So many of the strategies I use to keep our household running smoothly I learned from stalking observing my BFF. One of those tricks is “The List”. I remember visitng one time and the subject of “The List” came up. She keeps a list on the fridge of what they need to buy each week at the grocery store. If her husband wants her to pick something up, he puts it on the list. And if it’s not on the list? Oh, well!
I’m so glad my husband was there for that discussion, because when we got home “The List” started to live on our fridge too. I used a magnetic notepad, and anytime we ran out of something it went on there. After a few “hey, did you pick up some….” and my immediate reply of, “was it on The List?” my husband became wise and we no longer ran out of eggs or milk or Bisquick. It’s especially helpful with things I don’t buy on a weekly basis; I’d never remember we were out of red cooking wine or vanilla extract or, my husband’s favorite item– potato chips– without writing it the moment we ran out.
My previous strategy of writing the list moments before leaving the house to shop was thrown away, and The List has now been part of our lives for the past 5 years. Recently I upgraded to using the Grocery Shopping printable from Clean Mama directly on the fridge, keeping blank copies in my binder so I always have a new one up when I take down the old one on my way out the door. It’s amazing how changing one little thing can streamline my life so much.
That’s my reminder to you to enter the Clean Mama giveaway which ends at midnight tonight. $50 in printables are up for grabs, so head over now and put your name in the mix for a chance to win!
On a somewhat-related-but-not-really note, The winner of the simplify 101 giveaway is Caitlin. Congrats Caitlin, you’ll have to show off photos of your organized closets when you are done with the workshop!
Back to The List: how do you organize your grocery shopping? Are you a list maker? Aisle shopper? Rely on memory? And does anyone else have a husband that loves potato chips but you’re scared to buy them because you’ll eat the whole bag before they get in the house? :: yes, I have potato chip issues… please help… ::
Enjoy these last few hours of the weekend, and see you back here Monday for another great giveaway!
Oh Yes…I’m a list maker! But a lot of good it does me, because my hubby is the shopper and invariably he comes back home and I say: “Did you get…?” and he says: “Oh! I forgot!!”…I say: “It was on the list, wasn’t it?!” and he says: “Oh! I forgot the list….Here it is!!” (as he picks it up from the table next to the door,…where it was, with his car keys on top….the car keys he picked up on his way out the door!! UGH!)…Good thing he’s loved is all I have to say!! LOL
many, many lists around here!!! I make my Trader Joes list on my “Notes” app on the iPhone…..love that it is always with me when I go!! Your post made me smile. 🙂
We have a dry-erase board that we write items on throughout the week. When I make my shopping list I put items in order of the store so I’m not back tracking. Before I had kids I use to shop from memory then when I was done, I’d look at the list to see if I forgot anything. It was a nice mental game. Now that I have kids I’m always forgetting things that are one the list. My kiddos can be a little distracting. ha