Do you stick by your shopping list?
By rtydata
@rtydata (80)
Philippines
June 3, 2007 11:31am CST
I have recently learned that creating a shopping list and sticking to that list enables you to not just save but practice self-control. I normally do my grocery shopping by sticking to my list until I got married and had my husband with me to do this weekly task. To my surprise, our grocery bill doubled! Not because we had too many individual preferences but because we didn't have a list to know what we needed or wanted.
There are two things you need to consider when making a buying decision:
1. Do you need it?
2. Can you afford it?This is where the list comes in. You don't only want to NOT forget what you really need at home but it's really not good if one day, while at the cashier, you end up placing back items because you've gone overboard or you do pay for everything you got only to find out that your credit card has maxed out or a big chunk of your savings has gone to those bags of chips you never really needed to begin with.
After looking at my monthly expenses, me and my husband decided that we will be sticking to our grocery list keeping in kind that we will only buy what we need and what we can really afford within the set budget. We only alloted a portion of the budget for things that we want individually (snacks and all).
8 people like this
21 responses
@tinamwhite (3252)
• United States
3 Jun 07
You and your husband have learned avaluable leson...sticking to your budget can make life so much easier at times...like you said impulse shopping can easily get out of hand.....LOL
Have a great weekend.
2 people like this
@crazynurse (7482)
• United States
3 Jun 07
I have to make a list and stick to it! I so wish that hubby would do the same thing. I can send him to the store for 2-3 items and he comes home with several bags! I like to think about the coming week's meals and make a grocery list for those. Then I only get those items!
2 people like this
@ssh123 (31073)
• India
4 Jun 07
Though we take extra cash with us when we go for shopping, very rarely we deviate from the list of materials that are to be purchased. The list itself is exhaustive, covering all our monthly requirement and hence we will not get tempted by seeing newer things.
1 person likes this
@retardedrugrat (4791)
• Canada
4 Jun 07
We always make a grocery list when we go shopping at the weekends. With the rising cost of living, and other expenses, going overboard on groceries isn't a good thing.
Sticking to the list is pretty easy, given that we hate Grocery shopping with a passion to start with. We go in there with our helmets, and full riot gear LOL.
We grab what we need from the list, shove a few people out of the way when they ignore repeated requests of "Excuse me", and hit the checkouts LOL. We have managed to keep the list down to a minimum and make sure that we're just topping up, instead of buying bulk items. That way we do manage to save quite a bit.
1 person likes this
@subha12 (18441)
• India
5 Jun 07
most of the time i try to. But i am an impulsive shopper.
If I find something really nice and i like it, i also buy that.it mainly dresses, chips etc. And also clothes for my baby niece.
I know i must stick to the list.
this way money can be saved also
@samtaylorskykierajen (7977)
• Canada
4 Jun 07
We always make up a shopping list but I never remember to take it with us so I never actually stick to it . I always find somthing on sale and end up buying it because I know we are going to need it eventually , even if we don't need it at the moment . I do end up buying things we don't really need but feel that I am still saving by buying the things on sale and then won't have to pay full price for them later on . Stuff in the house does not last long in the house because there are so many of us that I try stocking up on sales to save a bit of money .
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
3 Jun 07
Actually I do keep to my list. I have to. My husband took early retirement and he says "this check has to last all month."
1 person likes this
@kitkat1 (1227)
• Canada
4 Jun 07
I dont always stick to my list although lately with money being really tight i try really hard to stay to a list. I find you get more for your money if you go by a prepared list as to just go and throw stuff in a cart and you forget so much without a list too. I also see you are a fairly new mylotter so i will also take this time to welcome you and hope you stay around as we are a very fun bunch u will enjoy it i am sure. Welcome from kitkat
@arianasmum (223)
• New Zealand
7 Jun 07
yes I stick to a list other wise I end up with a cupboard full of stuff I never use. Another bit of good advice I was given always eat before you go shopping other wise you will buy stuff you feel like at that time but probably wont eat.
@ashokpethkar (575)
• India
4 Jun 07
I like shopping and during every shopping I have a habit of searching at least one new item.
I always make a list before every shopping with always keeping in mind two things as you said.Normally I stick to that but while shopping if I found any best option to the item in the list and it gives me added benifits and saves money I do change the item.Sometime a new item is little bit costly but if it will save my recurring expenses then I do purchase that.
@michael_harvard1010 (262)
• Philippines
4 Jun 07
Actually I do not stick with my shopping list because I really love shopping and I cannot control my self every time I see beautiful things that is not included in my shopping list. It is really hard for me to follow my list because I use to go to all sections and have a window shopping. In this case, I use to see beautiful bags, shoes and beautiful dress.
@michael_harvard1010 (262)
• Philippines
4 Jun 07
Actually I do not stick with my shopping list because I really love shopping and I cannot control my self every time I see beautiful things that is not included in my shopping list. It is really hard for me to follow my list because I use to go to all sections and have a window shopping. In this case, I use to see beautiful bags, shoes and beautiful dress.
@paradise12 (938)
• India
4 Jun 07
i make a list of necessary things and accesories.i definately buy what is needed first then try to buy other things.
