Making a grocery list sounds simple doesn't it? Just jot down a few things before hitting the store right? Not exactly. At least, there are grocery list methods which can be much more useful and help to cut the cost of feeding a family in tougher economic times.

Stopping at the store to grab a few groceries can make the monthly grocery bill increase substantially. Frequent trips to the store without thinking of the needed items can result in a pantry stocked with items which have no intended meal use. A planned grocery list allows the shopper to know what is needed without roaming around the store from aisle to aisle spotting all the things on the "want" list instead of those on the "need" list.

Making a grocery list can help solve this problem and is a useful means of buying food when on a tight budget. Keeping a running grocery list can help be prepared when a quick trip to the store occurs. Clipping coupons and keeping them in the car so you can grab them when entering the store combined with shopping based on your grocery list will help save grocery budget dollars.

The sections of this guide are dedicated to methods of making a grocery list and ideas to help make the grocery shopping process smoother and less costly. Continue reading for more information on how to make a grocery list.

The age old method of pen and paper lists still are useful today. Keep a piece of paper with a pen tied to it on your refrigerator so you can add items to the list and you empty them. This method works well in keeping track of items which are commonly forgotten like the bottle of ketchup or the box of brown sugar. It is best to add the item to the list as you open the last one from the pantry. Adding the item to the grocery list while there is still pantry stock can help reduce grocery cost as it may allow for the grocery to be replaced when on sale. Take the list to the store with you and if the items not needed this week are not on sale, add them to the list for next week and wait for a sale price.

The most cost effective grocery list contains only those items needed for the period of time before the next shopping trip, combined with those items on sale or for which a good coupon is expiring. In order to accomplish this, you need to start with a meal plan. The meal plan should be based on what’s on sale at the store, along with what hig value coupons are available to lower the meal cost. Combine these three factors when planning the grocery list:

1. Do I have some of the items needed to make this meal on hand?
2. Are some of the ingredients on sale this week?
3. Do I have food coupons that match the on sale list?

Using these three factors, your meal plan for the week may be based on the combination of the sales and coupons and your grocery list will be based on the missing ingredients from the meals planned. Sometimes the three questions wont match up to help each other out in the quest to reduce grocery costs, and you may wind up with items on the list which don’t make it to the meal plan for the week. That’s ok as long as the bottom line cost is within your budget and you have a plan for the item to be bought. Don’t buy items with no intended purpose even if they are on sale. For tough budget times you may consider buying some of the loss leader items you have not purchased before, but before buying you should research low cost recipes for them, to insure your family will actually eat the item before spending the money for it.

With the automation of many items in today’s world, grocery lists can be made on line and in some cases even on the blackberry or other cell phone. These sites each offer ways to make a grocery list using your computer.

• WorkingMom.com Choose between a list made as you check off items you need, or a pdf version where you print the entire list and mark what you need before going to the store.
• Publix Grocery List: This link allows you to make your shopping list for a trip to Publix. If Publix is not your store of choice, check your alternate store’s online site to see if a list builder option is available.
• Lifejot Shopping Lists: This online Shopping list site has an option for making lists of different type also. Consider making a Christmas shopping list on this site also.