| The reason we often end up with excess items in | | | | you add to as you discover you're out of an item. |
| our refrigerators and pantries is because we don't | | | | The other system is to create a grocery list |
| plan ahead for our trip to the grocery store. There is | | | | template. Then you just put a check mark next to |
| nothing more frustrating than being at the grocery | | | | the item needed. |
| store and wondering if you have that key ingredient | | | | If you go to any search engine and type in "grocery |
| for the recipe you want to make for dinner. | | | | list template" you'll find several sites that offer free |
| One of my daughters enjoys menu planning for the | | | | grocery lists. |
| week ahead. Menu planning allows us to know | | | | My suggestion is to use those as a base and then |
| exactly what we need at the store and how much | | | | create a list that fits your family. |
| of it to buy. | | | | We actually shop at a few different stores. Not one |
| If I look at our menu plan and see that we are | | | | store offers us everything we use. If your family |
| having a chicken dish three different nights, then I | | | | also shops at several stores, create grocery lists for |
| can add a multi pack of chicken to my list for the | | | | each store you shop at. |
| warehouse store. If I see we are having tacos one | | | | One of our favorite stores is a warehouse type |
| night, I know to check the refrigerator for salsa. If | | | | store. When it comes right down to it, we really do |
| we have it, great. If not, I can add it to my list. | | | | buy the same things at this store over and over |
| It does take a bit of time to plan ahead and to look | | | | again. We buy toilet paper, paper towels and Kleenex |
| for ingredients. The alternative is to stand in the | | | | at this store. We also buy bagels and lox at this |
| store aisle and wonder out loud if you have any | | | | store. Having a list ready helps us in two ways. We |
| salsa. You know you're making tacos so you buy the | | | | don't buy what we don't need but we also don't |
| salsa, only to come home and discover you have an | | | | forget to buy those items we do need. |
| almost full jar already in the refrigerator. | | | | By keeping a grocery list, you'll save money and save |
| There are two ways to keep track of the grocery | | | | space in the pantry and refrigerator. |
| items you need. One is to keep a running list that | | | | |