How to create a grocery list (20 tips you’ll love)

Winner, would you like to learn how to create a grocery list that lets you eat healthy WITHOUT breaking your budget?

Then you’re in luck. Because this post will teach you exactly how to do that.

You need groceries, of course (unless you’re a vampire and you can survive on blood alone).

But they don’t have to cost you an arm and a leg.

And if you build an abundance mindset with these 10 tips, you’ll start to approach even a few groceries from a standpoint of abundance. And not of lack.

With this mindset, you can now start to create a grocery list that works for your family every month: and it’s one that’s frugal without sacrificing the quality of your groceries.

That’s great, isn’t it?

Wondering how to get started on your grocery list? Well, I’m glad you asked. Because here are:

20 tips to create a grocery list

Tip 1: Start your grocery list now

Don’t wait until you:

Tip 2: Involve everyone you share your groceries with

If you live with your family, include them when you make your grocery list.

Why is this important?

Because you want to be accurate in terms of exactly how much groceries you need. Otherwise, you hurt your budget by:

An effective way to get everyone in your household involved is to post your list where they can have easy access to it. For example, your:

And now with public access, everybody can update the list accordingly.

Tip 3: Specify the budget amount available for your groceries

Write the budget amount under your headline, before you begin the actual list.

And this becomes a reminder to anyone working with the list, that they can only work up to that amount. And not above it.

Tip 4: Be honest about what goes into your grocery list

OK. Maybe you’re trying to watch your figure. And therefore you’re trying to cut back on all the junk and processed foods.

But let’s be real.

if you treat yourself to French fries every Saturday evening, then include the ingredients for a healthier alternative of French fries in your grocery list.

You don’t want to be running back to the store for your French fries mid-month, pulling money out of other important parts of your budget. Simply because you failed to be honest with yourself.

Tip 5: Categorize your grocery list

Categorized grocery items are easier to remember than uncategorized ones.

And its easier to spot an omission if you’re working with categories.

So then, make up your own categories. And these can be:

• grains,
• dairy,
• meats,
• fruits and vegetables,
• condiments,
• etc.

Tip 6: Picture your dishes as you write down your grocery items

One tip that actually helps is having a mental image of your dishes as you write down your grocery items.

For example, if you love Spaghetti Bolognese. And you have it on your meal timetable, then what goes into it?

Think everything from the spaghetti to the meatballs to all the condiments.

And then slot these ingredients in the relevant categories.

Tip 7: Incorporate any desired changes to your current meal timetable

If you know you’re going to be changing your meal timetable soon, now’s the time to update the timetable.

Think of your new dishes. And of course, their ingredients.

And then include them in your grocery list.

Tip 8: Check your pantry

Before you replenish anything, check:

If you have a grocery item that’s more in abundance than the others, then readjust your dishes so you can include more of it.

Please don’t throw it out. Or let it expire. Because you wouldn’t have bought it in the first place if you didn’t have any use for it.

Tip 9: Don’t forget to check your freezer

It’s easy to recognize items when they are in the refrigerator. But have you ever looked at your frozen items in the freezer and not recognized one of them?

Not until after it thawed? And that’s also after you just bought more of it already. Guess what? Now you have an overabundance of it?

Well, you can easily correct this mishap by always keeping stock of what’s in your freezer.

A great tip I use is labelling whatever is in the freezer.

Tip 10: Bring out your past grocery lists

You should NEVER throw out a used grocery list. Instead, file it along with the rest of your documents.

Now, as you prepare your grocery list, bring out your past lists to:

Tip 11: Create a grocery list by hand

Call me old-fashioned.

But preparing your grocery list by hand is the best way to get initmate with both your food and your money.

Also, you rarely forget something you wrote with your own hand, right?

If that screams ‘archaic’, don’t worry, you can always transfer your final draft to your phone or computer.

Tip 12: Put quantities next to your food items

You don’t want to be scratching your head in the store trying to come up with the quantity.

Because then you might end up buying less, or more.

Solution? put quantities next to each item as you create a grocery list.

And keep updating the quantities as necessary until your shopping is due.

Tip 13: Put prices next to your items on the list

A simple but effective grocery list has both quantities and prices attached to the items.

And that’s because without prices, you really have no idea what your groceries will cost.

But with prices, you can better estimate that.

Of course, you won’t always be accurate. And the goal isn’t to be. Instead, it’s to have an estimate of how much you’re going to spend.

To get familiar with grocery prices, start taking note of them during your visits to the store.

Know what an item costs when it’s both on and off sale.

Tip 14: Put the name of the store beside each grocery item

If the name is long and cumbersome, you can just put down an abbreviation. As long as you’ll remember what it stands for.

For example: ‘W.M’ can stand for Walmart.

When you’re at the store, make sure to buy all the items you can get from that store. And then go to another store for your other items. And so on.

This is so you can avoid going back and forth between stores.

And this is also why you’ll need to cross items off your list as you pick them out.

Tip 15: Don’t erase anything off your grocery list; instead, cancel it neatly

This tip is important as you create a grocery list.

Why? Because the cancelled items help you review your grocery choices. For example:

If you previously wrote that you needed 10 apples, but later cancelled the 10 to make it 15, then you can begin evaluating why you feel you need more apples now.

Remember to adjust prices as you adjust quantities.

Tip 16: Include all other costs related to your grocery shopping

If you travel to the store solely for your groceries, then make sure you’ve already budgeted for your travelling costs.

And these costs should be a part of your grocery list.

Additionally, if you’re taking someone with you. And you anticipate the shopping to take a bit longer. And you know you’ll need something to eat while you are there, then include those costs in your grocery list as well.

The rule of thumb is that, when you leave for your grocery shopping, the money you have in your pocket should approximately match the cost of all the items in your list, plus any related costs.

Tip 17: Provide for contingencies in your list

This will buffer any price increases and any other unexpected costs you incur on your grocery shopping trip.

There’s no hard fast rule on how much you should allocate to your contingencies. But I suggest allocating a significant amount.

Because in the end, any amount left over from your contingency fund can go to your savings.

Caution: Providing for contingencies is not a leeway for you to go over budget and buy items you never budgeted for.

Tip 18: Always make a final draft of your grocery list

And you can either make your final draft by:

Whatever you see fit.

But as far as a template is concerned, I recommend using one at this stage. When you’re already familiar with your list.

Todoist has templates you can use for your grocery list.

Tip 19: Allow for at least 24 hours before going grocery shopping

You’re going to want to familiarize yourself with your final grocery list.

So then, give yourself enough time to do so. At least 24 hours.

This will allow for some time to go back on some of your impulse purchases.

And maybe even remember another essential item you might have omitted.

Tip 20: Express gratitude for your grocery list

Do you know how privileged you are to actually afford so much food that you need a grocery list for? (Hint: this is a rhetorical question.)

No matter how much money you can spend on your groceries. And whether or not you think your grocery items make a fancy list,

it’s still a list. Of the groceries you’re fortunate enough to buy.

And that’s something to be grateful for. So then be grateful.

Final thoughts

Learning how to create a grocery list can help you eat healthy without breaking your already tight budget. And that’s even if you need to feed an entire family. The tips in this post will help you create a grocery list that actually helps you achieve both objectives.

I hope you found this post helpful. In that case, please share your feedback by commenting:

Winner, by sharing your feedback, you can inspire another Winner out there to also start working with an effective grocery list. So they can eat healthy, while saving money at the same time.

Last but not least, remember that it’s your journey. So, there’s no rush. No right or wrong. Only progress.

Also, remember that in everything you do, you’re a Winner. And in everything that happens, your life is always a win!