Why You Need to Have a Master Grocery Shopping List

If you do the grocery shopping for your household, you know how insane the grocery bill can become. By the time you make it through the check-out and head back to your car, you might have shelled out way more money than you'd accounted for in your grocery budget.

With the constant price fluctuations and unsteady economy, it is increasingly important to make your dollar stretch as far as possible. Creating a master grocery list for your family is a simple way to do just that. Here are some of the most important reasons why you need a master grocery list...

#1: A master grocery list makes planning ahead much easier. If you don't already plan a weekly menu, a master grocery list will make it super simple to make one. With a list at hand, you'll be able to quickly pull items from your list that you know you'll need to prepare specific meals.

#2: A master grocery list will enable you to quickly judge what you do and do not need before you hit the store. One of the worst ways many shoppers waste money at the grocery store is buying things they do not need. With a master grocery list in hand, you'll be able to double-check your pantry before you go shopping so you will know exactly what you need.

#3: A master grocery list helps reduce (or eliminate) unnecessary purchases. One of the worst things to do is go to the grocery store without a plan. You will be more prone to grabbing items off the shelf you don't need or didn't really want, just because you're enticed in that moment. With your master list, your regular grocery shopping trip will be made much easier because you can create your shopping list very quickly.

#4: A master grocery list is a great tool for meal-planning. If you are really looking for ways to save money on your grocery bill each month, meal-planning needs to become a part of your life. You can spend more money than necessary by making quick runs to smaller (local) grocery stores to grab something to cook for supper that evening. Instead, set aside time each week, or once a month, to plan your meals in advance. Then take your master grocery list and create your shopping list from your meal plan.

#5: A master grocery list can become an important tool for making grocery shopping a family affair. If you have a master grocery list, you can sit down with your child/ren and get them involved in the process of grocery shopping. Make your master list together as a family, then inform everyone that your rule is if it isn't on the master list, it doesn't come home. This will help reduce arguments over why they can't have that candy or bag of chips they want on impulse while in the store.

No, you don't need one. However, I challenge you to create one and start using it. See for yourself whether or not it helps your grocery budget. It only takes a few minutes.