Shopping Tips for Your Holiday Meal

I remember my first couple of holidays in our home, I would always have to send my poor husband out late the night before or early in the morning to find something I forgot, or didn't have enough of for everything I was cooking. I would open my cabinet to unload, desperate to try and make space for all the extra food, only to find that I had three of the same item I had just bought. I'd also find that when I just grabbed for things in the store, I'd come home with way more food than I actually needed for the amount of people we were having over. I wasted so much time and money, it's no wonder the holidays were so stressful.

Happily, I've gotten more organized since then- and you can, too. Use some of these tips to make your holiday Grocery shopping more productive, with less waste.

1) Go for the Mega-marts. You'll save a lot of time and traveling if you plan your grocery store at a super supermarket, and they're generally cheaper. One-stop shopping and bargains to boot.

If you do want go to a specific store because they have better quality produce, or deli products, or a gourmet section, think about getting only those few certain specialty items at that store, and going to a mega-mart for all the canned goods, spices, and beverages to save money.

2) Plan your menu thoroughly. At least a week ahead of time, decide exactly what you will be serving on the holiday. Plan each course, dessert, even beverages and snacks for your guests if they will be spending the better part of the day with you. Write it all down.

Stop a minute and take a look at your list. Is it well balanced? Do you have too many side dishes and not enough appetizers? Do you need 7 desserts when your aunt is probably going to bring her award winning pie and your neighbor always gives you a fruit cake? Try to look at your list with a critical eye.

3) Get out your recipe book. Under every item you plan to make, write down the ingredients it would require, along with the required amount of each ingredient. Remember to multiply if you intend to double or triple recipes.

4) Make a master list of ingredients. Make sure to list the amount needed next to the name of the item. Combine the amounts for food items used in several recipes; for example, if you need 1 teaspoon of cinnamon for a cinnamon bite appetizer, 2 teaspoons for your sweet potato casserole, and 1 teaspoon for your apple pie, you'll write 4 teaspoons next to the word "cinnamon" on your list.

Make a check mark next to all perishables with a very short shelf life, such as fresh bread, sea food or certain fresh vegetables- if you're shopping in advance, these are the things you'll make a short trip back for the day before you're cooking.

5) Check your pantry. Go through the fridge and the cabinets thoroughly for every item you might already have so that you don't end up buying double. Check to see if you'll need the ingredients in multiple recipes and do a quick calculation to estimate if you have enough. Make sure it has not expired, and if it's already opened, take a peek inside and a quick whiff. If it is still good and you have enough, cross it off the list so you don't buy doubles. Everything left on the list is what you'll shop for.

5) Give your list a critical exam. If you find your list is especially long, and it's making you cringe, look for any items that you'll only need a little bit of for a certain recipe. Decide if you really need it. For example- do you really need to buy a whole jar of marshmallow fluff to put a dollop on your chocolate cream pie? Can you just use a bit of whipped cream instead, since you'll have a can for other desserts and hot cocoa? Do you really need to make the fancy side dish that requires 1/4 teaspoon each of six spices that you never really use? Could you make a different, simpler side dish with spices you have on hand instead? Or maybe you have 12 side dishes already and you can just cut it out. This can save you a lot of money and space in your cabinets and fridge.

6) Make a couple of calls. If you do decide that you absolutely must make a certain side dish that only requires a dash of something you never use, instead of buying a whole package of it, see if a friend or neighbor or one of your guests has it on hand and can spare some. If they do, cross it off your list.

7) Go through your coupons. Look through all your coupons and see if you have any of those items on the list. Put them in a separate envelope for your shopping trip. If you keep in touch with local friends by e-mail, shoot out a quick message to see if anyone has any useful coupons for you. Be ware of coupons that give you money off only if you buy two, three or four of the item- if you don't need that many, and don't think you'll really use them, then the coupon is not really going to save you any money. Also be mindful of generic brands- if it's cheaper than the name brand, even with the coupon, then go generic.

8) Go through the sales fliers. When the local stores put them out in the newspaper, check to see which stores have the best sales based on the items that you'll be getting. Again, the bigger the store, the better. Look for coupons in the fliers, too. Some stores off $5 and $10 off coupons, or a free item like a turkey or ham, when you spend a certain amount in one trip.

If you're planning on going to more than one store, color-coordinate your list with high lighter markers. Assign a different color for each store, and highlight each ingredient based on the store you plan on getting it.

9) Go shopping prepared. Wear your comfortable clothes and shoes. Don't go hungry or you'll be tempted to impulse buy. Have with you your coupons, list, a pencil, and a calculator. As you shop, cross things off the list so you don't forget anything. To make sure you're not obliterating your budget, keep a total running on your calculator. You might realize you don't actually need as much as you put down when you see how much it is coming out to.

10) Wrap it Up. Keep your receipt in case you have to exchange something. Circle any items on your list that the store was out of so that you can pick them up later or on another day, or check for them at another store. And don't forget to treat yourself afterwards, with a nice little snack or cup of coffee- you've earned it.