I have to admit, I went years with the unbridled shopping method. I went,I saw, I bought. Then I would get home, and though the deals I got were splendid often and had made me swoon in the store, I would still find gaps in the items I needed vs what I had purchased. So a other trip to the store would usually follow a " big" grocery shop. It was fun, but not a great use of time and money.
Now, with so many goals....budget, homemade, good for you....I have returned to list shopping.
Fear not to those who,like me, are not desiring to be burdened by a list. Though it takes planning, and a dose of self control in the store, it is very liberating in the end!! I tried it out a few months ago. I typically spent over $200 each "big" trip to the store I would say. Followed by several smaller,yet expensive trips during the week. But this time I took my well thought out list and I left with most all I needed for $130-ish if I recall correctly.
Our total budget for food this month, hopefully we can do it!
Of all the things I have seem on how people plan, I have not seen this method to my knowledge...maybe I should take a hint on why this is not a popular method, lol!!!! But it works for me.
I make a list based on the sections of the store we shop...this is dairy.I have an idea of how much these items typically cost at my regular store. For example, I don't budget HOW much butter I need, I budget how MUCH I can spend on it. I know I am likely to have enough at $5,but if it is on sale I get to either stock up or save. But I know that $5 is my limit. I can choose the best price in store on that day of any brand I like.
I don't shop sales for things I would not generally buy, usually. For example, Hamburger Helper is not something I use because I can make it so much healthier and cheaper from scratch. So I don't care if it's on sale. I try to shop staples that are at a lowest or good price. So, I am not reliant on sales as much for the bulk of my list thus lessening my time spent on planning and shopping. This is allowing me a semi-regular cost each trip. In fairness, I do like sales and coupons and will use them,but never want to be bound to them to make it thru the month if possible. (We move a lot, and have lived from the east to west coasts, FYI).
I want to shop "big" once a month, just getting fresh fruits and veggies between. However, my freezer does not allow me that luxury, and the space for another freezer is just not available currently. (I had a beauty of a stand up freezer in my past....I miss it!) So I highlight the things I can only get half of for this trip. This (ABOVE) is my entire "big shop" list for all but produce, milk, and things I list as "optional" for the month. I allotted about $220 this month.
This (below) is my veggie/ optional list for about 2 weeks. That brings me to about $266 for the
month. I also have budgeted for additional things like more milk,lots more veggies, etc ( I have a cucumber addict in my home, as well as monkeys that eat tons of bananas!!!) Then lastly I keep some that is not firmly budgeted....to stock up on things I find at a super good value, or things I buy from Amazon (bobs red mill oats, tvp, etc). Plus we can use that to eat out a quick cheapie meal should the "need" arise.
To note,this list makes it low stress and easy as pie to shop. My son {All 4 of my kids go with me to the grocery store 99.98% of the time...it's always been that way...since pregnancy!..Sometimes my older children just wait on me, but we often all go in as a heard! How will kids learn great shopping skills if they don't see us doing it?!? :) } will often carry the list. He tells me how much I have to spend on an item. Then after it is in the cart, it gets crossed off. I have big no surprises at the register usually, and I have plenty of food for delicious, yummy meals!
Happy shopping!
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