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When it comes to my preferred method of keeping track of my grocery budget, grocery list, and weekly menu selections, I like to keep everything front & center and totally non-digital. Impromptu to-do lists fall under this category, too. (I have a really great planner that keeps my life in order and is full of daily to-do lists, but occasionally I need something quick and visual for those moments when I have company arriving in an hour and I still need to sweep the floor, wipe the smudges off the windows, take the diapers out, switch the laundry, and unload the dishwasher. ) I wanted a board I could hang on a bare spot in my kitchen, but I wasn’t finding anything that was a great solution.
Here’s a bit of my method for keeping these items up-to-date and accurate:
Grocery Budget: I like to jot down how much I spent after each grocery shopping trip so I don’t have to keep receipts or enter it into any sort of computer/spreadsheet or have to open my online bank account to check my balance. I have a two-week budget, so anytime I spend money on food during those two weeks, I jot it down and keep a running total so I know how much I’ve spent. (I used to keep the total budget amount at the top and subtract each time I spent something, but I’ve decided that it’s way easier to add than subtract! Ha!)
Grocery List: I like to keep a running grocery list that I can add to every time I notice we’re running low on something.
Weekly Menu: I like to pick three meals a week, add any needed ingredients to my grocery list, and then write down the names of the meals so I don’t have to remember what we are going to eat that week. (Wondering why I don’t cook more often? My husband is in grad school so he’s gone a few nights a week. On the nights he is gone, the boys and I generally have something super fab like quesadillas, eggs + toast, or leftovers for dinner.)
So.
My Problem: wanting a pretty whiteboard but not finding a pretty whiteboard.
My Solution: DIY! This tutorial from eighteen25 and our own AmberLee’s post at The Idea Room got my wheels turning, but I’ve adapted them a bit. This would be a fun {and easy} gift to personalize for a teacher or boss, too!
I bought a few yards of fabric from a thrift store. It’s kind of fun, right? You could also use pretty paper or a photograph. 
And I picked up this clip frame from Hobby Lobby. It says it is $5.99, but don’t let that fool you. These things are always on sale–I think I paid $3.00 for this one. I’ve also picked them up at IKEA for just a few dollars. 
Take the glass off the backing and figure out what part of the pattern you would like to feature. Trace around the glass and cut out the fabric, being careful not to tug on the fabric as you go. (I made that mistake on my first try. The fabric ended up smaller than the frame. Oops!)
I didn’t get a picture of this, but after some trial and error, I spray mounted the fabric on a piece of light cardboard (think: cereal box) just to give it a bit of stability when putting it back in the frame. You can skip this step if you use paper or a photo.
Now it’s time to hang. If you have a little boy at your house, he’ll probably come a’runnin as soon as he sees the hammer & nail come out of the tool box. And then he’ll go get his toy saw and hammer so he can help. What a sweetheart.
Since this board will be used for some serious list-making, I would suggest anchoring it with some Command Picture Hanging Strips as well. Have you ever used them? They. are. amazing.
And viola! Pull out your dry-erase marker and start making lists lists lists.
Do you use a grocery list? Do you have a grocery budget? Do you create a menu? I’d love to hear what works for you.
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Crystal stops by GiversLog a couple times a month to share her fresh ideas. When she’s not writing for GiversLog, Crystal can be found mothering, knitting, and cooking. Stop by and see what’s new at her etsy shop: monograms, Greek keys, and chevron stripes. Oh my!
{ 12 comments… read them below or add one }
I think this is a fantastic idea and one I’ll be implementing ASAP! I’ve never been good at tracking my grocery expenses because it’s never front-and-center enough for me and it’s too much bother to find and tinker with the budget on the computer. Thanks for the great idea!
My grocery list is mostly based on what’s on sale. Then I plan my menu around that. But I also keep a running list of things I’m low on. I try to keep my pantry stocked so I don’t have to buy things full price.
But this is a great tutorial. I love the fabric choice. I’m sure someday when I have my own home I’ll have fabulous style too, no? I’m really crossing my fingers that’ll happen…
I LOVE it! What a great solution – especially for folks who have a stainless steel fridge and can’t use magnets!
When I lived on my own, I had to make a grocery list or things got out of control fast. But I always kept a running out-of list on the fridge so nothing was forgotten.
I do this with my calendar – I print out my google calendar which has all my birthday’s and everything automatically on it – I put it in a frame and use it as a dry erase board.
i’m such a list maker myself. we finally decided to paint the refrigerator in chalkboard paint. besides being the perfect go-to for our lists/reminders, it also keeps my two year old busy while we’re in the kitchen.
love the dry erase board idea.
((do you think it’s overboard to do both a chalkboard fridge and a dry erase board?))
I love this! I love being resourceful and creating something needed out of what’s at hand. I also like making things that are more “me” than what is at the store. Things without logos, brand names, and other free advertising. I really don’t like that if I buy something from Staples or Old Navy I have to advertise that I shop there every time I use their products. Kudos to you for making something so beautiful and unique from something so simple and pretty. This is why I follow your blog.
This is a brilliant idea!!! Definitely going on my crafty to-do list (and then maybe I’ll use it to keep track of my crafty to-do list!) Thanks so much for sharing!
cute post! I always get a little giddy when someone’s talking about their organization methods.
As far as budgeting and meal planning goes, I’m terrible at that. I don’t enjoy cooking so I usually end up buying and cooking the same types of things each month. I know, bohhring. But I DO like to coupon and I love bargain shopping. I look through the grocery coupon ads each week to find the items that I routinely buy (cut and store them in a baseball card sleeve in a binder) then coordinate my purchases with what’s on sale that week.
Have fun with your new “wall art”!
Great project! I had forgotten you could do this with glass, thanks for the reminder! I had used a similar idea when I taught middle school. The room I was in was long and the way the white board was hung made it hard for students on the one end to see. So I taped white paper behind the glass cabinet fronts at the one end of the room and they became my boards. Worked like a charm!
Sarah–I love your idea of printing off your Google calendar and putting it behind glass for your dry erase board. What a great solution–I’d never miss a birthday again!
Krista–A chalkboard fridge! Brilliant! I love the idea of having something for the little ones to do while working in the kitchen. I’ve thought about painting the inside of my cabinets with chalkboard paint, and you may have just motivated me to actually do it. Thanks!
this is brilliant!
i just found your blog for the first time (from martawrites) and i love it.
i especially love the ’13 oz or less’ feature. :)
I’m the busy mom of four and a student myself. To stay organized I keep a running grocery list on the white board in my pantry of things I’m running low on. My menu planning goes on my “master calender” a month at a time so only have to think about it once every thirty days or so. I have returned to grocery shopping with cash to keep track of my grocery budget. It keeps me accountable and I know in a glance how much I have left each month. It’s not for everyone but it works for me!