Okay people do you
Shop first then plan your meals around that?
Or do you make a list and plan your meals first then shop according to the list.

> Shop first then plan your meals around that

This is what i do ......

> make a list and plan your meals first then shop according to the list.

This is what i wish i was organised enough to do !

I plan all my meals, each week I go through my cook books and decide what to have the following week, but I am trying to lose weight AND im not working at the mo (on maternity leave) so I have the time and the inclination !!

I do deviate if there is anything on offer though .......

I wander in having left my list a)at home or b) in the office.
I do keep a list of what is in the freezer so I try to remember what is on that list and buy veg/salad/spuds to go with that.
I always buy fruit juice, benecol, bread, eggs, dog dental sticks and their odd chewies (Im organised as far as they are concerned). Being a loo freak I usually buy toilet rolls and loo blue things. Get fed up and go home, when I do I usually find the list and re write what i forgot.

I shop usually Tuesday & Friday when OH & I start with a starbucks and a bun and are a lot more organised because he goes up and down all aisles, I drift around I hate grocery shopping. Now shoes is a different matter altogether.

i always make a list then end up buying things that i don't really need as well. usually forgetting one of the important things on the list.
i must admit my cupboards are usually pretty well stoked ,as i like to keep most things in so i can just about make anything i we fancy.
i can't seem to go into a supermarket without spending too much, so i try and limit  the amount of times i go.
my sister used to be really well controlled and only ever buy what she had planned for the week.
still despite all this i'm not as bad as my husband who will buy everything on offer, usually fattening things and not have one whole meal in the trolly. 

Grab it as I run through town on way to the bus/train station!!

This leads to interesting combos like sweet n sour chix with spaghetti !!

We only eat "properly" when my hubbie hunts and gathers!

> Shop first then plan your meals around that?
> Or do you make a list and plan your meals first then shop according to the list

A bit of both! I shop to a list of food for a few meals (I shop weekly) with a total budget, so the rest of the meals are decided in the shop, depending on what offers are on (I have a very tight budget at the mo.!).

I do a bit of both too!!

I do a 2 week meal planner and then write a shopping list from that but if there are any really good offers on in the shops (or loads of stuff on the 'yellow sticker' shelf :-) ) then I'll pick some extra things up too and then adjust the meal planner.

Claire

Have to say if it wasn't for the fact dh spends far too much when he shops I would send him.  He loves food & is creative, he wouldn't need a list.  I'm not that bothered about food (apart from chilli prawn spaghetti with a load of grated cheese) so find supermarket shopping boring.

In fact I hate shopping!  someone posted they leave their list at home/office.  I leave mine in the car & have a half full trolley & can't be bothered to go & get it.  I get half way around the shop & find none of the food inspiring, give up the will to live briefly then force myself around the 2nd half of the shop purely because of the other mouths to feed at home (if it was up to me it would be salad & fish every night, so I wouldn't need the 2nd half of the shop - having said that the alcohol is in the last section isn't it?;-))
Hate clothes shopping even more.  Funny the only shopping I enjoy is for kids books/equipment or dog stuff :-D (can spend hours on the internet researching things)

I get a large internet order every other week of just allsorts...fresh and frozen and decide on the day whats for tea.

I have a list with a rough idea of what im getting, but if i spot a bargain i will pick it up and freeze it for the future or plan myweekly meals around that

Just decided to be good and have gone through heaps of recipes online from the BBC, saved them and written out a list, so going to make them up and freeze them. Have to do the shopping for my Dad, so instead of his microwave meals he likes, i'm going to spend the afternoon now cooking meals for him and me.. First need to finish my list and then go shopping.

Not sure if your local Sainsbury's have it, but we use the fast track system so you scan and bag your goods up as you go and it totals up the cost as you go, though doesn't take into account BOGOF offers.