Friday's Shopping
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By Viriatha Cordova in Eat for Less Published: Friday, 20 April 07 - 11:11 AM (GMT -05:00) Last Updated: Wednesday, 25 April 07 - 12:40 AM (GMT -05:00) |
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Earlier this week, I saw this question on grocery shopping over at HomeBiz Blogger. She asks, "Do you have a weekly meal plan? How do you plan for your family dinners?" Most people do their shopping on Friday or Saturday. Our family is a bit different, we shop on payday which is twice a month. This is the process I go through:
Step One: A meal plan. I shop once every two weeks and except for picking up a soda or a condiment no one expected to run out, that's the only trip our family makes. A meal plan is absolutely essential to this if we're not going to run out of things to eat before the next shopping trip.
How to Make a Meal Plan
- Write down everything your family likes to eat for dinner - hot dogs, pizza, spaghetti, the works. You only have to write this list once in a great while. Make a master list and check it once a week for changes in taste, crossing off things they don't like any more, or adding something new. Then you only have to re-copy it when the list is a crazy-quilt
I keep mine on my computer. - Go to the online sales page of your local grocery store. I use Wynn Dixie (it's right down the road from where I live) but any store with an online ad will do. There's a less expensive store in my area but... no online ad so I don't shop there. I want this list made before I walk out the door.
- Compare the ad to the things you enjoy eating. Ham on sale is no good if it just sits in the freezer uneaten because everyone hates it. So, based on sale items, make up a list of meals for two weeks. As you do this, on a separate sheet of paper, write down the items on sale that you'll be using - this is the start of your shopping list.
- Check coupons. Same as above. Only include coupons for things you'll use! The Consumerist has some tips for how to get these if you have trouble finding them.
Step Two: The Whiteboard. We have a small whiteboard on the freezer door of our refrigerator. On top of the fridge is a dry erase marker. As things run out during the week, it gets written on the board. Anything will do, a piece of paper taped to the fridge is just as good. Get your family in the habit of using it! It takes some time and effort but it's worth it.Step Three: The Rest of the Story. What else do you need to fill out the meal plan that weren't on sale or on the board? Hot dog buns? French fries?
Step Four: Bit Players. Koolaid, sugar, or coffee, things you use during the week that aren't part of meals.
Step Five: Shopping! Whatever you do during this trip, don't buy something not on your list! This can take some practice, you're going to forget to write some things down or your oldest teenage son won't tell you you're out of ketchup until you're at the checkout line, but minimizing the number of things you buy that aren't on the list can save you up to 20% of your grocery bill easily.
Step 6: Rest
Make someone else put it all away.Further tips you might find helpful:
- Personal Financial Advice has this article on cutting grocery costs without clipping coupons.
- Families.com on how to shop healthy.
- Penny Pinching on saving money on groceries.
13 Comments so far: |
Leave a comment |
| thanks! | HomeBizBlogger | 04/20/07 |
| You're welcome :) | Viriatha Cordova | 04/20/07 |
| tip | Rona | 04/25/07 |
White Board
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Viriatha Cordova | 04/25/07 |
| helloooooooooooooo | natalie hughes | 11/24/08 |
| NERDS | JULIA T | 11/24/08 |
| Dudez | chloe o'brien | 11/24/08 |
| DUDE | natalie hughes ND JULIA T | 11/24/08 |
| YH | chloe o'brien | 11/24/08 |
| :p | natalie hughes ND JULIA T | 11/24/08 |
| Q | chloe o'brien | 11/24/08 |
| chloeeeeeeeeeeee | natalie nd julia | 11/26/08 |
| Dudez | chloe o'brien | 11/26/08 |
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Top | Reply to this Title: thanks! Author: HomeBizBlogger (http://homebizblogger.com) Date Posted: 20 Apr 2007 11:17 AM (GMT -05:00) great article! I learned alot! And thanks for the link! |
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Top | Reply to this Title: You're welcome :) Author: Viriatha Cordova 
(http://cordovacreations.terapad.com/)Date Posted: 20 Apr 2007 11:20 AM (GMT -05:00) Any time ^^ I'm a stay-at-home housewife too so I know how it goes :P |
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Top | Reply to this Title: tip Author: Rona (http://berrymorinbits.blogspot.com) Date Posted: 25 Apr 2007 11:30 AM (GMT -05:00) I like the idea of a whiteboard in the kitchen. Currently, we use a white piece of scrap paper, on the fridge door. I than take it with me on shopping day. |
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Top | Reply to this Title: White Board Author: Viriatha Cordova
(http://cordovacreations.terapad.com/)Date Posted: 25 Apr 2007 01:58 PM (GMT -05:00) Thanks :) The white board is really handy. I picke dit up a few years ago at Walmart and it's one of those that has half of it as cork, too so I can tack coupons or whatever to it. |
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Top | Reply to this Title: helloooooooooooooo Author: natalie hughes (http://www.nerds.com) Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 05:32 AM (GMT -05:00) YUH PEOPLE THAT READ THIS AM NERDS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NERDS |
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Top | Reply to this Title: NERDS Author: JULIA T (http://www.nerds.com) Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 05:35 AM (GMT -05:00) IF YUH READ THIS YUH AM A GEEK !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Top | Reply to this Title: Dudez Author: chloe o'brien Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 05:37 AM (GMT -05:00) NATERLiiE YHEW BiiG NERD
YESH MAYTEY..X♥ |
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Top | Reply to this Title: DUDE Author: natalie hughes ND JULIA T (http://www.nerds.com) Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 05:37 AM (GMT -05:00) CHLOEEEEE YUH AM A NERD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:P |
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Top | Reply to this Title: YH Author: chloe o'brien Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 05:39 AM (GMT -05:00) YHEW AM AN EVEN BiiGER NERD 8-] ♥ |
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Top | Reply to this Title: :p Author: natalie hughes ND JULIA T Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 05:39 AM (GMT -05:00) I DW THINK SOOOOO DUDE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NERDS |
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Top | Reply to this Title: Q Author: chloe o'brien Date Posted: 24 Nov 2008 05:39 AM (GMT -05:00) OW YHESH MAYTEY |
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Top | Reply to this Title: chloeeeeeeeeeeee Author: natalie nd julia (http://www.geeks.co.uk) Date Posted: 26 Nov 2008 06:18 AM (GMT -05:00) chloe yuh am the bioggest nerd !!!!!!!! in the world !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:P NERD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! |
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Top | Reply to this Title: Dudez Author: chloe o'brien (http://ner.com) Date Posted: 26 Nov 2008 06:22 AM (GMT -05:00) <b>HAAAAAH YHEW AM THE BiiGEST <u>NERD </u>IN DE WORLD
:) |
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