Comments on: Zen and the Art of the Grocery List http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/02/zen-and-the-art-of-the-grocery-list/ Financial talk for the rest of us Sat, 16 Feb 2013 01:14:45 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.5.1 By: Yannis http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/02/zen-and-the-art-of-the-grocery-list/#comment-123635 Yannis Fri, 30 Nov 2007 17:51:47 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/02/zen-and-the-art-of-the-grocery-list/#comment-123635 Hi!
There should be one exception to the list rule: a good discount or promotion in a product you buy regularly.
If you find your brand of toothpaste at 25% off or something like that, you should not say “it is not on my list this week” and buy it with normal price two weeks later.
The exception applies only in products you would buy anyway some time in the near future.

]]> By: Mary http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/02/zen-and-the-art-of-the-grocery-list/#comment-120756 Mary Mon, 26 Nov 2007 12:35:21 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/02/zen-and-the-art-of-the-grocery-list/#comment-120756 Hi… good article!

Waaaay back when (i.e. 20+ yrs ago), I came up with a one page master shopping list as a Word doc. It now has 4 columns of ingredients, listed by department, and has a few blank lines at the end of each “dept list”. This list has morphed along to reflect the addition of 2 children, various pets and changes in our diet along the way.

I print these lists out on the “draft” setting of my printer on inexpensive paper (and sometimes on the unused side of previously printed paper that’s in my office paper recycle box).

The printed copies are kept on a clipboard with a highlighter and pen attached to it and kept in our kitchen.

This list acts as a memory prompt as I plan what to get. “Toilet paper”… highlight that thing!! We never run out of TP, laundry or dishwasher soap, etc. And, with 2 teenage sons, when I hear “Mom, we’re almost out of peanut butter”, my response is “Have you highlighted the list?” Presto! Some of the shopping responsibility gets shifted to 2 people who will be going out into the world on their own soon AND we get a shopping list reflects what we need.

I also sit down with it and the grocer’s weekly ads and highlight anything that’s truly something we can use and is a good deal. (We have a full size freezer, so that helps too).

Once in the grocery market, I get only the items highlighted within each department. Then leave that dept! Go to the next one and do the same thing. I still pick up additional items but not often (e.g. the pears, or whatever, look extra good this week and they’re well-priced). I do not enter the center aisle section unless there’s a specific item I need there. Cuts down on temptations!

This list has saved time and trips to the store, helps with approximating a menu for the week, helps me hit the sales well (I write the sale price or if I have a coupon next to the item. Just “C” in pen works!) If I’ve really focused, the coupons are stapled around the edge of the list BEHIND their specific dept…. gee, do I have any coupons in this dept? yes__ no__ Keep moving!

I cross off each item as I get it and circle any item that I don’t find or decide to get elsewhere. There’s also a “mini-list” of things I buy at our health food store and international food market.

A fully crossed off and/or circled list means it’s time to check-out.

People in checkout lines often remark, “wow… I need to do that!” when they see the list in the cart. Since most people eat their favorite foods over and over, you can come up with your own list and refine it over time. It’s worked for us!

]]> By: Libby http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/02/zen-and-the-art-of-the-grocery-list/#comment-30325 Libby Wed, 30 May 2007 08:33:32 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/02/zen-and-the-art-of-the-grocery-list/#comment-30325 Hi. These are some good ideas! If you cook a majority of your meals, another tip I would add is “shop around the sides of the store.” The fresh food (like produce, meat, and dairy) is usually around the edges of the store. I shop my way around the outskirts of the store and only venture to the inner aisles for things specifically on my list. I’m much more likely to impulse buy something processed or ready-made that I don’t need (and probably wouldn’t otherwise eat) if I wander down every aisle.

]]> By: Rob in Madrid http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/02/zen-and-the-art-of-the-grocery-list/#comment-29805 Rob in Madrid Mon, 28 May 2007 19:53:45 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/02/zen-and-the-art-of-the-grocery-list/#comment-29805 I can’t get over what a cost saving a list is. I have cut my grocery bill by 40%. It was the weirdest feeling coming out of the store with only a few bags.

I would also add shop only once a week (or month) and resist the temptation to “pop in” a couple of times. It may mean getting creative towards the end of the week but the less your in the store the less tempted you to pick up a few impulse items.

Another trick I use is to buy the cheapest of everything and work my way up till I find what I like. I’ve been able to replace 75% of the brand names I used to buy, savings substantial.

Last know you prices, 50 cents here and there may not seem like much but it added up to a 40% reduction in my shopping budget. That’s money in my pocket

]]> By: MoneyFwd http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/02/zen-and-the-art-of-the-grocery-list/#comment-30 MoneyFwd Thu, 02 Nov 2006 16:01:09 +0000 http://www.thesimpledollar.com/2006/11/02/zen-and-the-art-of-the-grocery-list/#comment-30 I do a lot of those things, but you should also add “Eat before you go”. It’s a lot less tempting to buy things when you’re not hungry.

You could also go during a time when you’re limited by how much time you can spend in the store (like 1 hour before a football game). This will force you to not wander and look at everything.

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