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Organizing Your Shopping List
By Polly | March 17, 2008
It never fails. I will be upstairs getting ready for my day and realize we are out of toothpaste or I will be sitting at work and suddenly remember we need to bring the snack for the next soccer game. And I always say to myself one of two things: A.) I don’t need to write it down, I will remember or B.) I will write it on the shopping list we keep on the refrigerator when I get downstairs or home. And about 98% of the time I forget to do either one because I either get a phone call or a request to tie a shoe and the soccer snacks and toothpaste are long since forgotten. Eventually, I end up at the store standing in the aisle telling myself there is something I had to remember and for the life of me I can’t remember what (only to remember when I go to brush my teeth at night).
Getting into the habit of making a grocery list or shopping list helps save money, save time, and leaves us feeling a little less frustrated and overwhelmed, but the habit only fully works if the lists have everything we need. So to make the most of our time, money and sanity here are some tips to help make list making easier.
Have a shopping list for things like toiletries, laundry detergent, or cleaning supplies in every room where you use these items. Tape them to the bathroom mirrors, laundry room cupboards, and on cleaning closet doors.
Use either tape or a magnet to post your grocery list to the refrigerator door. Add things as soon as you realize you are out of the item. Hands busy and don’t have time right away? Leave the empty box or carton on the counter until you get a moment to write it down.
Most email programs and calendars like Microsoft Outlook have a note function for keeping small notes and memo’s. Use the notes to keep track of things you need at the store. You can either print off the note itself or sync it to your PDA for use in the store.
Leave yourself a phone, email, or text message as a reminder. I know this may seem a little extreme, but it can work. This is a great option for parents who spend a lot of time in meetings at work and don’t have access to their lists. Simply pull out your cell phone or laptop and email or text yourself a reminder to add whatever you need to your list.
Teach all family members how to write down what they need when they realize they are out of something. Trust me when I say, they may forget at first to write things down, but it only takes one time of not having something they need for them to start remembering how!
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Topics: Conquering the Chaos, Home Organizing Tips |