grocery.list

My grocery list is probably the longest running organizing tool that I've used. It's been working for about 5 years. I learned this one from Julie's mom, Linda. It's a keeper.

1. Go to the grocery store where you always shop on a day that you aren't buying groceries.
2. Make a list of the items that you purchase and label them by aisle.
3. Type them out on the computer when you get home.
4. Print out 10 grocery lists, 3-hole punch them, and put them in the back of your binder.
5. Use a highlighter to mark the items on your list as you run out or realize you need something.

This is such a lifesaver. If Josh calls and says he's stopping by the store on the way home, I give it a quick check to see if there is anything that I NEED today. If I'm going to the store myself, I just grab my list and go. Everything is already in aisle order so I rarely miss an item and have to run back to find it.

And, even if I go to a different store than my usual store, things are at least usually grouped in the same sections together even if the aren't in the same aisle as my typical store.

Here's what part of my list looks like:

Back of Store
crescent rolls
yogurt
orange juice
milk
eggs
butter
sour cream

Aisle 16
frozen pizza
chicken nuggets

Aisle 15
green beans
corn
peas

Aisle 14
ice cream
garlic toast

I also have a miscellaneous section with blank lines. I promise you that this is totally worth the hassle of setting it up. We switched stores when we moved, and I dreaded writing up a new list, but it was totally worth it!