The Perpetual Grocery List

[khorrell]

I was thinking, last night, about how great my perpetual grocery list is, and a lightbulb went on: "Hey, that's a lifehack!" I admit to being slow to this whole lifehack concept, but I think I've got it now.

I strongly recommend a perpetual grocery list, especially if you are feeding a family.

What is it? A basic list of the items that you need/want to keep on hand.

What do you do with it? Different people have different strategies. I print mine out before I go grocery shopping, run through it quickly and cross out anything that I have in sufficient stock. I then add my meal specific items for the week (meats, odd ingredients, vegetables that I don't buy every week.) If I'm feeling shoppy, I'll go through the local adverts and pen a little mini-list on the back with special items to get at particular stores. Another way to use a perpetual grocery list is to print it off right after you fill up the cupboards and post it in the kitchen. Whenever you see supplies getting low, circle the items you need.

Why do it? It makes grocery shopping easier and saves by money by stopping you from buying duplicate items. Also, you will make fewer last minute stops for "just one item," which saves time and money.

How do I start? I recommend you use an existing list and customize it to your needs. Look here http://www.grocerylists.org/ultimatest/ or here http://couponing.about.com/library/blgrocerylist.htm for samples to get you started. Save a sample list, print it out, and go through your cupboard to make it reflect them items you really buy and use. Then update your file so that you get an accurate list each time you hit print.

Good luck - I hope you find this useful. It has saved me tons of time and money over the last few years.

[VaranusK]

Yep, it's a nice idea I discovered several years ago. My system to develop it was start with everything I could remember and then everytime I needed to buy something it was not on the list, add it.
This way I managed to reduce my visits to the supermarket to 1-2 per week

[purplefdu]

We used to do this when we used the PDA for everything. we had a permanent list that we checked through each week. Made shopping so much faster than trying to remember what we had and checking through the cupboards every time.

[Blueporch]

If there's one supermarket you usually go to, it saves time if you arrange the shopping list by aisle. Then you can go through the store efficiently and not wander back and forth.

[RedZinnia]

I have a master grocery list saved as a word file. . . when I'm planning a shopping trip I print off a copy and use a yellow highlighter for the items I need. The sections are arranged in the same order as the store so it makes shopping easy.

[khorrell]

Good suggestions - I, too, organize my list based on the layout of my most-shopped store. When I'm feeling uber-organized, I actually walk around my kitchen and take inventory of the items on the list, other times I just print off the list and highlight/circle the things I know I need. The first method is more effective, the second is faster. I actually keep a copy on a zip drive because I have been known to accidentally alter the copy on my hard drive, and the thought of recreating the list makes me very, very sad.

[Kimmom]

I agree that a perpetual list saves tons of time and shopping mistakes. my favorite grocery store, HEB, has an interactive list on their website. You can check what you need then print it out. They also have lots of recipes online so you can check the list as you read through them. It works great and keeps me from forgetting some basic things

[lilac]

My partner's mother has a perpetual list too, but it's very low tech (because that's her style). After grocery shopping, she looks at her receipts and makes a list of everything she bought. Then, she pins it up on a wall in the kitchen and has a pencil next to it. Whenever someone uses it up, they cross that item off the list, so she knows exactly what she has on hand. It's really impressive to see it in action, but unfortunately I can't ever imagine ever doing it myself... way too much organisation involved!

[rolltimer]

I have a version of this I keep online in my backpack account. It is organized by store where I usually purchase the items (i.e. Wal-mart for cat food, Kroger for milk, eggs, etc., Publix for buy one, get one free items). I use the @context concept for city. Very useful if I happen to be working in an area that has a Kroger but no Publix. I can print out my Kroger list before I head out. I usually check the advertised sales online beforehand so I can pick up additional deals, take advantage of coupons and buy one, get one free specials.

[rodaniel]

Hey Kim! I'm a HEB shopper too!

Especially now that we have a child, we definitely do have a list of default stuff that we need to buy practically everytime we go to the store. And frequently, I do the grocery shopping very early in the morning before anyone else is awake, so having a list does help to prevent me from forgetting vital stuff while I'm stifling yawns...