I am going to show you my real grocery shopping list. In fact, you can even save it and edit it to use as a template for your own grocery shopping list.

My grocery shopping got so much easier when I took the time to inventory what food we had in our pantry, refrigerator, and freezer. Then I used that information to compile a list of all the food we regularly have on hand and put that into a spreadsheet, which is now my actual grocery shopping list that I use each week.

My Actual Grocery Shopping List Spreadsheet

Separated by store sections

Since I am a big Aldi shopper, the spreadsheet is organized into sections the way my Aldi store is set up. There are also items on the list that I don’t buy at Aldi. Those items are still included on the list in the appropriate sections based on the type of product. I do not separate the list by store because I may buy some items at a different store depending on sales or seasonal items that Aldi no longer stocks.

Updated price list

Another important aspect of my shopping list spreadsheet is a column for prices. I try to regularly update the prices on this sheet. This helps me when I am at another store picking up items from my list and I know I also need a particular item that I normally get somewhere else. I will use my price list to see if it is really worth getting that item at the store I am at or if I should wait until I go to Aldi again. Most times the Aldi price is much better.

Keep in mind, these are prices for my local stores. Prices can vary seasonally and regionally.

How I use my list

I print out a copy of the spreadsheet and use the same copy for several weeks (or months). I’ll use a pencil to fill in the quantity of items needed this week. Next week when I will it out, I will erase the numbers for items I don’t need this week.

I am a little nervous to share this list with you. This is my actual grocery shopping list with the food items we normally have on hand and use regularly. It includes lots of healthy ingredients for making meals at home, but it also includes many unhealthy items that my family enjoys.

Some items, like seasonal produce, we don’t have on hand all the time. Also, the prices of fresh produce can vary greatly each week. For some items, primarily berries and avocados, the price I listed is what is generally the regular price, but I won’t often even pay that regular price. I wait for them to go on sale at Aldi or somewhere else and stock up then.

You can buy cereal cheaper by combining coupons with sales at other stores. I used to do this, but it stressed me out finding which store had the best sales and searching for coupons to match the sales. Now I primarily just buy four types of cereal from Aldi that my family enjoys and forget about coupons and sales at other stores.

One item I do still seek sales and coupons for is coffee. My husband drinks coffee daily and I drink it periodically. I have bought a generic brand before and we believe it was more acidic and led to my husband having stomach issues. Now we stick with either Maxwell House or Folgers, depending on which we can get the best deal on and stock up.

When I am in other stores I may compare a few prices using my list to make sure I really am getting the best price for the items my family uses most.

To be able to edit the file, when you are logged in to your own Google Drive, go to File -> Save a copy. Choose what you want to name the file and where you want to save it. Now the copy is available for you to edit as needed.