Countdown to Christmas Baking – Step 2
Step2: How to Organize Your Holiday Baking Shopping List to Make Shopping Faster
Grocery shopping for me is like running a marathon. Depending on the list, I may go to as many as 3 different stores to get everything I need in the amounts I need. So to keep things simple, I list the stores with specific lists of items under each store. Armed with my reusable grocery tote bags, I start with the store that has the majority of my needed supplies and then go from there. If I need cold or frozen foods, I have an insulated bag or hamper in the car.
Keep a running List
Even though you’re planning a special shopping trip for your holiday baking, it’s a good idea to always keep a running shopping list on your fridge. Use a magnetic clipboard to hold paper and pen, and each time you run out of an item that you know you’ll need again, write it on the list. This makes planning for shopping day a lot easier.
A running list is especially important for commodity items like milk, flour, eggs as well as the special things you’ll need like vanilla and spices. It’s easy to forget these items or think that you have them when you don’t. Spices have a short shelf life, so it’s important not to buy them if you don’t need them.
Read Your Recipes Closely
Read your holiday recipes closely while making your grocery list. Add together the amounts of each of the items you’ll need to ensure that you buy the right amount. Nothing is more frustrating than being ½ cup short of almond flour for that torte recipe because you doubled the chocolate macaroon cookies and forgot to add it in your list.
Some people use a spreadsheet that will add up the amounts for them. Others use shopping programs like the ones available on Firefox, Google Play or the App Store on iTunes. Just do a search. There are tons out there. They’ll even sync with your iPhone. I’ve included a short list of free shopping list programs for you below.
Know What You Have
Your running list definitely helps, but after you have written down what you need for your recipes, go shopping in your cupboard and pantry first. Mark off anything you don’t need. Do not skip this step because once again, you want to make sure that you really do have enough cinnamon or nutmeg or vanilla to get the job done, and really don’t want an extra jar of dry spices since they don’t last that long. On the other hand, if you have not purchased sage since last holiday, throw out the old spice and buy new. Your dishes will taste a lot better.
Gather Coupons Together
If you have any coupons (good for you!), it’s a good idea to gather them together now and match them with the items that you are purchasing. This will save you money at the checkout, and also it might give you other ideas of things to bake that you didn’t think of before due to a good sale. Be sure to note on your list that you have a coupon so you’ll remember to pull the coupon at checkout. I’ve included a coupon link for you below.
Finalize Your List
It’s really better to type out your list if possible. Today you can type the list off, send it to your smartphone and mark off things as you buy them, OR you can do it the old-fashioned way with a typed or well-written list that is in the order of your grocery store, if you know it well, or in the order of the type of goods you’re buying, such as Dairy, Canned, Fresh Produce, Frozen, Spices, Baking Items, and so on.
However you choose to organize your list, the important part is that you do try to take a list with you and that you’ve checked your recipes with what you have or do not have at home. The fewer times you need to run back to the store for a last-minute item, the more time you’ll save when it’s time for holiday baking.
Free Printable Grocery Lists
www.freeprintablegrocerylist.com
www.workingmom.com/grocery_list/
www.workingmom.com/coupons.htm
Category: Baking Tips
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