Grocery lists

by Elsha

I don't know about you, but unless I'm only picking up one or two things, I need a grocery list. I'm useless without one. Even when I write a list, I tend to run straight down it, instead of picking up items by section. This usually results in me running back and forth to the same areas of the store over and over because I didn't pick up everything while I was there the first time. Enter a pre-written grocery list like this one:

{photo credit: amazon.com}

A couple years ago for Christmas my sister-in-law gave me a set of list pads as a stocking stuffer and one of them was something like this. Now I can't live without it. The foods are already grouped for you! Reading through it reminds you of things! It's easy to mark things you need when you walk by, instead of waiting to write it all down. I'm certain my pre-written grocery list has saved me much grocery store wandering, and I'm pretty sure everyone needs one.

Do you use a list like this or do you prefer to write your own?

Comments

[Diane]

I write my own, but I have different spots on the paper for each type of food. Produce goes in the top left (and takes up most of the left side), meat and dairy top right, dry goods bottom right. I also meal plan and write the dinners on the back. That way, if the store is out of something, I can see where it fits in and figure out if I can substitute something else or if I need to change the meal all together. It sounds complicated when I write it all out here, but if I don't have it ALL in front of me, I'll forget one of everything.

[Christy M]

I have an app on my phone, but usually when I'm making the list, I just go into the history and mark all the things I need because just reading it reminds you that you are out of something. Since I've used the same app for over 2 years now, pretty much anything I ever buy is in the history.

Diane's idea about having the meals on the other side is great. I think I'll start making a note on my phone so I can reference that too when I'm at the store.

[Heather]

I want a list like this, so that we can mark things down when we run out of them, and they are already grouped. Because now, my grocery list making process is about five steps long, and I sure would like to free up some time for a glass of wine or something more entertaining.

[J]

I have Grocery IQ app, which has been fantastic ( until their last "update"...hy can't developers leave well enough alone?). Do others have good Grocery store apps?

[Sharon]

That's a great idea! I'm the queen of lists, especially when it comes to groceries. I look at all the local flyers, then organize my list by which stores I'm going to be shopping at.

However, in the last 5 or 6 times I've gone grocery shopping, I've lost my stupid piece of paper (on personalized stationary, unfortunately), so I just downloaded an app (called Grocery List) so that I no longer have to worry about losing my piece of paper. Nothing I've found so far organizes things the way I want them to be, which is frustrating, but maybe I just need to keep looking.