How to Make a Shopping List

Walking into a crowded store without a game plan in place can be intimidating. If you make a shopping list before heading to the store, you can save time and spending money on unnecessary things, and add organization to your life.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Paper
• Pen or pencil

1. Know what you need. In between your trips to the store, jot down items on paper as you realize you need them. Look through your cupboards, on shelves and in the refrigerator and freezer to see things you may need.
2. Make a menu for the week. You can make your shopping list around the items you need for the meals planned for that time period. This allows you to cut down on buying items that go unused, and allows you to plan your meals around items that may be on sale at the store.
3. Set a budget. Have an idea of how much money you want to spend on your trip to the store. If you have an itemized monthly budget, check how much money you've got left for the month and decide what portion of that amount you're going to spend on a specific shopping trip.
4. Visualize the store you're going to be shopping. While you're deciding what you need to purchase, have an idea of how you're going to shop, beginning at the back of the store and working your way forward.
5. Finalize your shopping list. Use the store's layout in Step 3 to finish your list. If your dairy products are in the back of the store, place them at the beginning of your shopping list. Continue to make your shopping list, completing it with items located near the front of the store or the checkout area.

Tips & Warnings

• Keep your paper or "shopping list pad" in a central location, such as on the kitchen counter or the refrigerator, for you to write down items as you see you're running low.