[tinapbeana]

every week: milk & OJ. we buy milk produced by a local dairy so it's always the same price. the OJ will sometimes be on sale or not, but it's the only one we both like so we get a gallon every week regardless, more if it's on sale.

every 2 weeks: COFFEE!!!! again with the local production and doesn't go on sale, so get it when we need it. cat food (pet perks card + in sore coupons)

every month or 2: TP (recycled store brand no sales), paper towels (stock up when on sale), laundry detergent (stock up when on sale)

absolutely everything else is based on
(1) what's on sale based on the sales paper comparison on wednesday (typically meat, soda, cereal, yogurt, frozen veggies, loaf bread) these vary from week to week, but meat and soda i stock up on since the sales prices are typically 60% below normal.
(2) stocking up the pantry (i.e. i just used the last can of diced tomatoes so i need more. organic store brand, doesn't go on sale, so buy as needed)
(3) cravings (me, i'm wanting a spinach salad in a bad way! luckily, it's a household favorite)
(4) special events
(5) unadvertised specials and/or clearance and/or reduced for quick sale. only if it fits one of the above categories. for instance, i buy deli sliced lunch meat in the 1 lb bags. it was on my list one week, and there were 5 packs reduced for quick sale for 1.25 each. i bought 'em all! even if it hadn't been on that weeks list, we use it often enough to buy and freeze.