How To Determine How Often You Should Buy Groceries

Basic calculations for orderly grocery shopping

If any of this resonates with you, it's probable that you already have some sort of grocery routine, or at least a bit of interest in the idea. If you're just beginning, take the time to establish a complete inventory to set a baseline for your purchases. No matter what your current shopping habits are, during your next full grocery run, record your total inventory along with the date of purchase. As items deplete, update your inventory with the date they were finished. Keep this list in a place that’s convenient for you to maintain accurately—whether that’s on your phone, in a notebook, or on a dry erase board—anywhere that makes it easy to stay on top of your tracking. Once you understand how long it takes to go through a box of pasta, you can restock it at the right pace for preparing that Sunday batch of basic tomato sauce.

For instance, if you discover that a box of spaghetti lasts two weeks in your kitchen, you can plan to buy two boxes each month instead of making random purchases and ending up with a collection of half-empty packages in your cabinets. This method also helps you manage items like milk, which can be frustrating when you think you have enough, only to find yourself eating dry cereal with black coffee. Additionally, incorporating occasional spontaneous trips to the market will transform them from last-minute scrambles into successful outings for picking up the freshest produce available.