When my boyfriend and I did our first grocery shopping trip for our apartment in April of this year, I wanted to drop to my knees and sob when the cashier was done rnging me up. I have always been amazed at how much groceries cost from tagging along to the store when my Nana did her shopping, but this time... it was MY bill!

I searched coupon websites and budget sites galore and I ended up adopting a popular technique many people use to keep their grocery bill at bay. Meal planners!

I made a template on my computer. It's a Bi-Weekly dinner menu. Since my boyfriend and I are never together for breakfast or lunches becuase of our schedules, the only meal I really need to plan is dinner. Aside from jotting down cereal and stuff to make sandwiches for lunch, I only buy what ingredients I will need for those two weeks worth of meals.

After I make the menu, I write out my grocery list according to those meals. I also use a grocery list that's broken down into sections (ie; dairy, produce, meat, etc) which is also helpful.

By using those tools, I'm not wandering back and forth to different isles of the store buying items I think I *might* need.