i have always done a rough meal planner, then made a list after a quick check of the pantry... these days (because i seem to have all the time in the world atm!) my shopping list writing takes me about 45 mins... lol dp rolls his eyes when he see's me with my pen and paper on thursday nights!!
first i make a rough list (which usually starts the day after i did last weeks shop ) when things run out or get low etc, then i go through the catalogues, and generally pick either Coles or Safeway, depending on who has what i need on special (sometimes i have been known to go to both, plus Aldi) then i make a meal plan, checking what we have in the fridge/freezer/pantry- i may have half a bottle of Honey soy marinade, or 500g mince still in freezer, so i go from there. i write what meat, what veg and whatever else eg steak/schnitzel (i dont eat red meat) with mash/peas/boiled egg- so for that meal i know im going to need 1xsteak, 1xschnitzel (dd has a little of eat meat) 5x potatoes, and 4 eggs...... then all that gets incorporated to my list!
mum thinks im a bit obsessive when it comes to my list... BUT it works for us! we never throw out any fruit or veg. all the meat gets used eventually! the only thing i wish is that i could have an extra $50 a week to spend.. as i like to have a stock up... rather than 'uh oh, we're onto our last toilet roll!'
dp also likes that i can tell him 'groceries will be roughly $140 this week' or '$100 if you can grab the meat' (we get our meat from his mates families butcher)
i dont think ive really helped any, but as i said, i love talking groceries! lol
ETA: i have done 2x safeway online shops. i liked it, i would be happy to be able to do it once a fortnight, and only pay the $9 delivery once. as for pricing... i didnt notice higher prices? then again, i only get minimal stuff from there.. and half is home brand. and Aldi has everything else i need.
I have actually found I've saved money when shopping online also, which is interesting as the prices are a bit higher and there's a $9 delivery fee. But they do also have more specials than the real stores (at least it seems so) and it definitely stops impulse buying, so that must be why.
Some other tips:
- plan your meals in advance and use a shopping list.
- Only buy things that are on your shopping list
- Except for things on special that you WILL use and don't go off - for example shampoos, cleaners, toilet paper etc can be much cheaper on special and last for ages so they don't go off if you buy lots of them in advance
- Shop for meat last thing on a Saturday or Sunday afternoon - they usually have the meat which is nearing use-by on special for a quick sale.
- Bread and other bakery items are always marked right down at the end of the day also, so shop within an hour or so of closing for cheap bread
- Make up batches of meals - one packet of mince with heaps of vegies thrown in can make up enough for two or three meals - you can freeze it if you don't want to eat it 3 days in a row!
- Home brand stuff in many items is really good and way cheaper
- Have a meat-free day or two a week - you can have risotto or vegie pasta or something really cheaply, or buy tuna or salmon on special and make up patties
- Buying fresh food at farmers markets can be heaps cheaper and the food is much nicer
) when things run out or get low etc, then i go through the catalogues, and generally pick either Coles or Safeway, depending on who has what i need on special (sometimes i have been known to go to both, plus Aldi) then i make a meal plan, checking what we have in the fridge/freezer/pantry- i may have half a bottle of Honey soy marinade, or 500g mince still in freezer, so i go from there. i write what meat, what veg and whatever else eg steak/schnitzel (i dont eat red meat) with mash/peas/boiled egg- so for that meal i know im going to need 1xsteak, 1xschnitzel (dd has a little of eat meat) 5x potatoes, and 4 eggs...... then all that gets incorporated to my list!
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