How do you make your shopping list?

jtjohns · #1 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 03:51 PM

For the longest time I'd just circle items in the sales flyer and write out my shipping list by hand. At some point last year I started looking at the sales flyer online, and have happily switched over to using Shoprite's online shopping list tool. If I have a short list I'll jot it down by hand on a post-it, otherwise I'll print it out and use the back of the page to write out my lists for any other stops on my grocery run.

The online flyer usually includes an extra page of "LiveRight" items -- highlighted natural and organic items that aren't necessarily listed in the main sales flyer. I know that some locations carry this extra sales sheet, but my store rarely has it.

Having the printed shopping list comes in handy if I need to get a raincheck -- I'll show Customer Service the item on my printout and they can look up the product much more quickly to print the raincheck.

Do you all create your shopping lists online, or do you perfer looking at the paper flyer?

-JJ

knittingintheround · #2 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 04:36 PM

I do my list by hand. I prefer the paper circulars, although I do scan them online (they are available online before they come via mail). I get the Giant circular by mail because the store copies don't have the same promotions (like the 4 $1 doubler coupons they've been doing recently). I write out my list and jot down any coupons I have next to each item. Then I paper clip my coupons to the list. I do take all my coupons into the store, though, in case I spot any unadvertised sales or clearance items. :)

jujubee · #3 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 04:52 PM

I'm sorry to say that I am not organized enough to make a list anymore. Pathetic, but all of my shopping for the past 2yrs have been done while flying by the seat of my pants. However, I do always take my coupons with me b/c I always find great markdowns at my stores.

kristen.c · #4 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 05:36 PM

I keep a white board on the fridge where we keep an ongoing list- on one side is stuff we need immediately, and the other side is stuff we're running low on and need to get in the next few weeks.

I usually make my list based on our meal plan for the week, what we're out of, and then items that I have coupons for that we need to stock up on. I do most of my shopping at the local organic market which has monthly sales so I only look at the online ad once a month, and Trader Joe's which has no sales, and Costco which we only buy a few items from and they're pretty much always the same items. I have a little day-book-sized coupon organizer where I keep my organic coupons so I just toss that in the car with me when I shop and pull from there as I go. I used to pull coupons before I went, but I decided it doesn't take me any extra time to do it in the store.

RedSoxRosie · #5 (**permalink**) 06-16-2009, 06:29 PM

I'm not as organized kristen or jtjohns, I'm not exactly where juju is either.
I have an ongoing list on the fridge that I write WHATEVER on...whether it be a food item or anything else, like a new toilet seat or a padlock or what have you. I put the non food items towards the bottom of the list as those are for Target and Home Depot runs.
When the flyers come out I go through and circle all the items of my interest. Since I have 5 choices of grocery stores, but only 2 I really go to often enough, I keep a notepad where I write each weeks specials from the ads for each store from the items I circled. When I get ready to go to the store, I check the list, check my notebook and TRY to strategically plan from there. I never use the online ads, which I probably should. And I always bring my coupons in case there's something I didn't think of or find on sale that wasn't advertised. I'm not a weekly shopper as it's only myself and my daughter, so I go whenever I need things to wherever is the best deal.

ocean_brez · #6 (**permalink**) 06-18-2009, 04:39 AM

I usually get all of my ads in the mail and then go thru and write down items of interest by store. Next to these items, I notate any coupons that I want to use. Of these coupons, I have separate envies for each store and place the coupons in the envie for that store. After the ad week is over, I go thru and pull out all of the coupons that I didn't use and refile them as well as any new coupons that I found while shopping. This probably sounds like a lot, but it's nice having one list and being able to see what it available at each store so that I can decide which ones I want to hit up first and compare prices as well.

floppydee · #7 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 07:41 PM

I actually go into the delivery to home section online and "act" as if I am shopping from home. This way I know the price to EVERY product in the store (sometimes their are unadvertised sales). I know what I can use coupons on and what would be worth waiting on. THis way I know my whole list and my total before I even go to the store ;)

jtjohns · #8 (**permalink**) 08-01-2009, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by floppydee

I actually go into the delivery to home section online and "act" as if I am shopping from home. This way I know the price to EVERY product in the store (sometimes their are unadvertised sales). I know what I can use coupons on and what would be worth waiting on. THis way I know my whole list and my total before I even go to the store ;)

That's a great idea for making a shopping list -- I've never clicked to the online shopping section of the website. Very cool that it'll show unadvertised sales

~JJ

HenryFord · #9 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 08:30 AM

Hi Every One,
How are you guys I am henry shopping is my passion i always
make a plan to shopping first check the price list of the stuffs to buy and then start my shopping.I have a preplanned list of shopping before going out to shop.Grocery items milk , chicken , bread and all other monthly stuff.Price list is much important check the prices of all the stuffs it is a necessary.

Thanks.

IFALLSMICHELLE · #10 (**permalink**) 09-30-2009, 02:15 PM

I start a paper list each week and add anything I need that is low or running out.

Then I look at the flyers for our two local grocery stores to see what is on sale and determine which items I have coupons for. I live in a small town and have very little choice on where to shop.

Then I look through my coupon binder to see what coupons are expiring soon.

I remove coupons I really want to use soon and place them in an envelope with my shopping list.

I have three coupon organizers, so it is helpful to put the coupons I really want to use in an envelope. When I shop with my kids, it is easier than looking through all my coupon books. I do take along all three coupon books for the unexpected deals too.