Why is it important to learn the best way to make a quick grocery list?
It is a huge time saver and helps you stick to a budget! Before I learned this method, I would open the fridge, stare at everything, and make a list based on that and my meal plan for the week. It took too much time to sift through everything in the fridge in order to make the list. Also, I had to be home to make the list. Learning how to make a quick grocery list has benefited me for over a decade! As a busy working mother, I continue to use this time-saving method!
What is the best way to make a quick grocery list?
Many people make grocery lists by picking out what meals they would like to make for the week and then write out the ingredients onto a list. If you follow this method, when you get to the store you might have to circle back for items. Each meal will likely cover produce, dry goods, meat, dairy, etc. When you get to the next meal you don’t want to have to waste time backtracking. You also don’t want to be stuck in the store staring at your list before you move to the next section of the store.
How to get started with a quick grocery list:
Go digital! Making a list online allows you to edit easily and save the list for next time. You will have a list of grocery items and household items. You can transfer this list from Google Drive to Google Keep so that your spouse can pick up groceries too. Google Keep lets you check off items from your list and your spouse can see the list in realtime.
The five S’s of the best way to make a quick grocery list:
1. Staples
Take time to write down staple items that your family eats on a weekly basis. Make a complete list: bread, butter, milk, eggs, cereal, etc. This is essential because you do not have to open the refrigerator in order to generate the basic list. You do not want to forget any staple items so having the core list without relying on what is currently in the refrigerator is a must.
2. Sometimes
Next, compile a list of items that you need to have in stock but don’t buy every week. Examples include toilet paper, wipes, bar soap, lotion, etc. Think of all the things you want to have in case you can’t make it to the store for a while. I always like to think of it as keeping my (Noah’s) ark stock!
3. Special
The third list is the groceries that you buy seasonally such as food for a soup kitchen, expensive seasonal produce (e.g. cherries, asparagus), alcohol [in our house, wine is something we usually only buy when we have guests], birthday/anniversary meals (e.g. steak, pigs in a blanket).
4. Store
Once you have compiled these three lists, you must then make a list of stores that you frequent. We use Amazon subscribe and save, Walmart pick-up, Costco, Trader Joes, and sometimes the local produce stand. There are a few online stores that ship us our products. We get air filters every 2 months, the right size and type, delivered to our door as a reminder to change it out! I get a few specialty items from Vitacost. We have Burst toothbrush heads and printer ink shipped when it needs replacing. Afterward, sort all of the items from your above lists by the store where you wish to buy them. If you usually buy strawberries at Costco but sometimes buy them at the local produce store, include it on both lists.
5. Section
Once you have compiled your lists, there is one more step. This one step is the secret to saving time at the store (aside from the fact that you are already saving time having a grocery template)! Organize your list by location in the store. You generally know where you will find something in the store. If your list is ordered accordingly, at the store you can swiftly breeze in and out. Most of the time the rate-limiting factor for me is the checkout line. Side note: I love to shop at Costco so sometimes my rate-limiting step is browsing :). If you add something that is not normally on your list, make sure that you add it to the right section of the store.
The last tip for success in making the best quick grocery list is my editable, printable master grocery list template! Simply tweak the list for your favorites, arrange for your primary stores, and print or copy to Google keep! Upfront it takes a bit of work, but this method saves so much time EACH time you make a list.
The beauty of having a digital list is that you can access it on the go. If you are leaving gymnastics and realize you will be passing a grocery store and should really grab some milk, it will not be a wasted trip as you can quickly check your list to see if you need anything else. Countless times before this method I would only grab the one item due to brain freeze and then have to come back to the store later once I had a list.
Follow the steps above and be sure to access the FREE template for your personal use and start enjoying the time you will save!
Do you have other tips to save time while making a grocery list? Please feel free to comment below and to share this post with others!
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