Taking inventory and making a list

An aware shopper is the best kind of shopper! If you are aware of what is in your cabinets you will be less likely to spend money on items that you don't really need. By taking inventory of what is on your shelves you are able to make an accurate shopping list, and less likely to forget those vital items that always slip your mind in the store.

What do I mean by taking inventory? If you have ever worked in retail, a restaurant or an office, you know how many items you need to make it through the week. If you have two cans of green beans, and your family uses at least two cans with each meal, you know that you can only make green beans once that week. Therefor, you will need X amount to make it through the rest of the week, that is what you put on your shopping list. However, if your family doesn't really like mixed veggies in a can, and you mainly use them for stews and soups. If you have eight cans you know that you do not need to purchase that item for the week. Common sense huh? Well not really, because when you are in the aisle at the grocery store, and you aren't certain if you have mixed veggies, you may purchase two more cans to be on the safe side. Now you have ten cans, of an item that you rarely use. Not only are you using valuable shelf space, you have tied up the cost of ten cans, that could have been spent more wisely. Instead of adding this item to your shopping list, make a do not need column and place it there. That way you know NOT to buy the product.

I am not suggesting that you jump on Excel and make some fancy spread sheet, but if you are comfortable with that then by all means go for it! I am simply saying to you, be aware and conscous so that you can spend your money as wisely as possible. I make my shopping list, but, it is not written in stone. I may have soup on my list, however if it is not in it's sale cycle yet I will hold off on that purchase. I have mentioned in previous post, getting to know your stores sale cycle, and stocking up when a product is at a rock bottom price.