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by RAKI WRIGHT
Do you spend more than you want to at the grocery store each week? Is your budget completely blown?
Last week, I shared the top 15 ways to blow your grocery budget in my journey to a grocery budget of $60 a week for our family of 4. Thankfully, I have learned many tips to make this happen.
Make a list. Track items you need as you run out of them.
Set limits. Follow a grocery budget based on your family size and needs.
Shop with cash. Shopping with cash prevents you from going over budget.
Question sale and clearance prices. Look at the regular price to see how much of a discount you’re getting.
Think about whether you need the item. Ask yourself if it is due to go on sale again before you’ll run out.
Consider where you could get it cheaper.Shopping at more than one store is how you get the best prices on everything.
Research and prepare beforehand. There are so many internet resources available with deal match-ups for every store.
Eat before shopping. Hungry shoppers buy more than they came for, so eat a snack or meal before shopping.
Leave the kids at home or be prepared to keep them occupied. Keep snacks, toys, and books on hand.
Consider your options as you go through the store. Consider unit prices, brand options, or shelf positioning.
Bring your coupons with you. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve saved inserts, clipped coupons, and LEFT THEM AT HOME!
Compare brands, store location, or alternative products. Don’t grab the first option you see. Let me tell you that mayonnaise in the Hispanic aisle is more expensive than mayonnaise in the condiments aisle!
Great tips!! Yeah, I still have a hard time staying in my budget even though I use a cash system. I plan out my meals 2 weeks at a time, but often I’m trying new recipes and not using/looking what I already have at home. When I run out of cash near the end of the month, I will subtract that much from next month’s budget. It slow me down some, but I still go over a little…
Thanks for your comment and encouragement. I would suggest that you change the way you make your grocery list. Take some time to make a list of everything you have in your cupboards, pantry, refrigerator, freezer, etc. What meals could you make? If you see some possibilities where you have 3 of the 4 items you would need to make something, just add the 4th item to your grocery list. Begin only purchasing the best deals each week and staples that you run out of. If you consistently do this every week (or every 2 weeks), you will find that you are spending less at the grocery store, because instead of buying 4 items for every recipe you want to make, you are only buying 1 (using the example I gave). In addition, you gain control over the prices you pay for items because you buy them when they are at their lowest. See these excellent resources:
Great tips! I just found your website and laughed so hard at your tips for NOT staying within you budget! I’m so bad at budgeting but I LOVE a good sale! How can that make sense! haha!
I’m looking forward to learning more tips from you! Keep em coming!
Thank YOU! Mary
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[…] How NOT to Blow Your Grocery Shopping Budget […]
If possible, try to make smaller, more frequent shopping trips. Making a couple of smaller trips each week to get only what you need is a great way to prevent yourself from buying too much. It's when you try to “save time” and shop for the next week or two that you can find yourself in trouble.
Look in your refrigerator, freezer, and pantry first to avoid buying food you already have. Make a list each week of what needs to be used up and plan upcoming meals around it. Plan your meals for the week before you go shopping and buy only the things needed for those meals.
The average grocery costs for a two-person household across the Thrifty to Liberal plans range from $476.92 to $868.66: Male and female living together: $514.09 to $819.26. Two adult females: $476.92 to $769.86.
According to the USDA guidelines, you might spend $979 a month on a thrifty plan, $1,028 on a low-cost plan, $1,252 on a moderate-cost plan and $1,604 on a liberal plan. The USDA guidelines can provide a starting point for a food budget, but they don't consider all the variables that can affect cost.
Overspending can happen for different reasons, such as: You might spend to make yourself feel better. Some people describe this as feeling like a temporary high. If you experience symptoms like mania or hypomania, you might spend more money or make impulsive financial decisions.
Plan Every Shopping Outing - Experts say that planning meals in advance and making detailed shopping lists can cut your grocery spending by 20 percent or more. Check your pantry before you go shopping to be sure of what you need. Review store flyers and build your list around what's on sale and the best coupon deals.
Introduction: My name is Mrs. Angelic Larkin, I am a cute, charming, funny, determined, inexpensive, joyous, cheerful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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