How to Write a "Budget" Grocery List

This is a sample of how I make my grocery list to stay on budget

The night before or morning of my shopping trip each wk I write out my list.  I usually sit down with my weekly circulars, coupon binder, and online blogs to decide what I need for the week and what my meal plan will be.  I usually start by writing down each store I will be shopping at and the items I plan on purchasing there.  I divide my page into sections :

1)  What I NEED for my meal plan

2)  What is on sale/stock up prices or price matching (Walmart/Target)

3)  Other (stuff I need like envelopes, milk, bread - reg priced stuff)

4)  Any overage I can apply to my total if applicable and free items I can get with coupons

I always write down any coupons I will be using next to the items.  I put the estimated prices in the margin of my paper and I ALWAYS round ALL my prices/totals.  At the very bottom of my list I put my final estimated total AND "potential" total if overage is applied.  I like to know both totals, just in case your "overage scenario" doesn't work as planned.  Be prepared either way and don't "depend" on overage!!!  I ALWAYS stick to my list and RARELY deviate from it.  Here's what it typically looks like...

WALMART

Meal Plan :

$1      Penne Pasta ($2 - $1/1 Q = $1)

.60     Canned Tomatoes

$1.50 Fresh French Bread

$3      Bagged Salad

$1      Roma Tomatoes x 3

Price Matching/Sale:

$1     Whole watermelon (.99 each @ Sprouts)

.50    Jalapenos x 3 (.50/lb @ Miyards)

$1     Avacados x 3 (3 for $1 @ Minyards)

$3     3 lbs Black Grapes (.99/lb @ Kroger)

.89    Dozen Eggs (.89/dozen @ Aldi)

Other:

$1    Aluminum Foil

$2    Light Bulbs x 4

$4    Hair Dye ($7 - $3 Q = 4)

Possible Overage/Free Items:

+ $4.12   4 Tide Travel Sizes (.97/each x 4 - 4 $2/1 Q = $4.12 +)

+ .12       4 Reach Floss (.97/each x 4 - $1/1 Q = .12 +)

0             1 Travel Size First Aid Kit ($1 each - $1/1 Q = FREE)

Total = $20.50

Total with Overage = $16.50