DIY Tear Off Grocery Pad

I'm going to tell you a secret, it's a little embarrassing, but I'll tell you anyway.  I was a bit giddy with excitement over this project.  Yes, it's true.  And sad.  I know.  But it's the truth.  I love being organized, and its been a long time since I've been able to do any real organizing, with our building a house and all. 

So this summer is organizing central around our house.  But I must avoid the basement at all costs because every time I venture down there I feel like I haven't accomplished a thing.  Our little garage sale helped... a little, but it's still a total disaster!

Anyways, back to our project at hand, a DIY Grocery List Tear Off Pad.  This little project has simplified my life and saved me so much time, it's awesome to say the least!

I first read this post here, which explains in more detail how to make one and gives you the free template to start from, about 2 years ago.  It was about that time that a friend of mine, who also loves organization, had gone through our local grocery store and our Wal-Mart grocery section and wrote down the general items from each row, and she sent me her list that she made in an e-mail.  At the time Nate and I had gone on a date night (this is a great idea for a date night people, lol)  and went through our Wal-Mart grocery section, row by row and with using the list from our friend, just filled it in with the main items we purchase on a weekly basis. 

Then I used this grocery list template from the site and rearranged it using the grocery isles and items we use on a regular basis. I also added a section for multiple items ( x__ ) because in some cases I want a certain number of an item like 5 apples or whatever.

Okay, this is why this list is so awesome.  It took a bit of pre-work but it has been totally worth it in the long run.  First, you print up enough for 1 year, assuming you use 1 list per week.  When I run out of something or am making my grocery list I just find the item on my list and mark that I need it, no time spent writing out each item or making a list, or multiple lists, and losing them ( I am known for doing this!).  Then when I go grocery shopping my list is already layed out by isle so I know what I need in each isle as I go through the store and there's no forgetting something and running all the way to the back of the store to retrieve it.  My shopping trip is totally streamlined and let me tell you, I want to get out of Wal-Mart as fast as I possibly can!

I would even suggest making a shopping list like this for each grocery store you shop at.  We really only use Wal-Mart (sadly) because we only have 1 other grocery store in town and the price comparison is no match.  We only shop at the other store if Wal-Mart is out of what we need or if the other store has a great sale on a specific item.  I also buy in bulk and organic items from Azure Standard, which if it's available in your area, they offer a great service with amazing products.

Well, after 2 years I finally finished this project!  I re-arranged the list to fit our specific grocery shopping needs and I made it into a tear off pad that is now on the side of our fridge.  I love, it.  It's so simple and fast to get my shopping list together and our shopping trips are so much smoother. 

And while I was at it I went ahead and made my own Weekly Menu Plan Tear Off Pad as well.

Here's how I did it:

First go to this website here and get the template for the grocery shopping list.  I then re-arranged it to what worked for us.

Then I printed it out, 26 copies.

There are 2 grocery lists per page so I have enough grocery lists for 1 list per week for a whole year.

Here is a closer look at my list, you can notice what I added and changed around.

Then I cut each page down the center to make 2 lists.

Go back to this site here, to get all the specific measurements on how to put it together.
I used a cereal box and cut it to size.

Then I measured and used a pin to score the top.

And then I had to re-do it since I made my score lines on the wrong side.

I stacked all my lists,

Then added the backer (from the cereal box)

And added the top piece and clamped it down.

Here's my list (top half)

(bottom half)

I could not find 'posts' like she suggested, this is what we found.  (a nylon bolt and nut from Ace Hardware)

Then since the hubs already had all his tools out I had him drill the two holes.

And then we put on the nylon bolt and nut.

My very own tear off pad!!!

Here's the back, I decided to leave the cereal box facing out since I figured it would be on the fridge most of the time and you would hardly ever see it.  I did it the opposite way on my menu plan tear off pad. 

To finish it off I hot glued a couple magnets on the back.

And there you have it, a simple DIY grocery list tear off pad.

And here's the weekly menu plan tear off pad I made as well.

Once I did all the work of figuring out what we generally buy and which isle it was in at the grocery store and re-arranged the list to work for us, it was easy and fast to put it all together.  And I promise, the time and frustration it saves is worth it!