bulk.
I must stress we never use a cart at Costco though – just what we can carry in our two armloads – which keeps the impulse buys down and no surprises at the register.
I have a list on the fridge and as I run out of things I jot them down. I also will leaf through the flyers and jot down things that we use and are a good buy.I have sometimes gone to the grocery store without my list and it drives me crazy trying to remember what to get.