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Battle Plans
Posted By Homekeeping Moderator
Otherwise Known As The Grocery Shopping List
Every good general worth his salt has a well thought out battle plan. It isn’t prudent to go into battle armed with nothing more than an “idea” of what you’d like to accomplish. Or a few notes jotted down on a crumpled up paper napkin. The same is true with grocery shopping. It’s a war ladies, and we’re trying to keep our troup fed and alive.
Preparedness is key. Good planning eliminates unnecessary trips back to the store, and ensures that you haven’t overbought. Which usually leads to wasting food. And a good battle plan will always save you money in the long run.
There is so much ground to cover here. But I only want to start with “the list” on this post. “The list” is key. I found some lined notepads with magnetic backing at the Dollar Store to hang on the refrigerator. Then whenever I run out of something, I jot it down immediately. If I wait to write it down, the chances are excellent that it will leave my head, never to return. This is a habit that I’ve forced myself into.
The day before the shopping trip, I’ll sit down with my “loose” menu plan, the refrigerator list, and a preprinted master list from my computer.
The word you might be looking for is “freak.”
I know. I didn’t start out this way. But I’m telling you, this system works really well for me. When the 24 hour Super Wal•Mart opened here in our small town, after I did my happy dance, I headed there with pen and paper. I wrote down the grocery aisle numbers, and listed items that I would be likely to purchase from those aisles. When I got home, I got on my computer and typed up a columned master sheet, listing the aisles and products underneath. This list I saved and printed out one copy. I put that copy in a 3 ring binder. Then I printed out blank pages, with just columns and aisle numbers. This becomes my official grocery list that I write on whenever I’m planning a shopping trip.
I’ve also heard of stores making available their own “directory” for the consumers. So that you know what products are located where.
I always take my binder to the store with me. On the left side is my menu plan, and on the right is my grocery list. I prop it up in the front of the cart, with my coupon box in front of it. We’ll cover coupon clipping and sales next week.
Please note. If I can avoid it at all, I don’t take my kids with me to the grocery store. I know for some of you, that is not a possibility, especially you single moms. When I have to take the kids, I try to get them involved in the process, to keep them busy. And to keep them from tossing bags of Oreos into the cart when I’m not looking. My favorite time to shop is early in the morning on the weekend. And I only do it once every two weeks. I’ve been known to get up at 5:30 am to go to the 24 hour store.
The word you’re looking for is “insane.”
I know. But it works for me. Now, I want to hear your ideas for planning for the grocery shopping trip. This is by no means a “one size fits all” plan. Also, if you feel lead, you’re welcome to write your own article on the subjects were covering and submit them to “Faithlifts/Homekeeping.” I look forward to hearing your thoughts!
Written by DeeDee at “It Coulda Been Worse”
Mar 26th, 2007
You aren’t insane (or if you are, then I am too…). This works really well for me, too. I take my grocery list and mark the items I need on-line. Then I sort by aisle and print off a list of only the things I need. It works great for me and it often keeps me out of the ‘danger aisles’ where I quickly spend my alloted money. Thanks - great column.
This is AWESOME! I used to do something very similar - I entered them in Excel, and sorted by general section of the store (I didn’t have the actual aisles figured out). Right now, though, I order my groceries on-line. I am REALLY looking forward to the coupon thing. For me, coupons end up making me buy things I don’t need, and I never have the ones I DO need at the time I purchase. Could use some theories there…
Great idea. I did the same thing at Walmart but I went one step further and jotted down prices of alot of the regular items. I made an excel spreadsheet and have everything listed by aisle (color-coded too)with prices and everytime I shop, I save the receipt and update the prices on my master list. This way when I make up my Monthly menu and then my shopping list I have an idea of how much I’ll be spending. It also gives me a chance to pick up extra of something that is on sale (walmart doesn’t advertise grocery sales). I’ve also started doing this at BJ’s wholesale club (we don’t have a Sam’s club or Costco nearby) although our BJ’s trip is usually just 4 times a year for mainly meat.
Hello my fellow freak (and of course I mean that in the nicest way!)
Great tips you’ve got there. I do my grocery shopping every Monday morning at 8:30 without fail. There is no one in the store at this time and I’m in and out and nobody gets hurt! I prepare my list on Sunday nights while putting together my menu plan.
I love your spreadsheet idea!
Laura
I’ve often told myself that i must bring my menu plan with me to the store so that I can more easily make substitutions. For example, if a key ingredient is either unavailable or much more expensive than I’m willing to pay, then I can make a substitution without screwing up the whole menu.
This is an excellent reminder to make that list, follow that plan, use coupons, etc…. Thanks for helping me to maintain financial sanity. Hugs!
I’ve gone up and down the aisles making my grocery store list/chart, too. Then, without warning, the grocery store REARRANGED all the merchandise. Bread, which was on Aisle 1 for 10 years, was suddenly on Aisle 7. The manager was rather non-plussed when I showed him a copy of my chart and explained how aggravated I was that I had to do all this work again. And since then, they’ve rearranged twice more!
After grocery shopping for nearly 36 years…I have memorized that list! However, without a well-thought-out and organized list….I tend to just buy the same-ole, same-ole. My grocery shopping gets just a tad boring! A list is a great way of gathering recipe ideas throughout the week and adding a new ingredients to said list! Adding a little spice to our grocery shopping experience…is always a benefit!
Diane
WOW! Seeing how I have everything else in binders, wish I had of thought of that myself! I am going to implement this immediately into my grocery shopping!! I definitely will be putting you on my blogroll to visit again! Great ideas!! Be blessed!
Kelly
OH MY WORD!!! I am soooooo NOT there yet - in fact - I don’t know if I EVER will be!!! But we can hope…LOL
DeeDee- You are incredibly organized! I am so in awe of you right now!
Jennifer
Where can I order the grocery list that has the magnet on the back. I can’t find one around here.