Just wondering how many of ya'll shop with a list, and if you do, do you stick strickly to the list?

I always make a list, but usually it never makes it into the store with me.......and when it does, I never seem to actually stick to it.....

Do you think it helps keep your spendind down?

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I always have a list going when I run out of or need things. So I always shop with a list. However, I never stick to it. Sometimes something is on sale I didn't realize, or something different just sounds or looks good or who knows why - I always buy way more than is on that list.

Lisa

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For me shopping without a list is like shopping without money or credit cards. It just couldn't happen. I will admit I can shop if it is limited to 3 things or less, but they all must begin with the same letter such as: dog food, deodorant, and douche.... if not...I forget one or more.

Yes, definitely a list, and keeping DH at home helps, too. I plan out my menus and buy according to that. It helps keep the spending down quite a bit, I think.

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Like some others, if I had no list I wouldn't remember a thing I went for. Now, if I'm running into to get a couple of items I can USUALLY remember them all. I don't always stick to the list. I have the list mostly for items I'm out of or must have items. I always seem to buy extras, too much, things I don't need but looked good or interesting or just things my kids talked me into!
That's another thing....I should shop without kids. I spend way less, both money and time!!

I make a list but I usually leave it at home!

If I didn't have a list, I would end up forgetting half of the items I needed to buy. I have an awful memory.

I make one major haul each month and fill in as I run out of OJ, eggs, etc. If I didn't go by a list I wouldn't get half of what I needed. It does keep the spending down considerably.

Always, ALWAYS take a list. And occassionally I will pick an extra thing or two "IF" it's majorly on sale!

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Same thing here. Im usually pretty good at remembering what was on the list though

There is no way I could shop without a list. I would be making a million trips to the store during the week. I plan my menu for the week then my list and away I go. I also go through the ads and pick out what coupon deals I will be doing so they are also added to my list.

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I always make a list, however, I do splurge buy all the time when shopping. Especially when it comes to fruits and vegetables, sometimes you have one thing in mind ( like apples) and you get here and the produce isn't up to par, but the plums look so good.....the better looking fruits and vegetables always make into my basket.

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no list. If I have a list it is usually lost by the time I get there.

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Too many people spend money they haven't earned to buy things they don't want, to impress people they don't like. - Will Rogers

I am trying to shop with a list. Does that count?

I also try to shop with a list because I plan the week's menus based on sales. I usually stick to my list pretty well unless I go to the store hungry!

I keep a running list on the fridge. I don't use it as a guideline, but more so I don't forget what I actually went to the store for in the first place.

My kids know...if it's not on the list...it doesn't exist!

I try to use a list.It usually is still on my desk when I get back from the store.I always over buy.At the beginning of October,I used my list,and stuck to it.I spent a lot less than I usually would.
I over buy so much,I am not going to buy any staples that are in my kitchen,for the winter,until we use what is here.I don't think I will need to go major shopping until spring.I am only going to buy meats,produce and milk.

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I don't usually make a list unless it is for items other than grocery items. For grocery items I never make a list, it would limit me too much to stick to a list. I use coupons, shop sales, loss leaders, etc. I go to the store specifically to stockpile items, not just get an item for the week. I typically find things on mark down, discounted meat and dairy and other things and I plan my meals around what I can get for cheap, not a pre-made list. This allows me to keep my grocery bill around $200 a month for 3 people. If I went by a list my grocery bill would be much higher. Today I went to the grocery store, Pilgrims Pride chicken was on sale for .69 a lb, I had .55 coupons, I picked out the smallest packages (about 8 pieces of chicken each) for the $1.39 price range, so I ended up spending about .80 something per package of chicken, one package is good for a meal for us. Had I taken a list that had fish and steak on it I wouldn't have even looked at the chicken, so I would have spent alot more money than leaving myself open to seeing what I could find. Sausage is on sale this week for $1.29 a roll, there is a $3/3 Farmaland coupon out, that makes the sausage .29 a roll, do I need sausage, no I have 16 rolls in the freezer, but will I buy the sausage? Most defiantely will buy it for .29 a roll, it will go in the freezer, we will eventually eat it or it will go to one of DH's clients, or will go to our Christmas food drive at church. I save more money not shopping from a list.

I take a list, because I make lists of everything, but I don't necessarily stick to it. Post-It notes stick to purses and cart handles, so I tend to use those.

My lists are always my "must haves". Usually I get there and there are 1-2 things that I forgot to put on the list, and 1-2 impulse buys.

Can I get an A for effort if we count how many times I made the list and left it home, and had to try to wing it from memory? (usually have to go back again later in the week, as I ALWAYS forget something on the list)

I do think the list helps keep spending down, but I do however, keep my eye out for unadvertised specials that I might have a coupon for, or things I passed by in the flyer without noticing.

I've often just ran in for a thing or two, but made mental note of these things and went back at the last day of the sale to snag what I didn't get that week.

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