I have three columns, one each for meat, sides, and fruits/veggies respectively. I have fourteen rows, one for each dinner meal. First, I check my freezer, fridge and pantry to see what we have. Each meat item I have that will be part of a dinner meal will result in an 'X'. If it's a large package of chicken for example, that would make at least two meals for my husband and I, and will result in two consecutive 'X's-- one for each day. I then continue to the next columns until I've made a crude inventory of what we have. Each empty box will represent an item that I need to buy. I take my notebook (and table) shopping with me and now I can make sure I buy exactly the right number of dinner meats, sides, and fruits/veggies. This eliminates buying more than I need and keeps me focused. For each item I buy, I make an "X" in the appropriate box and keep shopping.

Depending on how light my shopping trip is, I can sometimes get away with just using my cave-woman chart as a list-- if I don't have specific items with coupons and I'm just buying whatever is on sale. However, if it's a shopping trip with more items, then I use this table as a first step to making a list.

During the week I have gathered any coupons and or fliers that come in the mail. Based on what we need and who has it on sale, we will shop there. For example, if I know I have to buy four side dishes and my grocery store ad says rice-a-roni or pasta-roni are 89 cents a box AND I have a coupon for 75 cents off two boxes, I will be buying four boxes. I know before I even go into the store that I will be hard-pressed to find any other side-dishes that will cost about 70 cents per meal. And that was just with one coupon on two boxes. If I have a second coupon, I will use it of course, but this is just an example. I'll talk a little bit more about coupons later.