I’m an obsessive list maker. This obsession is usually an advantage because it helps me stay organized and remember things I need to do or buy. The sheer act of writing something down on a list helps me remember (since my memory is visually oriented) so that often I’m able to shop my list from memory – even if I’ve left my notes at home.
Now that my list resides on my phone, list-making is especially practical. I always have it with me, so I’m good to go as long as my list is digital.
And on a recent trip to the store, I learned why you always need to shop with a list.
They Combat Mental Lapses
The other night, I knew I needed to grab several things from the store. It was a Monday night, so I was especially tired from my first day back at work and I had a lot yet to do when I got home. Instead of grabbing only my listed items and heading home, I fell into the trap of wondering if there was anything else I needed.
Perhaps I will just take a look around the aisles and mentally go through my pantry at home to make sure there wasn’t anything I’d missed.
Thirty minutes later, I arrived at the checkout with much more than I’d intended. Oops! Even worse, I realized I picked out a few of the wrong items by accident. By relying on my mind to remember everything, I sent it into overload. My memory is good, but I was expecting too much and as a result, I endangered my grocery budget.
They Help You Avoid Stockpiling Unnecessary Items
Something happens when you think you might be low on an item, but it’s not on the list: You second-guess yourself about everything else and will likely buy the wrong item. When I got home from shopping that night, I realized that not only had I purchased an item I already had two full containers of, I made an impulse purchase I couldn’t use without an additional item I will now have to buy as well. Because I made the dual mistake of relying on my memory and straying from my list, it was an absolute train wreck!
Stocking up on key items when they’re on sale or when you have coupons is a great idea to save money in the long run. But if you’re not saving money, stockpiling is just costing you money that could have been spent on other things you need now.
They Help You Maintain Your Budget
I’m sure there are ways I could better follow my grocery budget if I had more time and energy, but I usually manage to stay within the monthly limit as long as I loosely plan meals and don’t impulse shop in general. Shopping outside of the all-important list has the potential to upset the budget and send me scrambling to bring it back in line.
Going over a little here and there isn’t a big deal (as long as your budget has some wiggle room), but consistent overspending on budget categories such as groceries and household necessities can indicate the need to either stick more closely to lists and meal planning, or create more room in your budget.
List-making isn’t just for the super-organized or forgetful. It’s a practical way to keep a visual reminder of your budget or spending plan. After my experience the other night, I’m going to be extra careful about sticking to my lists.
Do you shop with a list? Have you ever experienced a shopping disaster like the one above?
{ read the comments below or add one }
This article really resonated with me. I’ve definitely been guilty of buying too much food and then having to throw a lot of it away.
Shopping with a list is a total no brainer. I’d add to this:
1. Get coupons for the stuff you normally buy – if you spend time learning how to find them, the time invested should pay off in repeated discounts over years.
2. Be sure to scan your receipts once you do shop. I use ReceiptPal, ReceiptHog, Coinout, Pogo, and ReceiptJar.
I am such a list maker. I get talked about because I make list but it helps keep me straight. List help me get the task out of my head so I can come back to it later. I have a pen and a pad of paper in every room of the house. I have started using the Wunderlist app which I love because I can categorize my list. Now that grocery stores have their own apps, online coupons and list helps with grocery shopping too. Thanks for sharing.
I have the same problem with lists! I used to always forget my list, and usually it went ok. But now that we’ve cracked down on our grocery budget and started using eMeals, shopping has become remarkably simple. Love it!
We will only shop when we are completely empty in our pantry. We also will not step foot into the grocery store unless we have a list.
Publix Supermarkets in Florida ha items on Sale every week and many Buy 1
Get 1 Free . I then stock up . Last week when I went shopping I bought 32 items , a few were on sale but 10 items were Buy 1 – get 1 Free . My final cost was $ 71.84 , a savings of $ 30.51 . Without taking advantage of the sale the cost would have been $ 102.35 …….. a 30 % savings
I prefer shopping with a list as well. I’m more focused, less stressed about what I’m forgetting and takes less time. And, you know what they say… time is money! 😉
Time is money, especially when you go with your toddler like I often have to do these days! 🙂
Been there – done that!
I’ll go up and down the aisles and when I get home have double (and sometimes) triple items.
I need to get more disciplined about making a list….find out that it goes hand and hand with meal planning for me. If I can menu plan for 2 weeks, I can make a corresponding shopping list and usually end up spending less than I would have otherwise.
My wife does most of the grocery shopping and I’m sure she’s like that too. She even said that her therapy is shopping in a grocery store. But the killer is when one of our grocery stores have a 20% off day, because she seriously loads up and brings home all kinds of “everything!”
I always shop with a list. But guess what? When I get in the store, for some reason my brain goes kooky. I actually forget to buy things that are on my list! I’ve cured this by actually going over my list before I get to the cashier and physically checking off each item in the cart. Takes a bit longer but saves my wallet.
Ha I’m the same way sometimes when I only have a “mental list”. In fact I thought about buying three things yesterday at Costco and came back with just two!
I do most of my grocery shopping online but on the occasion I do go into the store, I always take a list. A great tip is to have substitute items on the list. This will prevent you over-spending on the odd chance that something on the list is out of stock and you need to replace it.
– Ricky Willis
Do you have a list for online shopping too Ricky?
I don’t think the “related items” have the same effect as seeing them in person but I wonder how often people would buy that pack of gum, or bag of chips at checkout during an online shopping experience too.
I always try and shop with a list, if not I typically over spend buying things I don’t need or as you said I already had at home. I also find I save time when I have my list, because I’m not aimlessly going up and down every aisle just browsing.
Speaking of walking up and down every aisle, I always wished grocery stores would have a little machine at the front where you can look up where they stock a certain item. This would save me so much time since I never know where anything is, as I don’t often shop at grocery stores!