How to make a grocery list

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Shopping for food is one of those things that we often do without thinking. We head to the store knowing we need only a few things, but we leave with a cartload of stuff and a very long receipt. This article on How to Make a Grocery List will give you the tools to create an efficient plan.

Keep this guide for simple living close as it will not only help you save money but stock a pantry that is efficient for cooking healthy and delicious meals.

Grocery shopping can be both tedious and time consuming, especially when you don’t have a plan ahead of time. When you shop without a plan, it’s easy to end up aimlessly wandering the store aisles, wondering if you are out of this or running low on that.

Usually, trips like this end up costing us more money than we planned to spend. Our goal is to help stop those impulse purchases and transform your weekly shopping trips into an efficient task needed to run a simplified home.

What is an Effective Grocery List?

An effective grocery list should be simple, organized, and easy to follow in a store. You want to make sure your list is efficient so you can quickly find what you need in the store without being tempted by impulse purchases.

Having a list with the things you need to buy listed in the order you may find them in the store will save you loads of time shopping. The trick is to create a list-making routine that will turn planning ahead into a simple task that takes just a few minutes to get done.

The Benefits of an Effective Grocery List

Shopping with a list is nothing new but I do think it is one of those tips that we tend to skip over. But having a list has so many benefits making it an important part of a household budget.

Not only does it help you remember all the items you need to purchase, but it also reminds you what you have enough of, limiting unnecessary buys that can throw your grocery budget on its ear.

The last time I was at the store, I was shocked at the increase in prices. Not only that, the size of bags and boxes were smaller, making this a double hit to my bottom line.

Simple living is all about using tools and skills to be more efficient, live frugally, and support a healthier lifestyle. Can all this be done with a grocery list? Yes, it can and I am going to show you how.

Steps to Make an Effective Grocery List

Since I am not a fan of grocery shopping, having a list is a must if I want to get done quickly and come home with only the items I need to purchase.

Step #1. taking Inventory of the Pantry and Refrigerator

Before you can start to plan, you need to know what you have, which means making a food inventory list. Having a list of the food you have on hand will help you to use things up routinely ensuring you have less food spoiling or expiring.

Inventories are a game change for a simplified home, and yes, it might take you longer to do one starting out, but as you go, it will get easier.

How to make a food inventory

1. Start in the freezer, making a list of any proteins, fish, or other ingredients that can be used as a main course.
2. Next, go into your pantry a look at what you have for side dishes.
3. Finally, look in your fridge for anything that has a short shelf life. Things like produce or dairy items.
4. If you have an overabundance of food, you can just do a list of things you can easily see.
5. As you start to use up the food you have in storage, you will uncover the things in the back and you can then add them to your inventory pages.
6. In the future, your goal is to keep a reasonable supply of food that matches the size of your family.

Food inventories help reduce food waste since you will now be more aware of what you have, allowing you to center weekly menus on your list.

Step 2: Meal Planning and Creating a Menu

An important part of an effective shopping list is knowing what you need to feed your family for thew upcoming week. The easiest way to do that is to make a weekly meal plan.

How to make a meal plan:

1. Refer to your inventory to see what you have for main dish options.
2. Next, look at what you have in dry storage that will work for sides.
3. Finally, check your refrigerator to ensure you include any produce. This will ensure you use up that expensive food before it goes bad.
4. Create a menu that fits your schedule for the week ahead. If you have a busy night on Wednesday this week, plan to make a crock pot meal.
5. Once your meal plan for the week is done, put it where you will see it each morning. This will ensure you stick to your menu and allow you to do morning prep for an easier dinner time.

Get our step-by-step guide on how to make and use a weekly menu.

Step 3: Make a List of What You Need

Now that you know what meals you’re cooking and the items you’ve already got, it’s time to make a list of the ingredients that you need to buy. Be sure to include both essentials and ingredients for your planned meals.

Make a list:

1. Look at your weekly menu and check to see you have all the ingredients needed to cook each one. Don’t forget spices, oils, and/or sauces.
2. Next, check your food storage areas to ensure you have staples that you use frequently, such as cereal, snacks, and condiments.
3. Check your fridge for any condiments, dairy, eggs, or other items you are running low on.
4. Finally, go to your linen closet and medicine areas and do a quick inventory on personal items, cleaners, paper goods, and medicines.

Step 4: Group Items on Your Grocery List by Aisle

Once your list is complete, the next step is to group items on your grocery list by aisle. This will help save time when you’re in the store.

If you know which aisles each item is located in, you can easily navigate through the store without having to backtrack or wander around looking for what you need.

If you are not sure of a particular store’s layout, you can usually find a store map online to use as a guide.

Step #5: Shop at the Best Time

Fighting crowds can cause you to skip the list so you can get done and out more quickly. To help, look to shop at non busy times to make your experience more enjoyable.

Aim to go early in the morning or late in the day to miss the crowds. Avoid shopping between 4 and 6 p.m. during the week or anytime on the weekends.

Step #6. Stick to your list

You worked hard to create a shopping list that is efficient so be sure you stick to it. Do your best to avoid impulse purchases and only purchase items on your list.

If you struggle with buying items not on your list try these tips.

1. Use grocery pickup to reduce unnecessary purchases.
2. Have an envelope of “mad money” for any deals you see. The goal is to only spend what you have for extras and nothing more. Keep this amount to $20 or less.
3. Wear headphones and listen to music or a book. This simple distraction will help you to stay on track without getting distracted by colorful displays.
4. Ignore the end caps. This is where the so-called deals are, and the store will do its best to get you to notice. I used to work in a grocery store, and many times, the end cap deals were not on sale at all. My advice is to skip the end caps and only shop in the aisles.

How to make a budget for groceries?

Making a budget for groceries is an important part of efficient grocery shopping. RTS.com states that “The average American family of four throws out $1,600 a year in produce.” Having a budget and an effect list can eliminate most of that waste for you and your family.

Create a Budget

Take a look at how much money you have spent on groceries each month for the last six months.

A good rule of thumb is to Plan on $100 per person per month. So, if you have four people in your family, you can budget $400 a month. If you are new to budgeting and this number seems incredibly low, you can slowly work your way down until you find a number that you can stick with.

I know some families of four that spend $800 a month and others that spend $500. There is no right or wrong answer other than being consistent each month and keeping to a number that you can afford.

Making and using a food shopping list will ensure that you shop efficiently saving time and money in the process.

Creating a grocery list is an essential part of shopping efficiently. Allocate time each week to plan out your meals and take inventory of what you already have on hand so that you can make a grocery list that will save you time in the store.

With a little bit of planning, grocery shopping can be an efficient and stress-free task.

More Shopping Tips:

• 7 Ways to Save Money on Groceries
• What is a Price Book?
• Unique Ways to Save Money on Food