DrDeClutterBlog.com

I just saw an old Cathy cartoon on a notepad - she’s surrounded by grocery bags overflowing with her purchases, she’s screaming, “I just spent $75 on groceries and I didn’t get anything to eat!!”

Among the items tumbling from the paper bags are glass cleaner, lotion, shampoo, a sponge, tooth paste, laundry detergent, paper towels, nail polish, silver polish and bathroom tissue to name a few.

Do ever come home wondering what your money purchased, and where the food is?

People spend 50% more without a grocery list. We compulsive buy due to being hungry, thinking we need something but didn’t check it out before we left the house or there’s a sale, clearance, special buys, cool new tools or products,  or 2 for 1 buys that we just can’t pass up.

There are shopping trips that are necessary to actually stock up on non-food items, but if you’re headed for groceries, you need to think ahead.

To keep Cathy’s frustrations from happening to you, do the following simple yet often overlooked steps:

1. Look through your frig, freezer, cupboards and pantry to decide what you really need to make meals happen.

2. Write a grocery list to match what you need.

3. Take your grocery list to the store.

4. Shop from your grocery list.

5. Don’t buy anything that is not food!