Confess if you're guilty of this!

I look on a list as a very rough guide! A sort of vague suggestion of what I might come home with. I do always do it on my phone now as I will NOT go out without that but bits of paper never seemed to make it to the shop.

tubbygran - I like it!

Mardler123 - I've got one of those.

Just packed DH of to Sainsburys with a very modest list, he will not loose it but I have to admit that he will come back with more than is on the list usually a few little treats!
A few years ago he went food shopping and bought a car! I had no idea he was even thinking about a new one.

Guilty as charged

I do make lists, but 99/100 I leave it sitting on the table at home. I know it sounds crazy, but having actually written down what we need, I find it easier to remember when I get to the shops. But I always seem to be sucked into buying something else...at the moment we have enough in the freezer to withstand a siege, yet I came home yesterday with two bits of steak and some sausages!

I too have a hopelessly overstocked larder, fridge and freezer, so even if I'm missing something I can usually find an alternative ingredient or meal.
I only make myself a list at Christmas, but I've solved the weekly shopping by doing it online (I suppose this is a list, albeit electronic). I add stuff to the list throughout the week if the senior moment fog lifts. Some supermarkets even produce a suggested list of things you normally buy. The best thing about it is that you can go through it the day before and take out BOGOF's, things you don't need and impulse buys.
Also The Old Man loves taking stuff to the tip so we pull ourselves together and get urgent stuff when he goes out. Shopping for him has to be precise, listing exact product, size etc. or he will come back with something weird - for example "tomatoes" could translates to tinned tomatoes, green beans to tinned broad beans, processed cheese triangles for cheddar.

PS Writing a list has the opposite effect on me to miep. Once I write it down I forget that I ever needed it.

Oh dear, I think I must be a bit OCD. I write my weekly menu plan and shopping list in Excel files and store them in Dropbox which I have on my phone and work from that in the shop. (provided I can get a signal)

If I buy more than what was on the list it's because I intended to get it but forgot to add it to the list.

When I've finished, I browse a bit round the DVD's and CD's, or bedlinen, clothes, or flowers and might sometimes put something unplanned from those departments in the trolley, but otherwise, I stick to the list entirely.

minimo at least you get there with your list. If DH goes out I usually find the list on the kitchen table just as he disappears from view and shortly thereafter I get a plaintive phone call.

Online has proved to be the answer for us but if ever there is an item we suddenly 'need' and we just pop in to get it we come out with a trolley full of 'bargains' and things 'that would be nice for a change'!
Clearly their marketing strategies are working well!

I do this all the time! Go in for bread and milk and come out with a trolley full. I did try just taking a basket round, but end up with a REALLY heavy basket, so now I just go with the flow and resign myself to taking a trolley and breaking the bank!

I went underwear shopping came back with a piano!

I'm full of good intentions about writing lists and sometimes do but I don't think I've ever managed to only buy what's on the list ?
My freezer's full, and I'm really trying not to buy anything other than fresh foodstuffs for the next four weeks, starting on Monday.
I'm pretty certain I'll have failed by Thursday................?

I do shop online but now I have the time ......

I always forget to take the list with me, and stand in the middle of shops gazing around looking for inspiration, coming home with bursting bags of stuff I don't really need. then look at the list of three things and find I only bought 1 of them. not good when there are no shops nearby and the bus is once an hour. so glad that I am not the only one......

Auntieflo My OH went to pay for our new glass dining table and purchased a completely different one I had never seen! Luckily I liked it as it was light wood with pale pink upholstery. Just a little different from glass and metal.

hi all, I am guilty of all the previous mentioned, losing lists, buying extras etc, but i am guilty of taking the shopping bags for a ride, They even sit on the front seat next to me, but somehow, i manage to leave them there, and end up either packing newly bought carriers or tossing food into the trolley and packing the bags once at the car, although this is weather dependent and much more hassle

loopylou I did the same except it was a birthday present I went out for and came back with a yes you guessed a settee and chair, leaving DH at home next time. But even when I do take a list there is always something that catches my eye ?

I have solved the problem.Isend my husband and he only buys what is on the list.Pretty boring way to go shopping if you ask me.

Husband is the one who always comes back with totally different stuff to what is on the list- so that is no solution.

I've recently changed shopping habits to stop impulse buying- eg go to a much smaller supermarket instead of the massive ones full of temptations. It works.

I went to the car dealership to buy a replacement windscreen wiper and came out with a new car!

I always go in with a list with essentials that I must buy, but I always see things that I had forgotten off my list !!!, OK OK, I always buy more than I need but you just have to....right.

I make a list but still forget something that's on the list, get distracted when you go in a supermarket don't you ?

Totally guilty as charged - always do it however good the intention is. Example - five items needed from Aldi this week - approximately £7. Final bill £71.

I took my daughter for a riding lesson, and bought a horse! We had it for five years, and it needed new shoes every six weeks. With four feet it had more shoes than the whole family.

Sorry I have a note book and pen take them everywhere.What is on the List is collected and not much extra is bought. It is used also to jot down anything I need to do as well. Perhaps running a hotel has something to do with it!!!!

Never write a list as when I do it always gets left at home or I can't find it. ie left in another handbag!!!