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Why? Simple. It is the grocery
stores' job to entice you to spend money in their stores. That's
how they stay in business. There's no problem with that. But
it's YOUR business to get the best value for your money...unless
you don't care how much you spend on your groceries each month.
In which case you probably wouldn't
be reading an article like this one.
-- You lose time.
Using a grocery shopping list means you can enter your favorite
grocery store, fly up and down the aisles one time, and be ready
to check out in the fraction of time of another shopper who uses
the 'browse' method of grocery shopping.
And if you're under the mistaken impression that you'll need
to spend lots of upfront time figuring out what to put on your
grocery list, well, you don't.
Hang your grocery list in a prominent place in your kitchen and
train your family to use it. Then your list will be ready to
go shopping when you are.
-- You lose nutrition.
Using a grocery shopping list means you get EXACTLY what you
want at the store; and that includes the nutrition you want for
your family. You call the shots on how much fat, salt and sugar
your family consumes. You can decide to emphasize whole grains
and whether raw vegetables, frozen or canned will grace your
family's dinner table.
In short, with a grocery list, you are in control.
-- You lose efficiency.
Ever stand in your grocery store and think to yourself, "well,
I know I need some frozen veggies (or broth, or canned fruits,
or favorite mixes, etc.) to keep on hand for that easy throw-together
recipe my family likes. But I can't remember what I already have
at home. I'll just get a couple of bags of SOMETHING to keep
on hand."
Fast forward to the night you want to actually COOK that wonderful
food for your family. You discover you've got two bags of frozen
broccoli and three bags of frozen stir-fry veggies, but what
you NEED is a bag of frozen corn.
A grocery shopping list could have helped you bring home the
corn. Without the extra stir-fry. Using a grocery list means
you have what you actually need in your pantry when you need
it. Plus, you'll end up with less throw-away food, too, since
you're purchasing what you know your family will eat within a
given period of time.
Bottom line, if you're serious about saving money at the grocery
store, the first thing you'll want to use is a grocery shopping
list. It's easy and you can start using one today. (For a free
printable grocery shopping list, see the author's resource box
at the end of this article.)
Whether you're a college student learning how to grocery shop
for the first time, a newly married couple establishing a budget,
or a mom whose family has grown and the grocery budget has developed
a mind of its own, the place to start to regain control is the
lowly grocery shopping list. |
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