Make a Grocery Shopping List with These Tools
Use a Calendar, Freezer and Meal Planning Menu to Save Money
Dec 7, 2008
Preparing a grocery shopping list can be a chore, but the best way to save money on groceries is to plan for all necessary food purchases. Gather the following items prior to making a grocery shopping list.
Keep a Running Shopping List
One of the best ways to save money on groceries is to avoid multiple trips to the grocery store. Keeping a list of items that need to be purchased as they run out or as they are almost used up is important. When a personal product is almost gone, add it to the list. When a staple is used up, add that to the list. Keep the list on the refrigerator or near the family calendar so it is easy to find and use.
Use a Calendar for Meal Planning
Before making a meal planning menu or grocery shopping list, sit down with the family calendar. Look at the obligations coming up during the week and decide which nights need fast meals and which nights can have home-cooked meals. Using a calendar helps to avoid planning and buying for a huge home-cooked meal on a night when everyone is going to be out. Looking at a calendar can also help identify nights when it may be possible to dine together as a family.
Use the Freezer to Save Money
The next thing to have on hand when making a grocery list is a list of dinner items in the freezer. Some people like to keep a list of what is in the freezer taped to the door. The list is updated as items are added or used. A quick peek inside the freezer may also work. If chicken was on sale and frozen a few weeks ago, plan to use one or two packages. If there is a night when dinner has to be extra fast, consider using up frozen leftovers. The freezer is a great resource when it is used properly. It can make saving money on groceries a lot easier.
Always Use a Meal Planning Menu
A meal planning menu is the best way to save money on groceries. When the weekly meal plan is complete, there is no need to buy extra food or make unplanned purchases. Have a meal planning menu on hand when making a grocery shopping list. Drawing up a weekly meal plan is easy. There are also many websites that offer easy meal planning guides. Keep the recipes for the week’s meals on hand when making the grocery list to make sure all the necessary ingredients are added to the shopping list.
Using a calendar, freezer, meal planning menu and list of items that have run out can make drawing up a grocery shopping list quick and easy. Ensuring nothing is left off the grocery shopping list is the best way to save money on groceries. For more information about saving money on groceries, read Tips to Make Using a Shopping List Easier.
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