5 Tips to Make an Effective Shopping List
There is only one ideal way to make an effective shopping list. After all, you have to adapt the list to your needs and the frequency with which you go to the supermarket. Even so, a few tips can help in the process and make shopping time more practical. Check it:
1. Take the written list to market
The most basic tip may seem obvious, but it is not always. Forgetting to take the list at the time of shopping is common and relying on memory may not work as well. To avoid error, prefer to write the list on easy-to-carry media: single sheets of paper, cell phone, small notebooks. Large notebooks, computer and whiteboards can be very handy to make the list at home, but do not forget to provide a version that can be carried along with you!
2. Have a ready-to-use list
Make a list of all the things you use at home, and when it comes to grocery shopping, check out what items on this list need to be purchased. So you do not risk forgetting to jot down something and still take the time to check what you already have, checking quantities and expiration dates.
3. Build a menu and build your list based on it
People usually go to the grocery store, make every purchase and then set menus according to what they have in the cupboard. So you do not waste products, leaving them forgotten in the pantry, try doing the other way around. Mount your entire menu – breakfast, lunch, dinner or evening snack – depending on how often you go shopping and then start building your list based on the set menu.
4. Sort by categories
Sharing the list into categories is a good way to get the thoughts in order and visualize what is needed, as well as make it easier to locate products in the supermarket. You can separate what you need in: cleaning products, hygiene, vegetables, seasonings, meats, beverages, refrigerator or pantry items, etc.
5. Keep a list up-to-date on a daily basis
Keeping a list with frequent updates is a good alternative, so you do not forget to write it all at once. Leave the list in a visible place (secured with a magnet on the fridge door, for example) and write down a product each time you realize in day-to-day activities that it needs to be replaced.
A shopping list ready for you to use
Having a ready-to-use shopping list as a reference makes it much easier to keep track of the products you need when buying. Ideally, you should include in this list all products that are usually used in your home and are regularly purchased.
With the reference list ready, it is easier to check what you need to replenish each trip to the supermarket: just edit the list according to the quantities needed and what should or should not be purchased on the day.
When building the reference list, keep in mind that each home has different tastes, customs and needs – the products a family with children needs will differ from the choices of a person who lives alone, for example. The following is a template that can be used as a basis for building your list and can be rearranged according to what is essential for your home.
SHOPPING LIST (REFERENCE)
There are different and practical ways of applying the reference list on a day to day basis. One option is to print multiple copies and change the quantities with each purchase. You can also edit the list on your computer after checking what you will need and printing updated versions for each occasion.
The list can also be used as a basis for everyday updates: by keeping it at the refrigerator or pantry door, it is easy to make notes as the products are finished.
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