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Not only does MH write out our weekly grocery list but its in order of us starting at the produce side of the store. I have my coupons organized by category (cold/frozen, Non Perishable, Home, Pets, Health/Beauty) and as we're making out our list, I tell him what coupons I have and he uses a highlighter for those items

A couple months ago I was standing at the deli area waiting for my order and a lady said "oh, you have such nice handwriting, your list is so organized" I told her that was my husbands handwriting and not only that, but check out how he highlights my coupon items She said "Oh my god, I really need to take a picture of that" LOL!!

And of course at check out time, we always empty our cart by category too

What about you?

I don't make lists unless I'm shopping for a recipe. Usually I just stock up on whatever is on sale or running low and plan my menus as I go.

If God has really wanted us to make and follow grocery lists, he wouldn't have invented mobile phones ... LOL

[This message edited by HUFI-PUFI at 2:08 PM, February 21st (Friday)]

I'm a list freak (preferably in excel so I don't have to reinvent the wheel).

I reuse the same list week to week and just hide the rows I dont need.

Why not sort the unused portion to the bottom, you ask? Because the list is in sections/categories of the grocery store!

I too HAVE to start in the produce area of the store. My husband laughs at me, but I seriously get all thrown off kilter if we start in meat/deli (opposite side of store) instead.

My coupon organizer is categorized similar to my list and I try to go by aisle in the store, but I shop at a few different stores, so that isn't always feasible. When I know I'm going to shop, I pull out the coupons I'm likely to use and clip them to my grocery list.

At checkout, I always group things on the belt as well. I hate when my bread ends up under canned goods or when they mix fruit in with cleaning products. Like goes with like!!

I also have reusable grocery bags that I knit myself. I have a specific color that is for meat only, another color for fruits/veggies, a third color for cleaning products, and a final color for general goods.

I dont want to use meat bags on fruit (cross-contamination) nor do I want my fruit in chemical laced bags that held Raid or Clorox.

Hmmm...I never thought of myself as OCD, but after typing that out, I may have to rethink that stance!

You plan your menu as you go? Oh my gosh, I could never do that!! We plan out all our lunches before we go shopping on the weekend (we're not big dinner eaters)...I guess I'm not much of a fly by the seat of my pants kind of gal

My grocery store chain has a mobile app that I use. It has store floor plans, product locations specific to each store, customizable shopping lists, built in coupons, and lots more.

It organizes my shopping list by department and aisle. If I can't find something, I can ask the app using voice recognition, and it will locate it in the store for me. If they are out of an item, I can report it on the app. It is so cool.

I always start in the produce section and work my way to the frozen section.

I organize my cart into zones to make unloading and bagging like items much quicker.

I love grocery shopping. It's very zen for me.

My list is in aisle order and I begin at produce. I know which aisle and on which side the things are I need. And if I think of something to add to the list, I have to make a new one.

Any of course everything is put in the cart properly, heavy stuff on the bottom, by shape and size. Then you should see me put in on the counter. It drives my girls crazy. One of them will try to put something out of order just to throw me off. Of course I catch it. Can't fool mom!

Now loading the trunk pisses everyone off because, again, I put the heavy stuff in first so it is on the bottom. I even place the paper towels/toilet paper around the eggs. They think I'm crazy but my eggs aren't broken, my fruit/veggies aren't smashed, and my bread isn't squashed.

They think I'm crazy but my eggs aren't broken, my fruit/veggies aren't smashed, and my bread isn't squashed.

Amen!

Life was different when the 4 kids lived at home but now that we are firmly in the empty nest, the whole shopping thing has taken a twist.

I ask LF each day if she has a fave she wants and then, each morning I head to the store to buy fresh produce/meat for the meal. Very little in the freezer and only staples in the cupboards.

I always let the specials at the grocery store guide whats on the menu for tomorrow... ie, if the chicken wings are on sale today, it will probably be on the menu tomorrow.

Everyday is an adventure day ...

I too HAVE to start in the produce area of the store. My husband laughs at me, but I seriously get all thrown off kilter if we start in meat/deli (opposite side of store) instead.

This is soooooo me. I plan my menu two weeks at a time. My list isn't organized by grocery aisles, but by day of the week - that way I know if I need to change my plans or if I can come back if they're out of something or if the quality looks bad. I place items in my cart so that I can maximize space usage and the courtesy clerk can rarely get everything back into one cart when I'm finished (I shop for a family of 5). I actually really love grocery shopping and, on the rare occasion that someone keeps my boys for me so I can shop alone, I find it to be rejuvenating and invigorating.

I have no clue what order the aisles are in the grocery store!

I do put them on the belt as I want them bagged but the idiot cashiers don't seem to understand how important that is... of course, they are all teenie boppers that have probably never had to put groceries away

Seriously, I do feel better knowing I'm not the only one.

My husband used to get upset about the multiple pieces of paper (of lists) I had laying around the house. I have to pack the groceries. If he does it, it's chaos. Cans stacked on top of produce. WTH is that all about???

I'm a master packer. It puts my Tetris skills to good use. If I don't use the self-serve lanes, I judge the cashier's packing abilities.

There was a time I categorized and made a list of all the foods in the freezer to know what food was in there. You know, buried at the bottom. Problem was we didn't adhere to the list and cross things off when they were used, so it didn't stay organized.

I've learned to let a lot of things go.

My peeps! I have found those like me. I too love to grocery shop. I find myself at busy times acting like I work there as I direct those around me in their searches.

I have my list and coupons in aisle order. I have compared the online circular and pre determined menu suggestions, reviewed the pantry to know what is low (though I keep a list of anything as I use the last of it). People that know me IRL do this at me when they see it.

I tend to shoo the baggers away as I want my bags in like item order and it is quicker and easier to do it myself. I have a couple bags that are specifically for cold items and it makes me when a bagger throws a can in there.

I do not have issues....

List Makers UNITE!!

I have an on-going Home Depot list that I keep in my drawer in the coffee table. I also have a list of all the parties we've thrown (big, major parties) and who came and what specialty cocktails we served and what the food was.

I'm a master packer. It puts my Tetris skills to good use.

Totally Tetris!

Oh DS, my sister in lists!

I keep my Thanksgiving menus each year with who was there and rate the recipes. Lord when I die and somebody cleans off my night stand and desk, it will be a field day.

YAY Pentup!!!!

Ask some of our SI Elves about my yearly spreadsheet I have for all the members that participate in the Christmas Card exchange. They were most impressed with my notes when I pulled out the SI Christmas Card file

Hey DS, do you have pre party lists that are for shopping, prep, cooking, cleaning? Then I have my count down to party list on the last day. I do not show those to others. They remark about how everything is always done and ready, etc. My H did tell one person, she is not doing it for you, so you can enjoy, she does it to keep you out of her kitchen! I had to remind him we don't tell that to others.

I never thought of myself as OCD before, but I may be a bit structured.

Hey DS, do you have pre party lists that are for shopping, prep, cooking, cleaning?

Absolutely!!

Right now, we're planning two parties next month. SI's St. Patrick's Day party and my 50th birthday party So I have several lists going.

SI = Food & drink list, cleaning list, guest list, activities list.

50th Birthday party = food & drink list, guest list, cleaning list.

It takes a lot of work to put a party on

[This message edited by SI Staff at 3:13 PM, February 21st (Friday)]

SI = Food & drink list, cleaning list, guest list, activities list.

50th Birthday party = food & drink list, guest list, cleaning list.

Don't forget:

Christmas Gift Lists (broken down by person, budgeted amount and actual spent)

Birthday Gift Lists (same break down as above)

Camping/Kayaking List which, of course, is different than the Vacation List....

I also have a list of Birthdays/Anniversaries for friends, family, their kids, spouses, etc...

[This message edited by GabyBaby at 3:16 PM, February 21st (Friday)]