I need to keep a constant stock of items to avoid extra trips into my favorite discount grocery store in the next town. Most pantry items in my hometown store are just too expensive to get (sometimes a three dollar difference!) After reviewing my grocery receipts and pantry for a month, I devised a shopping list on my computer that lists everything I use in my home, broken down into general categories like Produce/Fresh; Frozen; Pantry; Office; Toiletries/Household.
I saved it on MS Word, and before I go shopping I do an inventory, then open my list on my computer, "delete" what I do not need to buy, and print out the list. When I close the program, I choose NOT to save the changes, so I always have the complete list. Stuff that needs to be purchased at a specialty store is italicized, and if I have coupons, I highlight the item and keep them with my list, so I don't forget them. The list is very easy to read, and I have extra room to write down notes or unexpected items (like car parts!) It takes a little time to set it up, but the time and gas I save from forgetting an item is very valuable!
I have the same type of list in Word on my pc. We have a notepad just for writing down grocery needs and then I add them to my master list. We do the same for highlighting coupons, make notes. I started the master list by saving all handwritten lists for a couple of months.
Someone like me who has to sacrifice food items every month to make the bills . I just try and buy a variety of food differant each time to make us feel better. Perhaps keeping track on the computer my food purchases every month might work ,but I don't know if I would get the same satisfaction when my wife and I sit down to a pork chop dinner complete with 2 veggies and a desert.Most of the times we find different ways to prepare Turkey Burger, or chicken and good old hot dogs. It is a challange to try and stay creative. When shopping I also have to consider the gasoline costs and most of the time the food savings pays for it. Coupons are not very good for us since the cheaper brands of foodstuffs always are lower in price . I remember mom in the late 1950's shopping for food for two weeks, that dear lady always manage to save a few dollars of her food budget and we always had food on the table. Well I am going to make a list and see what happens. Happy Food Shopping to all Mr. Thrifty
Palm has come up with the same idea and put it in PDA format. I have been using it for years and it works out great. It is an add-on called Handmark with lots of tools.
Dee, thank you for the HEB web site. I signed up and clicked on their "shopping list in RTF format". I copied and pasted the list in word pad. Then I just went through it and deleted the items that I don't buy. What an easy way to have a shopping list on my pc. Thank you a bunch!!
Great idea. I have mine in Excel and use check boxes to mark what I need as I take the inventory. That way I don't forget items I may not use all the time but like to keep on hand.
Excellent idea!!! I used to do the same thing but I don't think I ever got everything on the list.. then I just gave up.. and now,.. oh no..i forgot this or i forgot that...
Go to www.heb.com and sign in for a passwork and their grocery list is printable and very complete. This was my grocery store in Southwest Texas and I miss it very much.
I am still working on restructuring the list to fit my grocery store, but the way they lay out stores is illogical to me! I tend to circle around (produce/bulk/meat/dairy) then hit the aisles for canned/boxed. But I haven't gone over my limits yet!
FROZEN/MEAT Beef Blueberries, frozen Bread Dough Broccoli, frozen Carrots, frozen Chicken Fish Green Beans, frozen Juice Concentrate: Peas, frozen Peppers/Onions, froz Pork Strawberries, frozen Turkey
Then I have Pantry/Bulk (for baking, canned goods, seasonings) and Other for household. I repeat vinegar and baking soda on both of those categories, so I don't forget to buy bulk sizes or baking sizes. I save the completed one and print out what I need by cutting the extra (helps me to prioritize too)
Excellent idea!!! I used to do the same thing but I don't think I ever got everything on the list.. then I just gave up.. and now,.. oh no..i forgot this or i forgot that...
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I need to keep a constant stock of items to avoid extra trips into my favorite discount grocery store in the next town. Most pantry items in my hometown store are just too expensive to get (sometimes a three dollar difference!) After reviewing my grocery receipts and pantry for a month, I devised a shopping list on my computer that lists everything I use in my home, broken down into general categories like Produce/Fresh; Frozen; Pantry; Office; Toiletries/Household.
