Importance of making a shopping list

One of the best ways to save on our family groceries is to organize our shopping trip. I make a grocery list so that I know what I’m buying. I’m also making a grocery list to prevent me from forgetting something important. It’s hard to make another trip to the store to get the item that I forget. When there’s just one or two things that I need, I don’t make list but I’ve read somewhere that making list even for few things is important.

Making a grocery list big or small is important because it helps me to stick to what we actually need and helps me avoid buying things that we don’t, namely the unhealthy foods like cakes, cookies, and chips. I used to get into the store and pickup anything that I see even if I don’t need it so it smear my budgeting. According to a study from New York University, “The brainpower you use trying to remember what to buy takes away from the mental strength needed to resist temptation.”

Here’s a sample of my shopping list for the month of March 2010:

Bakery:
1. bread
2. croissant

Cereals:
1. cereal
2.oatmeal

Spices:
1. garlic
2. onions
3. ginger
4. pepper
5. salt
6. seasoning (poultry)

Starch
1. rice
2. macaroni

Beverages:
1. coffee- (birdy super creamy)
2. milo
3. orange juice
Canned foods:
1. corn kernel
2. green peas

Baby/Toddler
1. diaper (2 large packs with 48 L diapers)
2. formula ( 4 pack Dumex all in one )

Condiments:
1. ketchup
2. vinegar
3. soy sauce
4. rice bran oil
5. olive oil
6. mayonnaise
7. fish sauce
8. oyster sauce

Cleaning
1. laundry detergent
2. dishwashing liquid
3. floor cleaner
4. bathroom cleaner
5. fabric softener
6. iron starch
7. bleach

Personal
1. shampoo
2. conditioner
3. body wash/cream
4. body soap
5.facial wash
6. sanitary napkin
7. panty liner

Canned goods:
1. condensed milk- 2 cans
2. evaporated milk- 2 cans

On weekly basis, it's another shopping trip to the market for fresh fruits, vegetables, eggs, fish and meat.

How about you? have you done your shopping list already?