In order to figure out what you need to get from the store, you need to make a list of what you already have. Knowing what you already have will also help guide your meal planning for the month. For example, if you have a lot of pasta in your pantry, you should utilize this ingredient in a number of recipes for the month. Be sure to take stock of everything you have in the pantry, refrigerator, and freezer, including any separate freezer chests if you have them. Unless you are able to take inventory, prepare to go shopping, and actually go shopping all in one day (unlikely!), you will need to update your inventory list as you use items. This will ensure that your shopping list is the most current version and will also help track frequently used items and items that tend to go unused. Keep this list somewhere visible, like taped onto the fridge. Try painting a cabinet front with chalkboard paint as a modern alternative to a paper list. Leading up to your first once-a-month shopping trip, or even as you continue to hone your savings skills, keeping receipts is a great tool for gauging your progress. Ideally you should have all of your shopping receipts from a typical month. Go through them all and highlight the essentials (the stuff you ended up using or eating completely). Underline items that you didn't get through that month so you can track items you tend to buy impulsively and then not use. Check the back of the receipts for special coupons or promotions you can use. Be aware that this step can take a little time for beginners, but once you plan your first month of meals you can use it as a general outline for the following months. Some meal planning tips: Look at your calendar and plan around any commitments and activities. For example, if you know you're going out to dinner for a friend's birthday this month, that's one less dinner you have to plan for. Plan theme nights. For example you can have an Italian themed meal (think pizza) every Friday or Taco Tuesday. If you block in themed meals it's easier to do the menu planning. Once you feel comfortable meal planning you can add more variety to your menus. As you look at cookbooks or find recipes online, be realistic about the amount of time you have available to make each meal. Think about cooking a complicated dish paired with an easier one. For example make a meat loaf, then toss in some baked potatoes to bake along with the meat loaf. Serve a green salad on the side. Not only will this make cooking easier, but it will save energy as you are using the oven to bake the meat loaf; and potatoes at the same time. Try to utilize canned or bulk ingredients a lot as these items are often cost-effective and non-perishable. Take perishables like fresh fruits and vegetables into account. Try to choose recipes that can be used for several different dishes, such as preparing a large batch of chili that can also be used as taco meat, pasta sauce, etc. Look at the grocery store ads for stores you frequent, either looking online or going to the store for a savings book. See what items are going to be on sale during the time you are going to shop, and update your meal plans if necessary. You can organize coupons you don't use for a given month in a booklet to use another month; just be sure to check expiration dates before planning on using them. Look at what needs to be replaced from your inventory list and what needs to be purchased to make your meal plans. Write everything down in a list, organizing the list into a way that makes the most sense to you. For example, some people like to organize their list into the different stores they are going to while others group them by type of item (e.g., dairy, canned, etc.).. During the days before your monthly shopping trip, start matching the store sales, discounts, and coupons to each applicable item on your list. This will help you get an idea of how much you are going to spend and also help the transaction process to be more seamless. If you find a great deal at a rival store, call your grocer to see if they price match local ads; some stores allow this, and others only offer it on some days or on certain items.
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One-sentence summary -- Take inventory of what you have. Update this list continually. Save all of your receipts. Plan out your meals for the month. Accumulate coupons and local store ads. Make a shopping list. Match sales and discounts to your shopping list.

People tend to apologize excessively when they feel uncomfortable. Apologizing once is acceptable, but saying you are sorry again and again does not help the person. It only makes the situation more awkward. Remember you are not doing anything wrong. If you feel comfortable doing so, you can suggest that the person ask someone else. Recommending someone else works best if you are turning down the request because you don't know the person well enough. This also helps to make it clear that your decision is final. You might say, "Try asking Jill. She's worked with you for much longer than I have." If you can't recommend the person based on his or her performance, try suggesting alternatives. Turn down the request and follow up with "Perhaps Amy might be able to help." Once you have turned someone down for a reference, do not reconsider just because the person begs, argues, or otherwise attempts to change your mind. If you give in, you'll only wind up in a trickier situation: providing a difficult reference that compromises your integrity. Stay strong!
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One-sentence summary -- Resist the urge to apologize. Consider suggesting alternative references. Stick to your decision.

It is important to keep your skin well hydrated because plaque psoriasis causes your skin to be very dry and itchy. Apply moisturizers to retain the moisture in your body, especially after taking baths or showers. You should use mild, unscented moisturizers and lotions to prevent drying of the skin, itchiness, and scaling problems. Moisturizers with scents can sometimes contain allergens or irritants. This oil easily found in most kitchens can help you in treating psoriasis. Just apply a small amount onto the affected areas, massage it in a circular motion and let it stay on the skin for several minutes. After the scaly patches have softened, you can remove the dead skin gently with a loofah or skin scrub. You can use this treatment several times a day until the scales have been totally removed. This is a supplement that comes in a gel-like capsule form that is usually taken to improve heart health. However, it's good for the skin too. It contains omega 3 fatty acids that help heal psoriasis patches. Fish oil for the skin may not be taken orally but rather should be applied topically. Cut the gel capsule on the tip and let the oil ooze from the inside. Apply the oil to the affected areas of skin using a gentle circular motion. This will help in softening and smoothing scaly patches of skin. You can apply the fish oil several times a day until scales have been totally removed. Mild psoriasis on knees and elbows can be treated with a mild emollient, such as emulsifying ointment BP or white, soft paraffin. Both of these substances will minimize scaling and prevent development of cracks on the skin. These are available in many skin and hygiene stores, some grocery stores, and online. Many soaps contain harsh chemicals that can irritate the skin and make psoriasis worse. Therefore, it's important that you choose hypoallergenic soaps which contain mild ingredients. A mild soap and warm water will help keep your condition from getting worse. Examples of mild soaps include Aveeno cleansing bars, Nivea cream bars, or phisoderm soaps.
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One-sentence summary --
Apply unscented moisturizers to your skin each day to help fight plaque psoriasis. Apply olive oil to your affected areas. Try applying fish oil to keep your skin moisturized. Try paraffin oils or emulsifying ointment BP. Remember to use mild soaps to keep your skin from getting dry and irritated.