Excerpt from http://lalakme.blogspot.com/ (Lara, I hope you don't mind me posting this here).
Last year, I decided that I wasn't going to make a ton of specific resolutions at the New Year. Mainly because I always feel that I can only ever really focus on just one of the eight or ten goals I was in the habit of making, and that didn't help me feel very successful. So, last year, I decided to focus on one word, and let that govern the way I lived.
The word I chose for 2007 was care.
The word that Lara chose for 2008 is simplify. After reading her blogs (since she chose this word) about how she is trying to simplify her life, I found that she also struggles with the grocery shopping on a weekly basis. Of course, she has three kids, and I only have one, but I've still found that the weekly grocery shopping trip is just a nuisance! Fortunately, I have found some ways to improve myself. However, suggestions are always welcome! As Lara mentions, I also hit 4 stores on a weekly basis for my grocery shopping including Wal-Mart (for the staples), Kroger (for the produce), Publix (for the meat) and Sam's (for everything that is cheaper in bulk such as diapers, diaper wipes, toilet paper, etc. And, I always buy my milk (not Annabelle's milk) and cottage cheese from Sam's as it is cheaper at Sam's). I buy Annabelle the Horizon Farms Organic milk from Wal-Mart for $3 for a half gallon because the nurses in NICU pretty much scared me enough to think that the cow's milk is causing these young girls to go into puberty early. But, keep in mind that I'm still nursing, and Annabelle isn't really drinking much "cow's milk" right now. I am just trying to get her used to the idea and taste every once in awhile.
This past August, we took a beach trip with the in-laws (my mother-in-law, brother-in-law (my husband's brother), sister-in-law, niece and nephew and grandmother-in-law) to the beach (Blue Mountain Beach, FL near Destin, FL). While we were there, I saw a nifty spreadsheet that I assume my sister-in-law had prepared to aid with her own grocery shopping. She had her recipe for the week written on the back of it (we all cooked a meal one night), and I noticed it as I was looking at the recipe. So, I created my own spreadsheet (very similar to hers). Thanks to my sister-in-law for sharing her spreadsheet (even though she didn't know she shared it). :)
So, this spreadsheet breaks down almost everything we buy into categories based on where they are located in the grocery store as well as provides room to the right to jot down your weekly menu for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Since then though, I have purchased a handy journal from the Dollar Tree to use as my "household journal" where I write down my weekly menu and goals for the next day such as "Mail Rebate" or "Bath Time for Bonzo." Bonzo is another nickname for Annabelle! Poor child! My husband blessed her with that nickname as well.
So, I hope that you'll find this spreadsheet helpful to you as well. I included almost everything we buy on at least a monthly (or even quarterly) basis, and this way, I can just scan the list before I hit the local Wal-Mart, and it helps to ensure that I don't forget something such as the shampoo (etc.) my husband would always say he needed (the day after I had already done my grocery shopping for the week). Does anyone else have that problem? It helps to save time on making another trip out for that shampoo that is suddenly completely empty. Of course, unfortunately, something ALWAYS seems to slip through the cracks, but it doesn't happen as often as it used to.
And, if you're frugal like me, and you love coupons, check out the following website: http://thecouponmom.com/. This website has been featured on Good Morning America, and it is great because it helps you use your coupons wisely every week along with the current sales ads to get the best bang for your buck, AND you can print out a nifty grocery shopping list from the website after clicking which coupons you plan to use.
So good luck, and good shopping! And, always remember that everything is a learning experience for your children! This is how I stay positive on grocery shopping day because this gives Annabelle another opportunity to learn!
