Shopping Guides

There's never been a bad time to try and save money. Groceries are one of your most important outgoings, and you can't live without them! However, as essential as they are, you needn't be breaking the bank when going grocery shopping. How do you do this? By using a cheap grocery list, of course.

Cheap Eats

There may be many reasons you want to reduce your grocery budget. Maybe you're in a situation where you need to tighten your belt a little. You might even be trying to put as much cash away as possible for a big life change, like buying a house or getting married!

Regardless of the "why", what's more important is the "how". That's what we're going to give you through answering some frequently asked questions. That's because making your grocery bill smaller is not just about following instructions, it's also about being savvy when it comes to spending.

We'll also provide you with a budget you can use in the grocery store. However, you can skip straight to the free printable cheap shopping list template if you wish to.

Cheap Grocery List FAQs

Should I put frozen food on my cheap shopping list?

Absolutely.

Did you know that frozen food is generally cheaper than fresh? Not only that, but it's just as  as fresh! This means that you can still make a healthy grocery list on a budget when opting for frozen food.

But why is this?

It's because the food is frozen close to their source at their peak ripeness. This means that they lose little to no nutrients in the process. Also, because they don't have to be rushed over land and sea to your supermarket. This means transport costs are lower: a saving that is then passed on to you.

However, whilst frozen food is generally cheaper, it's not always the case. You'll want to avoid fruit and vegetable "mixes" or marinated meat. These cost considerably more than your standard frozen versions or combination of fresh ingredients. Prepared products are also more expensive than buying fresh and doing the preparation yourself. Do you really need to be spending extra money on frozen chopped onions when fresh ones are cheaper? They're convenient but costly.

Should I buy canned food?

Of course!

Just like with frozen food, it can be just as healthy as fresh food. This makes it a must-have when building a grocery shopping list on a budget. Canned goods are excellent for certain products, especially legumes. However, you'll need to exact a little bit more caution if you're looking to make a cheap .

This is because some canned food can have added salt, saturated fat, and sugar. Whilst the food loses no nutrients during the canning process, these additives can make them not as healthy as they can be. But, a little investigation and label checking before you buy can help you avoid this.

To find out more about why you should be adding canned food to your low budget grocery list, read our guide to buying .

Is fresh food ever good to put on a budget grocery list?

Yes.

There are times when fresh food is actually cheaper than frozen or canned varieties: such as when they're in season.

This is because a lot of products suddenly becomes available locally, meaning even lower transport costs. So, be sure to keep track of what produce is in season, and buy these fresh accordingly.

Also, sometimes fresh is best for what you want to use items for. You're going to want fresh spinach for a salad, not frozen. Also, frozen raspberries and strawberries are great for smoothies, but not in a fruit salad as they'll go mushy once they thaw.

Creating a cheap grocery list is not about shunning fresh food altogether. You certainly will end up buying more frozen and canned food, but you'll certainly still be needing to visit the fresh section of the supermarket.

Should I buy things in bulk?

It depends.

Yes, buying in bulk is cheaper. But not all bulk buys are best. It depends on what you're going to buy and whether you've got the space and equipment to store it and the knowledge about  it properly.

Fresh food can be frozen at home if there's a good bulk deal on it. But you need to know how to freeze it properly, and also have a big enough freezer in order to do so.

Dried food, particularly grains, can be kept in a cupboard or in the pantry. But not only do you need the space to do this, but you'll also need equipment like large food containers or food clips. Otherwise, you could risk insects or moisture getting into your food, causing it to become spoiled and therefore thrown away prematurely. This will cost you more in the long run.

How can I save money on basics, like milk, eggs, and bread?

It's quite difficult to save money on these. It mostly boils down to where you shop and the prices they charge.

You can make some savings on bread by shopping towards the end of the day where bread baked in-store gets reduced for a quick sale.

Milk is another thing you could potentially save on. Buying UHT milk instead of fresh is generally a cheaper option. Also, because it won't start to go bad quickly until you open it, you can make a saving by buying it in bulk and storing it until you need it. The same can be said for UHT juice, too.

What is a good budget for groceries?

It's not really possible to give an answer to this. Your grocery budget is dependent on 2 main factors:

• Where you live
• You personal circumstances

Regarding where you live, we're not just talking about the country or state. We're talking about your immediate locality. For example, groceries in New York are probably going to cost more than shopping for them in Birmingham, Alabama. This is due to the differences in the cost of living between the 2 cities. It also depends on what types and brands of stores you are able to access easily from your home in your neighborhood.

As for personal circumstances, your salary, bills, and other outgoings you have. Then, you may have dietary requirements or health issues you need to accommodate. Halal or kosher meat might be more expensive or cheaper depending on where you live. If you're gluten intolerant, buying gluten-free products means probably having a more generous budget, even though it still needs to be "cheap".

Put these together, and everyone's "budget" is going to be unique and, in some cases, very different to someone else's. So, take the time to figure out a good budget for groceries that works for you and for what's available to you.

What else can I do to shop for groceries cheap?

There's a whole host of tips, tricks, hacks, and advice on the internet to help you save money when grocery shopping. You can start by reading our guide on or learning what supermarkets like to use to get you to spend more so you can avoid them.

Your Budget Grocery List Template

Now that you're a little more clued up as to how to shop cheaper, we'll let you head to the shops with our free printable cheap shopping list template. But remember, it's only a guide. So, make sure you make any adjustments as you see fit to make it your very own fabulously frugal low budget grocery list.

Grocery shopping can be expensive, and that’s why any tips that can help us know how to save money on groceries are always welcome. Of course, there is no magic formula. But using one or all of the following tips will help keep the cost of your groceries down.

12 Tips on How to Save Money on Groceries

#1 Hunt Down the "Reduced" Section

All stores offer promotions to sell the last few items of stock, especially if they're close to their use/sell by date. So, stay alert and hunt special offers as they can help you save on groceries. Find out where they get sold (the location might change from time to time) and what time stock gets placed there. Remember to check the products closely, especially for expiry dates, before putting them in your basket. Otherwise, what seems like a quick saving can actually be an extra expense if it ends up in the garbage unused.

#2 Compare the Cost per Unit

While shopping, you can easily find product labels on the shelves with the item’s cost per 100g, 1kg, 1ltr, or any other relevant unit of measurement. It's called "price per unit of measure". That’s how you can compare different brands of similar or same products, without doing complicated math in your head, or reaching for your smartphone's calculator app.

#3 Visit Fewer Aisles

The more shopping aisles you go down, the more likely you are to fill your basket with things you don’t really need to buy. Research found that consumers who visited fewer aisles buy almost 20% less unplanned items compared to buyers who visited all lanes.

#4 Avoid Aisles Filled with Temptations and Promotions

Cookies, chocolate, candy, and cake are the Achille's heel of many shoppers. By avoiding aisles with these alluring products in them, you don't have to face the temptation of these goodies. This means you'll save more money by not buying them.

Also, nowadays supermarkets and grocery stores tend to sell and promote non-grocery products such as clothing, and home and garden products that you don't necessarily need. Do you really need to buy a pair of sandals when you came in just for tomatoes and ? If you give in, these items will quickly push the bill up.

#5 Use a Smaller Cart or Basket

The bigger cart you get, the more you'll want to fill it. In fact, one study showed that doubling the size of a person's grocery shopping cart meant that they spent 40% more than those using a smaller cart or basket. Don’t be scared that you won't fit all your shopping into a smaller cart or basket. The size of all of these has significantly increased over the years.

#6 Use a Shopping List or Shopping List App

Using a shopping list is one of the best tools you can use to help you curtail your spending. If you have your shopping list with you, it will help you stick to precisely what's on it and not buy anything extra. This means less unplanned purchases and less unexpected costs. It has also been scientifically proved that those who make preparations before shopping, such as making and using a shopping list, buy less unplanned items.

If you're not keen on making a shopping list on pen and paper, why not go one step further and download a shopping list app, like ? These apps can help you with your grocery shopping even more, with functions such as list sharing, and even the ability to add prices to calculate the total cost of your groceries. It's a great tool to help you budget better and save money.

#7 Don't be Taken In by Conveniently Placed "Paired" Products

Supermarkets use a plethora of to make you spend more. One of them is putting products in places that to seem super convenient for you. But, they are actually put there to make you spend more than you need to.

Think about it. Why are pie crusts placed next to apples? Why is sushi rice next to the fish? These complementary, or "paired", products are set strategically next to the food in order to make you spend more as they're usually the more expensive version of the same product.

If you planned to make sushi or apple pie, don't pick up the "paired" products, no matter how convenient they seem. Take the time to visit the rice or bakery aisle and buy the cheaper product instead.

#8 Don’t Buy Anything Placed Near Checkouts

Imagine that you're in a long checkout queue. The magazines look interesting, and the chocolate looks delicious. You start to think that maybe you need some chewing gum or a bottle of cold water. Everything there is there to tempt you at the checkout. But resist the urge to buy anything in this area. You really don't need it, and you really don't need to spend extra on them.

#9 Don’t Buy What's at Eye Level

Grocery stores are a marketing battlefield and you are the target of greedy CEOs. When you realize this, you might start to wonder why is it that the most colorful, flashy, and more expensive items are displayed at the height of your eyes. Well, because it makes you more likely to buy them.

So, don’t be afraid to stoop a little or stretch that little bit higher for items that are better for you and your budget. The best prices are hidden there.

#10 Take a Picture of the Inside of Your Fridge

If you're not using a shopping list or shopping list app, why not take a picture of what's inside your refrigerator? This is another way to help you stay on track and buy only the necessities. If you're not sure whether you're low or out of mayonnaise or yogurt, for example, all you have to do is glance at the picture to find out. This will help you avoid buying things you don’t need.

#11 Check Your Basket Before Going to the Checkout

Take a good look at your cart before going to check out. Ask yourself if you are really going to eat 5 packs of cheese, or if you really need that bag of chips.

There's often too much pressure in the queue to not question your choices, and keep them in your basket. So, it is better to take a few seconds before heading to the checkout to think carefully about what you've put in your cart. Remember, you always have the right to hand things over to the cashier if you do not want to buy them.

#12 Stick to Seasonal Products

Having shopping habits that follow the seasonal availability of products actually helps lower your spending. Out of season fruit and vegetables are usually more expensive. This is because they're grown in other countries and then shipped to the store. When produce is in season where you are, there is more of it locally. This means they are cheaper because they don't have to travel as far. Not only will these be tastier, but wallet-friendlier, too.

Make A Magnificent Save

As you can see, there are many ways to answer the question “how to save on groceries”. We encourage you to test each of these tips and start enjoying the extra money saved on your grocery shopping.

The internet is full of lists and information about "amazing" and "genius" gadgets, touting how they will revolutionize our lives. The kitchen is an area that isn't spared this onslaught, and there are new kitchen gadgets, seemingly every week. They stimulate our intrigue and spending, causing us to put them onto our kitchen gadget . But, all too often, when we finally buy them and put them to use, these "best kitchen gadgets" either turn out to not be as useful as they claim. Or, we use them just the once and then let them gather dust in a cupboard somewhere. So, what cool kitchen gadgets and kitchen tools are actually worth buying?

Great or Grating?

Well, we've sifted through the web's countless listicles and photo boards to come up with a distilled list of really nifty unique kitchen gadgets that are actually worth your while and your money. But, not content with just our opinion, we're going to back it up with user ratings from Amazon.

However, we're aware that user reviews are not always what they appear. Some could be doctored, coerced by companies offering free products in exchange for 5-star reviews, or are straight up fake.

Also, some of these products spawn numerous cheap knock-offs. These tend to be not as effective as better known, and more expensive, brands. But, as cheap and appealing as these are, some might be flimsy and break easily. They might also be downright dangerous to use.

Therefore, even with our blessing and the user-review rating to support certain products, we would always advise buyer caution when purchasing them. We would recommend going for products from well-known brands and buy them from genuine sellers and stockists.

We'll even provide you with a cool kitchen gadgets and kitchen tools shopping list. You can either read an explanation of each item, or skip straight to the list if you'd rather.

10 Genius Kitchen Gadgets Countdown

#10 3-Tier Oven Rack

Amazon rating: 3.9/5

Ovens can seem quite spacious. But that space isn't necessarily able to be used all at once. Racks that cover the entire width of the oven make it difficult to cook several things at once that require varying amounts of headroom.

The solution?

A 3-tier oven rack.

These racks will take up only a portion of the width of your oven, meaning you can cook vegetables and other trimmings on one side, and a chicken casserole in your favorite cast iron dish, for example, on the other.

The racks can also be used to allow food to cool. It's a great way to use your oven space better, and cook more food at once.

#9 Herb Strippers

Amazon rating: 3.9/5

These might sound a little saucy, but they're practical and ingenious.

Herbs and leafy greens usually have bitter stems that you don't want to be using when cooking. Think of thyme, rosemary, and kale. Trying to pick the leaves off of the stems can be time-consuming. However, you can use these herb strippers instead.

How they work is so simple, you'll kick yourself for not having thought of it yourself. Just put the stalk through the appropriately sized hole, and pull it through. Then, sit back and watch the leaves come cleanly off the stem. Get one with a variety of holes so you can strip a wider variety of herbs and greens.

#8 Spaghetti Measurer

Amazon rating: 4.2/5

We've all cooked far too much pasta than we need. So much so, that there are even memes about this.

But, having too large a portion could lead to weight gain, simply because it's more calories than you need.

Spaghetti is one of the usual culprits, as it's difficult to estimate portions because of its shape. So, why not use a spaghetti measurer?

These are tools with holes in them that represent a certain number of portions. Simply fit as much spaghetti through the hole for the portions you need, and you've got the correct amount you need.

It's a simple, but effective, way to control your meal sizes and ward off any unwanted weight gain.

#7 Bluapple

Amazon rating: 4.3/5

Knowing  products properly is key to keeping them fresh and usable for longer. When it comes to many fruit and vegetables, the one thing that makes them ripen or go bad quicker is the ethylene gas that they produce. Shoppers can go some ways to stymie the gas being produced, such as covering the stem on bananas with plastic wrap, but wouldn't it be great to just trap the gas?

Well, that's what Bluapple does.

How it works is that there's a packet full of a substance (sodium permanganate) inside that absorbs ethylene. These easy-to-install sachets last for 3 months.

As well as ensuring your fruit and veg are stored well, Bluapple will help them last even longer.

#6 Over-the-Sink Chopping Boards

Amazon rating: 4.4/5

Every cook wants a sizable world-class kitchen. But not every one gets to have one in their home. As keen a culinarian as you might be, your kitchen might be more humble than humungous. Therefore, saving space is paramount to being able to cook great meals, especially when it comes to preparing your ingredients.

Every kitchen will almost certainly have a sink, and, when you're preparing your ingredients, it's space that isn't usually used.

So, why not do you chopping over it?

Extendable and adjustable boards will enable you to create a sturdy chopping surface over your sink. Some over-the-sink chopping boards also come with in-built collapsable colanders. This means you can wash your ingredients straight after chopping them. It's an ingenious way to get the most out of the limited space you may have in your kitchen.

#5 Spoon and Pot Lid Holder

Amazon rating: 4.4/5

Spoon holders are handy and have been around for a while.

But whilst you have somewhere to hold your spoon, sometimes finding somewhere to place your pot lid whilst cooking can be tricky. This is especially true if you have a small amount of space in your kitchen.

Well, never fear as that's now been covered.

There are now super genius kitchen gadgets that are designed to hold both spoon and pan lid at the same time if needed.

#4 Herb Scissors

Amazon rating: 4.6/5

Herbs can turn a bland dish into a spectacle of flavor. But chopping them can be bothersome.

Cue: herb scissors.

These are basically scissors with several blades so you can chop up bunches of herbs super quickly and with minimal effort. Make sure you get one with a cleaning comb to clean between the blades.

#3 Adjustable Rolling Pin

Amazon rating: 4.6/5

Baking is an art and a science.

Some find bake challenging because of the precision needed for creations to turn out well.

Pastry thickness is something that is difficult to get right. Usually, you'll just have to roll it out and either know or guess whether you've got the thickness correct. You also need to hope that it's even all around.

But, this genius adjustable rolling pin can really help you out. By placing or removing rings at the sides of the pin, you can roll out a perfectly even and specifically thick (or thin) bit of pastry.

Roll on, MacDuff!

#2 Pork Shredder Claws

Amazon rating: 4.8/5

Pulled pork has become an incredibly popular dish these days: you can get practically pulled pork anything.

But nothing beats making your own homemade pulled pork.

However, "pulling the pork" with your usual fork can be a bit time-consuming.

Now, you can don some pork-shredding knuckle dusters and use your fists to shred your meat quickly and with style.

We admit we were worried that these look far cooler than they are practical. However, buyers have highly rated them and have said that they are indeed as practical as they are epic-looking.

#1 Fruit Bowl With Banana Tree

Amazon rating: 4.9/5

The idea of putting fruit in a bowl is nothing new. If you eat a lot of fruit, yours is undoubtedly going to be overflowing with delicious fruity treats. You can either healthily eat them by themselves, or chop them up to make your ice cream a little less naughty.

There are many racks that look cool, like spiral tunnels for round fruit, or little hammocks that are quite cutesy.

But there's one type that is better using only one simple addition: a banana tree.

You probably usually just place all your fruit into the one bowl. But if you have bananas too, this isn't the . Hanging them from somewhere prevents them bruising caused by the weight against the surface they're placed on. So, a bowl with a banana tree can keep all your fruit in one place and as fresh as possible.

But, do you really need a banana tree? Well, given that it's the  in the UK, USA, and Canada, you're likely to already be buying them.

It might not look as flashy as other kitchen products, but it's simple design and simple addition, makes it one of the best kitchen products to buy if you're a fruit-o-phile.

To the Shop, Chop Chop!

Now that we've whetted your appetite for these fantastic cool kitchen gadgets, all that's left for you is go out and buy them. Therefore, feel free to use our free printable shopping list.

Grocery shopping is complicated stuff. Whilst making a shopping list can make things easier, creating one can be daunting if you don’t know where to start or how to organize things. Searching the internet brings up hundreds of shopping list templates from the basic to the incredibly complex. So, we'll share you our secret to creating a super simple shopping list, as well as provide you with a handy simple grocery list template you can use.

Keep It Simple, Shopper

Grocery shopping can be a bit of an ordeal. There are decisions to make, items to find, and temptations to avoid. Not to mention running a gauntlet of that supermarkets employ to prise your hard-earned cash from you.

One of the best ways to make grocery shopping easier is making and using a shopping list. We'd recommend using a  to build a great, easy to use shopping list with lots of smart functions.

However, we understand that many still like to have something tangible. Even in a digital age, many people still prefer to put pen to paper when making a grocery list. But if you don't know how to start writing one, you can potentially overwhelm yourself researching too many different ways and approaches to making one.

So, how do you pare things right back to being as simple as possible without sacrificing effectivity?

Well, we think a simple grocery list should have no more than 4 categories on it. But these can't just be any random categories. They should be:

• Fresh fruit & Vegetables
• Fridge
• Freezer
• Countertop & cupboards/pantry

So, let's take you through 3 reasons why you should have only these 4 categories on your simple grocery list. However, you can skip straight to our pre-made free printable shopping list template if you wish.

3 Reason Why You Should Use Only 4 Categories On Your Super Simple Shopping List Template

#1 It Makes It Easier To Find Items In Store

A more complex grocery list might organize categories to . It's handy but is a lot of effort. Also, supermarkets like to move things around every so often, so you'll need to change your categories when they happen.

So, it's best to keep it to these 4. This is because, although the categories may seem broad, items in the supermarket are still sold in these same general sections regardless of what gets shifted around and the variations in layout between different stores.

Fruit and vegetables are always sold in one single area. The refrigerated section of the store is always where you'll find all the milk, cheese, meat, and yogurt. Freezers selling frozen fruit, vegetables, and ice cream are always close together. Other items, like and olive oil, are everywhere else.

Therefore, organizing your list this way ensures simplicity, but makes sure what you need to find is still grouped in the general areas that they can be found in, speeding up your shop.

#2 It Matches How You Store Things At Home, Making It Easier to Check What You Have

If you're making a shopping list, you might want to check what items, or how much of a particular item, you may already have. Where will you look to check this? Where they're stored, of course.

By arranging your grocery list into the categories that match where you store items in your kitchen, you can quickly and easily jot down what you need to by when you look in that specific area because it's the same as your shopping list categories.

"Fresh Fruit and Vegetables" is the only section that takes a bit of work. This is because, depending on the type of fruit or veg you have, and its ripeness, they can be found on either the countertop, in the freezer, or in the fridge. But it's easy enough to pop them into the correct shopping list section as you find them.

To find out more about how to store fruit and vegetables to get the best out of their shelf life, you can visit our "" section.

#3 It's Easy To Look At

Having too many categories on your shopping list might lead to information overload. Keeping it at a nice simple 4 means your list is not going to look complicated or overcrowded.

Having this information presented in a clear manner means you're going to be able to process the information better. This means you're less likely to overlook an item and forget about it when at the supermarket.

Your Super Simple Grocery List Template

Now we've gone through the reasoning behind how to make a super simple shopping list, we present to you the template itself. You're more than welcome to use it as a basis to make your own more complex version. Eventually, you can gradually build it up to make it brilliantly bespoke to your shopping needs with extra handy details.

You're getting married! You have the perfect financé and you want your wedding day to be just perfect. But in order for that to happen, the less than perfect truth is that you have to do a lot of planning and preparation. The sheer mass of advice, tips, and testimonies online for making sure getting hitched goes without a hitch can be staggering and overwhelming. But we're here to take you through 7 steps to help you create your own perfect wedding preparation checklist so that preparing for your big day isn't too big a headache.

The Course Of True Love (And Weddings) Never Did Run Smooth

Wedding dresses. Cakes. Catering. Tuxedos. Rings. Bridesmaids. Shoes. Guests. Venue. Band. Drunk dancing Uncle. Flowers. Photographers. And much, much more.

Good grief!

Since when did coming together involve running the risk of mentally falling apart?

But don't panic!

Proper planning can really help and we're hoping to help you out with part of that wedding planning process.

A cornerstone of good wedding planning is having a wedding preparation checklist that is as comprehensive as possible. With so much going on with wedding preparation, it's easy to forget something that's small at the time, which then grows into a big headache later down the line.

But rather than offer our version of what should be on a checklist, we'd rather help you make your own unique checklist. Therefore we've narrowed the process down to 7 easy steps and will take you through each step 1 by 1.

7-Step Wedding Preparation Checklist

Step 1: Start As Early As Possible

Early wedding planning really is key to pulling off a successful wedding. Some wedding checklists even suggest starting 16 months prior to the big day.

Obviously, this depends on how long an engagement period you've decided upon. You might have more, or even less, time to get your wedding sorted, including creating any wedding shopping lists, etc.

The bigger and grander the wedding ceremony, the more planning will be needed, and the earlier you might need to start. But even if your wedding errs more on the side of humble and low-key, getting things sorted early will mean less stress the closer to W-Day you get.

Step 2: One Master List or Several Specific Lists?

Before you even start to put together your checklist or marriage shopping list, you need to decide exactly how you want to go about organizing and maintaining things.

Some people might want one huge master list with everything on it. This means everything can be viewed in one place in one go. But this can be quite daunting if there's a lot of items on it.

Therefore, you might want to consider making checklists for specific parts of the wedding such as:

• Rehearsal
• Ceremony
• Reception
• Wedding party
• Honeymoon

This compartmentalizes everything and makes it more digestible. It's also great if you're delegating people to look after certain aspects of your wedding, or you want nuanced control over more complex areas.

However, try not to do both. Having both a master and a specific lists means you'll have to make sure both are updated when things get done. Fail to do this effectively and you could end up with duplicates, or even end up leaving something unfinished because of miscommunication or omission.

Step 3: Gather Checklist Inspiration

We certainly admit the sheer tsunami of information and readily available checklists on the internet is overwhelming. However, dipping your toe into the water of it all isn't a bad idea.

As copious as checklists and wedding shopping lists are online, they do contain knowledge and experience that could prove useful.

Because there's so much to think about your wedding, it's implausible for you to remember and cover every tiny detail. Therefore, checking others' lists might illuminate you to things that might have been left by the wayside.

However, don't go overboard, or you risk becoming bedazzled and bamboozled. Try looking at some of the most popular results from your search. They're top results for a reason and should serve you well.

Step 4: Make It Your Own

Whilst checklist inspiration is a good thing, you still need to bear in mind that your wedding is utterly unique. Whilst it might share many qualities and aspects with other weddings, meaning the preparation might be similar in some areas, your wedding really is like no other. So why should your checklist be like every other?

This is why we think it's best to build your own checklist rather than just use one found on the internet. Whilst someone else's printable wedding checklist might be good overall, we guarantee you'll be scribbling extra things that you need to do, or editing out things that are irrelevant. This is especially so if your wedding has specific cultural or religious considerations or practices that need to be incorporated into your plans.

It's also important if you're incorporating some unusual elements to an otherwise traditional wedding, or doing something completely different. Doing a surprise dance routine for the procession? You'll need to factor in rehearsal time for those involved. Getting married on a rollercoaster or underwater in scuba gear? Then your checklist is going to be very different from the norm.

It's your wedding. Therefore it should be your wedding checklist and yours alone.

Step 5: Decide on Your Checklist's Timeframes

Now that you've decided on how to organize your checklist or checklists, and know what you'll be putting on them, it's not time to decide on the timeframes for getting them done.

What timeframes you want to put onto your checklist depends entirely on how you want to organize yourself and what control you desire over each area of your wedding.

Many checklist timeframes divide things into monthly timeframes the further away from your wedding day you are. Then, they break things down into weekly ones one or two months before the wedding. Lastly, they go into days for the final furlong/week.

But you might want to start organizing things by weeks or days a lot earlier, depending on how best you work when organizing things. Whatever you decide, so it in a way that makes you feel comfortable and in control of planning wedding necessities.

Step 6: Prepare to Delegate

Weddings are big undertakings. So, why not get a little help from your friends and family? Many hands make light work, after all.

You might want them to help plan specific aspects of your upcoming wedding. Maybe task a close friend with doing some preliminary research for your wedding dress? Or ask a family member to scout out some potential wedding venues?

Or not. It's entirely up to you. Too many cooks also spoil the broth, after all. Delegate as much or as little as your comfortable and in control of.

If you are going to delegate, you might want to consider making your wedding preparation checklist or wedding shopping list on a shopping list app. Chose one that has a sharing function, meaning those you've delegated a task to can edit and check things off themselves. You might also be able to instantly see the changes or receive a timely notification about them, depending on the app.

Technology, as well as close relatives and acquaintances, can certainly help out.

Step 7: Plan Beyond the Wedding

When making your checklist, be sure to make sure it doesn't stop at the wedding itself. There's still plenty of things to do afterwards.

Have you thought about returning any suit hires? What about "thank you" cards? Have your planned a honeymoon? Any official documents you need to fill out if you're changing your last name? Any wedding presents that need to be returned (hopefully not)?

The fallout from the wedding won't be as magnitudinous as what you needed to do before it. But the post-wedding humdrum is still something that needs to be prepared for least if spiral out of control or make you encounter unexpected snags.

Love and Marriage

Now that you're prepped with 7 steps to making a brilliant wedding preparation checklist, the only thing left for you to do is to make it. If you ever need reminding of how to make this checklist, you can also download and print off this free summary to help you.

What could be more glorious than having a new addition to the family? Having a child is a labor of love and care. But with all the doctor’s visits, baby-showers, and dealing with the changes pregnancy has on you and your family, have you even started to think about a newborn baby shopping list for all those newborn essentials you need?

Baby Boom

It really goes without saying that looking after the physical and medical side of pregnancy is most important. But at the same time, thinking about what you need to be buying and preparing for your baby’s arrival shouldn’t be left by the wayside. Not only will you be experiencing a lot of physical, mental, and emotional changes leading up to labor, there are still many extra challenges after the birth. This means you might find putting together lists of things you need a little difficult either side of your baby’s birth.

So, let us help take some of the pressure of pregnancy and early parenthood by providing you with a newborn baby shopping list. We’ll also go through some handy dos and don’ts. But, you're more than welcome to skip straight to the newborn baby products list.

Newborn Baby Shopping List Dos & Don’ts

Dos

Get others to help - if you’re the baby-carrying parent, you’re going to be going through a lot. So don’t feel bad about delegating things and getting some help on board. Even if you’re the parent providing support, you’ll also face some challenges and might need an extra pair of hands. But remember, too many cooks spoil the broth. You don’t want the people who are supposed to be helping you ironically cause you more stress.

Prepare as early as possible - there are so many things to sort out when having a baby that makes this point much easier said than done. But, if you can get everything together as soon as possible, should any sudden events or unexpected things happen, you’ll have everything primed and ready to go.

Check your local laws - did you know that some hospitals won’t let the baby come home with you until you have an approved baby car seat properly fitted in your vehicle? Is the name you want to give your new baby acceptable? In some countries, you can only choose from an official baby registry of names. Laws and rules like this are really worth checking. Finding you’re not ready for such things can be a real unexpected bugbear.

Prepare for a long hospital stay - it might turn out that you won’t need to be spending extra time at the hospital. But if you do, there’s nothing worse than not being prepared for it. Making sure you’re equipped for any extra nights there certainly doesn't hurt. You needn’t bring it all with you when you get admitted into hospital either. Your supporting partner, family member, or friend, can bring the extra provisions when needed, meaning you won’t have to worry about bringing too much with you straight away.

Share your newborn baby shopping list - using a with a sharing function can really help get people on board to help you prepare. Those who you’ve shared it with might even have some of the items you need and might lend, give or sell items cheaply to you. You can also make a wishlist for your baby shower using one and share it with your friends. This is another great and popular way to get some of the items that you need without duplication.

Don’ts

Buy everything new - if you’re not careful, the costs of having a baby can mount up even before they’re born. You can save a lot by looking to see if you can get hand-me-downs from friends and family.

You can even buy some items second hand from thrift stores and charity shops. You can also look for online support groups that might have members that are able to sell unneeded items or even give them away from free in your area.

Newborn Baby Products List

We know you’re pressed for time, so we’ll get straight to providing you with your list for the hospital and for when your baby comes home.

Bouncing Baby Joy!

We hope that this shopping list will help you better usher in a new baby boy or baby girl into your family.