List, list, list! Each and every time I go to the supermarket I write a list. And stick to it. I do always leave one 'and item' on the list though. That item might be a book or it might be a bar of chocolate. It's my allowed splurge. By permitting myself to buy something unnecessary (yet small) it takes away the feelings of wanting to buy lots of things because they look nice or taste nice or are on offer. Supermarkets especially are very good at persuading us to buy things we didn't intend to. Apparently almost a third of purchases are unplanned - by planning for one unplanned thing I sorta head that issue off at the pass.
I also don't carry any money unless I specifically want to buy something. When I go to work I will have a maximum of about five pounds with me but more likely to be a pound or so. This is in case I'm knackered and suddenly decided I need caffeine or something. I won't carry cards at work. When I'm going out with friends I carry the money I need (though I also have a card with me).
What do you do when you realise that your list is incomplete? For example: If you're in an isle picking up tinned tomatoes and remember you want to have a couple of tins of beans, do you pick them up or leave them til next time when you have 'beans' on the list?
Having a meal or a snack before going out shopping is good. So is going through your supplies and making a list of what you need to buy before you leave for the shop.
Next stage is making a (weekly or monthly) meal-plan and buying food to suit the meal-plan.
Checking the shopping basket against the shopping-list before you get to the counter. Getting things not on the list out of the basket.
Also! If I go to a supermarket and want to avoid over-spending, I get a basket instead of a trolley, that way there's less space to fill and I can feel how much I am carrying.
Meal plans! I don't know how I'd do that, I'm pretty *I want it now* with food. I could go back over my food diary and see what I've eaten at home, then make a list of meals/ingredients I suppose.
I do most of what you've said... I don't always do it consistently though. I could take a 'how to shop' shopping list along with my shopping list!
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I also don't carry any money unless I specifically want to buy something. When I go to work I will have a maximum of about five pounds with me but more likely to be a pound or so. This is in case I'm knackered and suddenly decided I need caffeine or something. I won't carry cards at work. When I'm going out with friends I carry the money I need (though I also have a card with me).
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What do you do when you realise that your list is incomplete? For example: If you're in an isle picking up tinned tomatoes and remember you want to have a couple of tins of beans, do you pick them up or leave them til next time when you have 'beans' on the list?
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Next stage is making a (weekly or monthly) meal-plan and buying food to suit the meal-plan.
Checking the shopping basket against the shopping-list before you get to the counter. Getting things not on the list out of the basket.
Also! If I go to a supermarket and want to avoid over-spending, I get a basket instead of a trolley, that way there's less space to fill and I can feel how much I am carrying.
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I do most of what you've said... I don't always do it consistently though. I could take a 'how to shop' shopping list along with my shopping list!
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Don't get tempted by 2-for-1 offers unless they're something that you needed anyway, and that you know will keep long enough for you to use up.
Divide foods mentally into 'necessary' and 'luxury' - and set a limit on the amount of luxury items you can buy per shop.
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This would be my suggestion too.
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