Organizing Your Grocery Lists

[djbartch]

I've got my coupons organized. Not a problem there. But I'm wondering how you keep track of what you are going to buy. I like going through the different store forums but then when I actually go shopping I forget what all I saw and where I found it.

I try to copy / paste from the forums, and it works but feels a little disorganized still. I was just wondering what everyone else does. Do you use paper/pen while you go through your forums.

There are times when I know I saw X on sale, but can't remember where and what the price was.

Thanks In Advance!

[kosydar]

Im having the same trouble. I've tried handwriting a list, then I end up sitting on the labtop with my coupons, my lists, the ads, scissors, paper clips and pens. This is getting way out of hand! Suggestions would help more than one!

[shamrockgreen7]

Most grocery stores have their ads online and let you make shopping lists. I look at the ad, and put the sale items in the online shopping list. Then I match up the coupons and view the prices if it is good enough for me (cheap or free) I add that to the shopping list. Hit Print, grab the coupon binder ( 3 ring binder with baseball card pages, divided into sections) and off to the store I go. I have a list the matching coupons and I save a lot of time.

[couponwitch]

I have become what my husband calls a "cyberpunk"... strange thing to call a 56 yr old grandmother.... I mix old and new methods.... I get sales adds...review them and do my coupon matching... paper clip my coupons to the sales paper... I have a palm Pilot that is my life... I have a program on it call splashshopper.... it is a electronic grocery list.. I then go thru the Splashshopper on my laptop and enter my weekly selections and indicate if I have a coupon for the item and which store I want to purchase it from then sync that info to my Palm. The Splash shopper tracks my grocery prices and I know before I get there approx how much I am going to spend so it helps to keep me on track.

[tmsmalley]

I use post-its (or a scrap of paper and a piece of tape). Since I use a 3 ring binder, it works out great. I write a post-it that says "Alpo dog food" and stick it on the page where I have my Alpo coupons. If there are other things on the same page, I add to the same post-it. My binder is organized by aisle, so it flows really well for me. I can also tape a store coupon to the same page or cut out an ad from the flyer and tape that.

Tess

[jubileedawning]

I use old envelopes (think bills, trades, letters, etc) and write the name of each store I will be shopping at on the envie. On the back, I write my shopping list, including sale price and amount of coupon, and the amount the item will be after coupon. The coupons go inside. It works for me. :)

[steague]

For each store I do, I open a notepad document on my computer. While going through the forums I type in notepad what deals I want to do and what coupons I have. Then I reorganize the list based on store layout, print, and paperclip my coupons in order that I'll pick up the item.

[cynkentayjus]

Thank you

[love2save]

I prefer the old fashioned way! I just go through the forums, write down what stores have what item on sale,price, etc. Then, I take a piece of paper, write each store I will be going to, and write item, price, minus the Q i have, = new price or + RR or whatever will make the price even lower.

eg: walgreens
Huggie baby wipes $3.29- $1 Q= $2.29 +$1 RR =final price $1.29

Target
Venus razors $8.99X2=$18.98-(2)x $4=$8=10.98+ $5GC=$5.98

I kind of write a math sentence. This makes sense to me.HTH

[spork]

I use paper and pen as I go thru the forums and I have two things in front of me.

-- I pull out index cards that I keep in my carry-to-store binder: 1) there's a sleeve for each store and in the front of each is a card that notes CAT deals and the dates they're running, giftcard deals, long term rollbacks, anything else I want to make sure I don't forget when I shop there and this way I don't have to rewrite those things on a list each week. And 2) an index card that goes in a sleeve in the front of my binder for things to remember that are not store-specific. I.e. running list of rebate forms, tearpads, try-me-free items, etc. that I want to look out for no matter which store I'm in.

-- Most of my notes, however, I hand write in a small spiral notepad (4x6ish) that is basically a scribbly mess just for planning. I start a page for each store for that week (i.e. Food Lion 8/19-8/25) then note the deals, Q and Q source, any potential clearance items i want to check. I also start a page for monthly deals (i.e. free or cheap at Target in August) and keep running lists there.

That notebook is not my final shopping list, but is small enough to take with me. When I'm planning a trip to a store, I note my final list on an scrap paper or index card which goes in the front of the sleeve/envelope for that store in my binder, along with the Q matchups. But while shopping, I keep the notebook open to that store's page and skim thru it for anything that I wasn't sure I was going to buy but wanted to check. I can then also write down any new deals I spot while shopping in the same notepad.