Secrets to a great shopping list and how it will save you money
Everybody shops, sometimes, and to avoid playing Russian roulette with your family finances, it’s vital to shop with a list. Here’s how to do it.
I’M proud to call myself the supermarket shopping specialist of my family.
That’s partly because my day job involves picking the brains of finance and budgeting experts, but mainly because I’m crap at other household jobs such as ironing and have to pull my weight somehow.
Research has found that far more women do the grocery shopping than men, but blokes may be better than they think. We get in, get the goods, get out. No mucking around, and never mind that we’ve forgotten half the stuff we were supposed to buy.
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Male or female, it’s vital to shop with a list whether it’s a supermarket, hardware store or takeaway restaurant. You will save money, guaranteed.
But not all shopping lists are created equal, so here are some secrets to getting it right.
1. DON’T LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT
If you’ve written a list but left it on the bench at home, get someone to photograph it and send to you. Or go back and get it. Or use a free shopping list app on your phone.
Retailers love people who don’t shop with lists because they are far more likely to buy extra stuff they don’t need, the stuff the retailer has strategically placed to capture their attention and their money.
Time spent chasing a forgotten list is unlikely to be as costly as the money wasted on impulse buying.
2. KEEP IT HANDY
Supermarket shopping lists are best kept visible in the kitchen where they can be added to regularly.
Lists can be created gradually, with you or other family members writing down items that are needed or close to running out.
I’ve used hardback notebooks for years, drawing a line through each list after shopping and turning the page to start the next list. For extra excitement, I might go back and read previous lists from several months ago. Yeah!
3. KNOW YOUR SUPERMARKET LAYOUT
Reconnaissance is important and can save you plenty.
If you’re familiar with the aisles at your supermarket you can save time when shopping (get in, get out) and also save money by avoiding those strategically-place impulse buys.
Structuring your list based on this knowledge also makes you more efficient. If you buy frozen food at the back corner at the end of each shop, write the frozen stuff at the bottom of your shopping list.
However, if you develop a habit doing this and you’ll get f*&%!$ annoyed when other family members write down items in the wrong f%!$ spots on your list.
4. KNOW WHEN TO IGNORE THE LIST
The biggest shopping savings can come from unexpected discounts and specials, but only buy stuff if you know you’re going to use it.
Non-perishables such as toilet paper, cleaning products and pet food can be stocked up at home after being bought for half price. If you see a great deal, ignore the list and grab some.
Always compare the unit price of an item — how much it costs per unit of measurement such as 100ml or 100g to check that a special really is a good deal.