To avoid making grocery runs every other day, make a meal plan. I like making a meal plan not for specific days but just things for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that week. That way if I didn't have time to make dinner that day I can do something else on the list. You aren't pressured to be confined to the one specific meal idea. Using a meal plan also helps you save on groceries because you only buy what you need and what you are planning on having.

Still make a grocery list because you will still have other things you want to buy like snacks, and having a grocery list makes it easier to remember what you need and makes things quicker at the grocery store. Whenever you run out of something, write it on the list. Before you leave for errands, look through your fridge and pantry to see if you need anything else you may have missed.

Kids always come home from school saying they need something the next day. Have an extra cake mix, bag of candy, bottle of soda around your house. You never know when your son will say he needs 30 cupcakes for the next day, so be prepared. Plus, then you will have food storage if something were to happen or a quick dessert for that night.

Make another list of places that you have to go. If you can't really remember what you needed there, make a little list next to it or on the same sheet as your grocery list. When you have a list of the places you have to go, you don't forget where you need to go. You can make a driving plan for yourself and save gas which will save you tons of money.

When you are making a list of things you need, you can make a Costco list, or a Walmart list, or a general list. If you can, get everything on your general list at the places you are going. If you aren't sure if they sell a certain item, ask someone. It will save you money and time because you won't have to drag yourself to another store that's across town.

Do the things on your list every few days or once a week if you can. It will save you even more time and gas money. If you make a meal plan and a list of everything else you need, you should be prepared for the week. You might have to go out every few days still, but it will cut down the amount of trips and time you spend running around town.

Making lists really helps you save money and time. Since gas keeps getting more and more expensive, it is more and more important to do things as efficient as possible. Plus, it leaves more time to do things that you want to do. Even if you don't like lists please give them a try! You will find that it is much easier and you won't end up making trips everyday just to get things done.