I have NO method I buy things, particularly foreign store cupboard stuff, because of that, "Ooh, that looks nice/interesting!" mindset. Then it sits in the cupboard because I don't actually know what to do with it

My Nan can't believe I don't use a shopping list. But I don't buy stuff at random. I'll go to the supermarket knowing I need bread and milk and other staples. I'll know what I'm getting low on so need more of, but I've never done the meal planning thing, and written a list of exactly what I need for the following week's dinners.

Do any of you guys do that? I'd feel way too restricted if I did. I don't know days in advance what I want for dinner on Friday o.o The very idea of meal planning kind of freaks me out. I know the idea is to not buy too much of anything, so you don't end up wasting food by it not getting used before it's got unusable, but I rarely end up tossing food out.

Of course my general cooking habit of just tossing stuff together makes the whole idea of meal planning and organised grocery shopping a bit of a joke anyway But sometimes I wonder if embracing this method a little might help me be a more orderly cook.