Hello and Welcome to Lesson 15 of
Our Free "Meal Planning 101" eCourse

Hello, and welcome to your fifteenth lesson.  This week let's think about giving the rest of the family access to the shopping list ;)

Lesson Fifteen; "Well, how could I have known that???"

There you are, coming home from the grocery store, tired and frankly happy to have the shopping done for yet another week.  Everyone should be happy you've done such a great job but, what's that you hear?  Is it complaining?  Yes, someone is upset and asking why you've still not purchased more ______ when they've been wanting some for weeks.  You look at them bewildered and say "Well how could I have known that???".

The solution to this is easy:

1. Post your blank shopping list on the fridge, on the pantry door or wherever works for your family. 
    
2. Let your family members know that if they want something, they need to write it on the list.  
    
3. Explain to them that, if it's on the list, you promise to "consider" buying it. 
    
4. Make sure #3 is clear before you get crazy requests from the kids for things you don't want in your house for them to eat :)
    
5. When your meal planning night comes along, take the shopping list down and fill in the items you need to add for meals.
    
6. Be sure to post a new blank shopping list after you get back from shopping....
    
7. Repeat :)
    

Keeping your grocery/shopping list easily accessible is also a handy way for you to add miscellaneous household items to your shopping list while the thoughts are in your head.

Now, having said all of that, I have to add that letting others add to your shopping list will of course, result in a higher grocery bill.  Just remember that, how much it increases the cost will depend on how many things you "consider" worth purchasing.  After all, you're still the one doing the shopping :).

Have fun ;)

Crystal

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Again, all the sheets are in PDF format which means you need to have Adobe Acrobat to see it.  If you don't have Adobe, click here to download it – it's fast and free.

The Blank Shopping list is available online here. 

The Blank Meal Plan comes in two sizes:
 

1. Letter paper size - you'll also find this version online here.
   
    
2. Legal paper size - you'll find this version online here.

 

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