Reforming Motherhood

Jun. 15, 2006 - It works for me (part 2)

Our grocery list system is one that works great for us. Mike took all of the items that we usually purchase on our big shopping trips and typed them all out on a spreadsheet. (Have you noticed my financial guy husband really likes spreadsheets?) I took the list and arranged the items in the order we come across them in the store. Next to each item is a box. Throughout the week, I can put a 1, 2 or 3 in the box next to the items we need. Before we head out for our shopping trip, we go down the list and make sure we’ve marked everything we need. And we are off. It took just a little effort the first time, but now making shopping lists is a breeze. We have tweaked the list here and there throughout the years as the store and our tastes change.

Also, we have found that it works best for us to go shopping as a family one night a week. Mike really likes to shop and find the best values; as for me… it’s not my favorite job (especially with the three boys). So we all go together. We usually grab dinner at Costco (not healthy I know but cheap has a value too and one night a week is not going to kill us)!

So that’s what works for us, what do you do for shopping and planning? Is there any way we could be more efficient?

~Amy

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Jun. 15, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by prdkld

we go shopping as a family too- i thought we were the only ones! I like your spreadsheet idea. I may have to try that. We have a Sam's club which is pretty much costco. We don't shop there nearly enough but I need too. We save so much. Is that the only place you shop for groceries?

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Jun. 15, 2006 - its fun to find like minded people!

Posted by reformingmama

Yes, most of our friends make fun of us, but we do almost 100% of our shopping at costco. There is a farmers fruit stand near my husbands work that he picks up fresh and healthy produce from and we do go to the regualr grocery store when there is an odd thing we need not at costco. But that ends up being only once or twice a month! Every week we get it all at costco. We joke, "if they don't have it at costco... we don't need it :)"
Thanks for commenting! Amy

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Jun. 15, 2006 - Ditto!

Posted by Dana

I have my spreadsheet for 3 stores (typed by my son). Costco, Trader Joes and our local gorcery. I hang it on the fridge, check off what i need. If I find a coupon I attach to the clip next to it. I have our staples listed but leave room for our planned meals.
Lesson I've learned - I have to check my spreadsheet for non staples. I am suspecting the 9 year old

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Jun. 15, 2006 - Untitled Comment

Posted by reformingmama

Ok. now I'm jealous! Our closest Trader Joes is a few hours away.... Oh how I wish we had a Trader Joes!!!!
I love the coupon idea... I'll have to get on that!
~Amy

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Jun. 15, 2006 - What I Am Trying

Posted by

I got part of this idea from Twaddlemenot and part of it from Kendra at Preschoolers and Peace. I have came up with menus in a index card binder. I also made up a master grocery list with all the things I need to make these menus. There are 14 main dishes I am going to do right now to make it simple. I just go through my list and see what I need each week. That way I always have on hand the ingredients for these 14 days. :) I don't make the dishes in any certain order except not making them too close together within that 2 week span and basing it on what kind of day I have planned. I also have an extra couple of menus in case we are just getting tired of one of the 14 I am using. In the long run it has really simplified things and I think I am saving money doing it this way. No more going to the grocery without a clue as to what I am making this week. We have basically just been hitting Sams and being done with it. We don't have a Costco around here. Super Walmart is only 1 block away from Sams so sometimes I run in there and get a couple of things. I also get some stuff from a co-op I belong too. But, we just can't afford to all organic, etc. from the co-op.

Tracy

Edited by homekeeper4him on Jun. 15, 2006 at 3:49 PM

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Jun. 15, 2006 - you forgot one thing...

Posted by Mike

The biggest key to the spreadsheet is that it is laid out in the sections of the store. All the produce is together, all the frozen/cold stuff is together, cleaning stuff, sundries, etc.

That really makes a difference when shopping b/c you don't have to check your list at the end and then go running all over the store. Well, you still end up doing that a bit, but not as much.

And yeah, we pretty much define our menu by what is available at Costco.

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Jun. 15, 2006 - From Kevin

Posted by kevmem

Well, well, well...another system. Is this kinda like the salad/salad/dessert system? Or is it like the pizza system (absolutely no Papa Murphy's, but Little Caesar's is a good deal)? I think you should write a book--"Systematize Your Life With Mike."

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Jun. 16, 2006 - shopping Costco

Posted by MicheleinNZ

First, I have to say that whenever I visit my parents in California I always make sure to hit Costco at least once to get a polish dog and my husband loves their pepperoni pizza. $1.60 for a polish dog and a drink! Gotta love it. But then you kind of have that garlic aftersmell on your breath to deal with...

Second, do you find that Costco is actually a better bargain or it mostly just easier because you can buy larger quantities of what you use? I ask because when I've compared prices with a store brand from the supermarket with a namebrand from Costco it's not normally a savings at Costco, unless you can buy the Kirkland brand. I love their baby wipes but I didn't like their diapers. Good prices on meat too.

Where I live (NZ) we don't have those warehouse stores, so I have to buy a larger quantity of smaller items, which has its ups and downs. I would love to have a Costco or something like it!

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Jun. 16, 2006 - Honestly... the costco dog is a real value

Posted by Mike

b/c you get to enjoy it when you eat it, and there's a good chance anyone you see for the next couple hours will get to "enjoy" it as well. Especially if you washed it down w/ a Coke.

Anyhow, I like Costco b/c it simplifies shopping. It may not be the aboslute best deal or the absolute highest quality, but I know that it's going to be in the top 95% of both quality and value. That means I can buy whatever it is and not wonder if there are better deals out there. Time and money are both finite resources, but when you're talkin' nickles here and there and weighing it against a trip to another store, time resource scarcity wins out over potential cost savings.

At least it does in my book.

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