by Selina Jacobson

Created on: March 07, 2008

There is nothing worse than wandering slowly up and down each aisle of a busy grocery store racking your brains trying to remember what was missing from your fridge or cupboards that morning. Do I need eggs? Bread? Milk? Not only is this frustrating it makes you buy things you don't need and forget all of the things you do. So make it easy on yourself. Apply the shopping rules below and you will be cured of impulse purchases for good.

1. Create an itemized grocery list on your computer. Make different headings such as dairy, meats, fruits and vegetables and so on. Print a list each week and put it on your fridge or in your pantry. When something runs low or runs out add it to the list. Go through your pantry and food cupboards every few weeks to rotate food to the front. This will prevent you from buying items you already have. You might be surprised at what you find lurking in the darkest reaches of your cupboards.

2. Design a weekly meal plan. Write down every ingredient you will need. This will allow you to shop with a purpose in mind. Deciding on a menu ahead of time may take some effort but will reduce wasting fresh produce or deli foods that seemed like a good idea but didn't get used in time.

3. Take a tour around your home. Are you almost out of laundry detergent or dryer sheets? Is the toothpaste down to that last squish of the tube? Shampoo bottles hanging upside down? Add it all to your list. There is nothing more frustrating than running out of a daily necessity.

4. Know your supermarket layout. This is essential if you want to get in and out as fast as possible. Take a few minutes and jot down what each aisle contains. Then place the corresponding aisle number or store section beside each heading on your grocery list. Ease of navigation will eliminate frustration and picking up non-essential items.

5. Set a budget per week for your groceries and stick to it. While you're shopping, use a calculator. Add everything up as you go along, making sure that only what is on the list goes into the grocery cart. You'll be amazed at how much you don't need. This is great when money is tight, but even when it isn't.

6. Clip those money saving coupons. Look through the grocery store fliers for coupons that save on items you regularly buy. Don't buy something you've never had before just because you're going to save fifty cents. Then roll the saved money into next week's grocery budget.

7. Shop alone. You will move faster, make quick decisions and not let anyone else break your resolve to stick to your list!

See how much easier grocery shopping can be? Make the effort and time to get grocery list savvy. Just keep thinking about the money you'll save, the frustration you'll avoid and how good you'll feel for eliminating impulse purchases.

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