About 127 years ago when I got married, I had trouble convincing my Spousal Unit that we needed a grocery list.

She is a wonderful person. The best. If she were a grocery store, she’d be the best grocery store I know.

But she’d go to the grocery store with no plan. Hijinks ensued.

You must have a plan.

No plan means you get stuff you don’t need and, more importantly, forget stuff you do need.

I am the grocery store shopper. My spousal has been to the grocery store maybe four times since we’ve been matrimonied. She hates it, I don’t mind it. Actually I prefer it, because it might be the one thing I’m better at than she is.

Once we’d run out of things a couple of times, she began to see the sense of The Plan. A piece of paper is on the icebox and when we get low on something, one of us writes it down.

For instance, there is no need to wait until you run out of butter or ketchup to go get butter or ketchup. And toilet paper, for Heaven’s sake. You get low, write it down. You are always going to need that.

As stated, I am the grocery shopper and a few times when we’ve run out of things I’ve said, “Gotta put it on the list. I’m a good grocery shopper but I’m not clairvoyant.” That is true and clever but I didn’t really say that because it would have made for a cold front. Instead I said something like, “Aww man! Well put it on The List and when we get low again just put it on The List then.”

She bought into it. The children bought into it. Occasionally, there is a stumble. Nobody’s perfect. I’ve forgotten stuff on The List before when it was on The List, in My Hand.

But it gives you a plan. And you’ve got to have a plan.

If you’re not A Grocery List Guy, you’re missing out. One day you’ll reach for BBQ sauce and…when you got low, you should have put it on The List.

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