Every week I kick myself because I end up spending more than I wanted too.  One thing that has really helped me keep a cap on it though is by  menu planning.  Each week I actually plan out what meals I am going to make.  I try to always have at least 6-7 days worth of meals.  Now I know this sounds harder but it really does help.  I found that once I broke the meals into types or categories it helped.  For example I knew that once a week I made a pasta, pizza, soup etc.  So I start my list knowing in my head the basic categories of foods I generally make in a week.  Mine typically looks like this:

Pasta
Pizza
Burrito
Soup
Stir-Fry
Veggie Burgers
Other

Those are my basic categories.  Then when I plan my menu for the week I make sure I have the basics to make a meal in that category.  Sometimes I have specific recipes I am using so I will write down detailed ingredients that I need for each one.  So my next step would look like this.

Pasta -  Stuff to make sauce, pasta of choice, parm. cheese, bread, salad
Pizza - dough, sauce, cheese
Burrito - tortillas, salsa, refried beans
Soup - whatever ingrediants I need for the soup I have chosen
Veggie Burgers - veggie burgers, potatoes, frozen veggie
Other - I do try to make something new at least once a week.  I save these meals for the weekends when I have more time.


So that becomes my basic list.  At least by filling out this basic list I know I have enough stuff to make 6-7 meals that week.  I have found by doing it this way I save money because I am buying exactly what i need to make the meals that week.  It is also less stressful because I don't have to frett about what I am making each night.  I keep the menu plan on my refridgerator so each day I can just pick from the list.

It has really helped me save money and time.  Now if only I can get better about all the other stuff I end up buying.