The Simple But Brilliant Tip That Saves Me $20 on Groceries Every Single Shop

Marygrace Taylor
Marygrace Taylor
Marygrace Taylor is a freelance nutrition and food writer, former food editor, cookbook author, and avid Great British Bake Off fan. She lives in Philadelphia with her husband and son, where they cook together every day in their tiny kitchen.
published Jan 14, 2025
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Grocery haul from ALDI on dining table
Credit: Sarah

I’m a big proponent of list-making when it’s time to go food shopping, for obvious reasons. (Can’t forget the milk!) I used to just rely on a random list written in the Notes app on my phone. But I upped my shopping game big time a couple of years ago when I switched to making what I call my Rewrite Method.

Before every trip to the market, I write a paper list with the items I need in the order of when I’ll pass each item in the store. I started doing it during the COVID-19 pandemic to get in and out as quickly as possible. After seeing how much time, effort, and money it actually saved me, I never looked back.

Credit: Marygrace Taylor

Why You Should Always Use My Rewrite Method

You might wonder: Is it really worth taking the time to do this? The answer is absolutely, definitely yes — and for several reasons.

  • There’s no backtracking or forgetting items. Having everything written in order helps me avoid having to re-circle to another part of the store for something I should’ve grabbed earlier. I no longer run back to the produce section (by the entrance) to grab a head of lettuce or carton of berries when I’m nearing the checkout line because they were at the bottom of my list. 
  • It actually saves me money. Lists generally make it about 1,000 times easier for me to avoid the $20 in impulse buys that drive up my grocery bill (fancy almond butter, anyone?). Also? My Rewrite Method helps me not forget stuff, which means I don’t have to go back to the store the next day to pick up an item I missed … and inevitably end up grabbing three or four extra things while I’m there. 
  • I’m less distracted and shop faster. You could totally make an ordered list on your phone. But I find that having to constantly check my device to peek at my list really slows me down. One minute I’m checking to see if we need avocados, and the next I’m reading a notification from my kid’s school about Purple Sweater Dress-Down Day and texting my friend about the annoyance of themed dress-down days (IYKYK!).
  • Plus, I’ve become a more considerate shopper. My city grocery store is small and crowded. My paper list isn’t distracting the way a phone list can be, so I’m able to move through the space efficiently without blocking foot traffic.

Before You Use the Rewrite Method, a Few Tips

Making a Rewrite Method is easy, and it takes just a few minutes. The only thing you need (other than a pen and a piece of paper) is a basic knowledge of your store’s layout, so you know which sections you’ll hit and in what order during your shopping trip.

Here’s what I do:

  • I keep a random running list of whatever I need in my Notes app. If I’m meal planning for the week, I’ll also figure out which of those ingredients I need and dump that in the list too.
  • When I’m ready to go shopping, I’ll open up the Notes app and re-write the list in store-layout order on a piece of paper. When I can, I’ll even try to be specific within a given store section. (Beets always get listed before bananas, for instance, because I always pass the beets first.) When I write something on the paper list, I’ll delete it from the Notes app.

Also, if you happen to have a school-aged kid (like I do) you might be able to get them to write your paper list for you. My first-grader gets very excited about jotting everything down on paper and deleting each thing from my phone.

Finally? If the thought of trying to write down everything in order from scratch hurts your brain (no judgment; I’ve been there), you could make a list by sections (think: produce, bread, frozen, etc.). It’ll still help you stay organized!  

Got a tip for saving money and navigating the grocery store? Tell us about it in the comments below.