Making a master grocery list takes a little time initially, but you’ll save lots more time while preparing your weekly shopping list, while shopping (you won’t have to run back to aisle 2 for something you missed), and most of all by avoiding extra trips to the store for things you forgot!

When I was a teenager we used to do this with pen and paper. Doing it in your computer is much better. You can print out a new copy each week, and easily rearrange your list every few years when your grocery store rearranges everything.

Here’s how to create your master list:

1) Make a staples list. Include every thing you normally want to keep on hand. List everything you buy at the grocery store, food and non-food.

2) Get a printout of the grocery store products by aisle. If they don’t have one, write your own list. You don’t need to include every item, just the general sections, in the order in which you normally go through the store. For example: Aisle 1: dairy, eggs, deli; Aisle 2: canned vegetables and beans, imported foods; Aisle 3: paper towels, napkins, cleaning products…etc. (If you get something the store keeps in an unusual place be sure to put it on this list even if you don’t get it every week.)

3) Rearrange your staples list in the order of the sections in the grocery store. (If you live in a two story house, make a separate staples list for upstairs, and write this list first each week. It’s probably shorter, and easy to incorporate these items as you make your big list.)

4) Print a copy and put it in your kitchen. This will be your master list. Or print several at a time and check off the items you need each week, and toss the list when done.

5) When it’s time to make your grocery list for the week, get your master list and check each item to see if you need more. If you do, put it on your written list as you normally would. Be sure to include ingredients for any recipes / menus you’re planning for the week.

When you’re done, you’ve checked everything you’re likely to need, and your list is in the same order as the store!

Randi Kuhne is the owner of Kids Party Supplies (http://kids-party-supplies.com), a resource which helps parents find character and theme-related party supplies and gifts for their children. The site also has party planning ideas and other helpful information for parents.

Share This

Out with the old, in with the new. Sounds great but in actuality, this is a hard concept for most of us. Unfortunately, New Year’s resolutions are starting to die out by now. It is actually a great time to reorganize the home and clear out. A good place to start is with your wardrobe and accessories.

We all have skeletons in our closet. I’m talking about those old clothes that we are holding onto. One of the biggest reasons for holding onto our clothes? “I am going to loose weight and get into that outfit again.” Time to ditch it! I am sure it is outdated by now and when and if you get into it, it will not look that great anyway. If you loose those extra pounds, reward yourself instead with something new, you deserve it.

Are you the sentimental type that holds on to clothes? The outfit you wore to a special occasion, date or the one that cost you a small fortune. I know it is hard to let go but it is time to do it. How about that little black dress that we are all suppose to have in our closet. It has been there for while, hasn’t it? Have you avoided wearing it because it is so outdated? It is time to move on and get a new one.

Here is some good advice, if you have not worn it in two years or more, you need to get rid of it. Not wearable because it needs to be repaired, put them in a pile to bring to a Taylor or just get rid of it. Face it, if you have not fixed it yet, it will not happen. Are you waiting for the style to come back again? Style’s do come and go and come back again, but always in a different way. The style changes in some way as well as the “in” color. Bell bottoms were once in but never came back fully in style again. They came back a little different as boot leg cut and not as wide as the bell bottom. So do not save it for another time, it will not work. Don’t forget the clothes that were bought and just didn’t cut it. I am talking about the one’s you never got around to returning.

Even the clothes that looked great in the dressing room but when you actually wore it, it didn’t really look that great on you. These are great for the consignment store. It took me a while to realize that brown just is not my color. Each time when brown is the “new black” in style I just didn’t feel right in a brown outfit. It dawned on me that it is just not my color. I held on to those great brown clothes for a while. Finally I let go and accepted those great brown clothes were not great on me. They were taking up much needed closet space.

Next, are the accessories filling the shelves and drawers? Handbags are a big save item. Spending a fortune on a designer handbag is a good reason to hold on to it. If it is worn out and does not look good any more, then there is no reason to keep it. Zipper broke, button off, bad looking scratch in the leather? If it is not useable, then do not save it. I had an off white suede leather Coach bag that I loved and spent a lot of money on. It became dirty looking way too fast. Being suede, it did not clean well. I kept it for three years before I broke down and threw it out. Never bought that color again! Handbags are like shoes, once they wear out, they do not look good anymore. Pull out of your closet all the handbags and shoe’s. Try on the shoe’s, see if they fit, are too worn out or are out of style and put them in the get rid of pile. Do the same for belts.

Anything in good shape and the style is current; bring them to a consignment store. The rest can go to the thrift store or if too worn out or damaged, throw it out. Thrift stores are usually run by volunteers, they don’t need to be throwing out your not so good items in the trash. You will feel good with “out with the old,” now it is time and space for “in with the new.” Have fun shopping for those new great clothes!

Mary Bailis is a designer and owner of http://www.AlexiHandbags.com an online custom handbag and accessory boutique. She enjoys fashion, reading, being creative, exercising, nature and spending as much time with her three beautiful children.

Share This