The smart shopping list: spend less without the effort

2 min read

Shopping costs more when you do it from memory: you forget what you need and buy what you already have. A good list fixes both problems, and gets you out of the supermarket sooner too.

1. Start from what you have, not what you remember

The best list comes from looking in the cupboards and the fridge, not writing from memory. If you keep even a basic inventory, the list is almost done: it's everything that's running low.

2. Use a minimum stock

For everyday items (pasta, oil, coffee, toilet paper, detergent) decide how many you always want at home. When you drop below that number, it goes on the list. You never run out, and you don't hoard.

3. Sort the list by aisle

Write the list in the order you walk around the supermarket: fruit and veg, bakery, chilled, cupboard, frozen, household. Fewer laps, less time, and fewer temptations along the way.

4. Buy what you use, not what's on offer

Offers are only worth it for things you really use and that keep for a long time. Three-for-two on yoghurt that expires the day after tomorrow isn't a saving. Knowing how much you use of each thing (say, a bag of coffee every two weeks) is the best way to decide.

5. Check the unit price and remember what you paid

The shelf label usually shows the price per kilo or per litre too: that's what lets you compare different pack sizes. And noting what you paid last time makes price rises obvious straight away.

6. Give yourself a monthly budget

You don't need a spreadsheet: just know how much you want to spend per month and how much you've already spent. Telling apart what you buy and what you use shows whether you're stocking up or simply spending more.

7. One list for the whole household

If several people do the shopping, the list should be one and shared: whoever passes the supermarket knows what to get, and nothing gets bought twice. And the oldest tip still stands: don't shop on an empty stomach.