You make a master shopping list, weekly menu... and follow it to shop less, save money more effectively.

Shopping outside the supermarket can be very expensive if you don't plan carefully. Photo: Pinterest

Below is an article by Steph Mickelson, a writer on financial freedom on the website Apartmenttherapy.

Every year, I choose a keyword to guide my lifestyle. “Optimization” is the phrase I chose for this year. I started by listing all the things that take up a lot of time in my life so I could streamline them. I have a notebook full of lists and instructions to make certain aspects of my daily life easier.

Then I came up with three lists that would help me go grocery shopping just once a month.

1. Master Shopping List

I write a list of everything I buy and put them into categories (things that will be used monthly like milk, canned goods, etc.). Then I pin the lists to the fridge and mark off the items that have been used up during the month.

2. List of main meals

I keep a list of all the meals I know how to make in my notebook. It is broken down into the types of nutrients needed in a meal to balance the body's nutrition. From this list, I will be able to implement the next step.

3. Overall plan for a meal

I plan my meals for the first two weeks of the month and then repeat that plan for the next two weeks. I try my best to keep special events and occasions in mind, but a lot happens throughout the month so I have to adjust as needed.

But having a complete plan for each day saves me a lot of time and energy. Plus, removing the pressure of having to come up with different meals for the entire month and then repeating them for the first two weeks saves me a lot of energy, health (and grocery shopping time).

Making a list helps you control your shopping easier. Photo: Pinterest

Benefits of Grocery Shopping Once a Month

1. Stick to your budget

I usually shop from a list, possibly through online shopping. This reduces impulse spending and ensures I stick to my list and budget.

2. Save time

Grocery shopping can be time-consuming, so I only do it once a month. This frees up time in my weekly schedule to do other things.

3. Planning is a must

Grocery shopping once a month forces me to plan my meals for the month. This saves me time in the long run and reduces the stress of having to prepare a new meal every night.

4. Less food waste

Shopping for groceries once a month (and repeating the menu every two weeks) means I tend to use everything in the fridge by the end of the month, wasting less food.

The Challenges of Grocery Shopping Once a Month

1. I will need to pay in advance

I usually plan to have all of my money saved in a month go into a separate grocery account until we need it the following month. This allows us to have money up front to buy all of our groceries at once. If you don’t budget like this, this method may not work for you.

2. Some items will be sold out before the next purchase period.

Since I don’t replenish the items I run out of until next month, I solve this by buying larger quantities of some staples like milk or bananas and other fruits.

Some fruits and vegetables last longer than others, so I use up things like lettuce, zucchini, bananas, and tomatoes at the beginning of the month and save apples, oranges, broccoli, and cauliflower for later. Buying frozen produce is also a great way to keep fruits and vegetables at their most nutritious (as they’re usually frozen at peak ripeness), ready to use whenever you need them.

3. Resist the temptation to step foot in the grocery store.

I had been grocery shopping every two weeks for years. So as the month went by, I had this nagging feeling that I needed to do something. Turns out, I had this idea that I needed to grocery shop every two weeks.

So, I also know that resisting that urge can be difficult. But the time, money, and waste that can be saved by shopping just once a month is well worth it.

According to Ngoisao.net