Create a budget – Budgeting may seem like a waste of time if you don’t fully understand what a budget can do for you, but trust me, you won’t want to go back once you get the hang of it. It’s the best way to get intentional with your spending. For example, when you decide to spend X amount on groceries to give you the ability to do other things like plan for a family getaway or save for kid’s college or retirement, you will feel more in control of what and how you spend your money. It all comes down to choices and prioritizing, and a budget allows you to prioritize your goals and the things you are working toward.
Track your spending – Tracking what you are spending rather than just trying to guess what you have spent for the month is huge. It helps you stay in control of your grocery budget, and most people can reduce their grocery budget by 10% to 30% by doing this simple task because you are more aware and intentional.
Shop your stash – Before heading out to the grocery store, shop your stash, see what you have on hand in your pantry, fridge, and freezer, and base your meals around those items. After all, wouldn’t you prefer to use it up rather than let it sit around for another month? If you have a lot on hand, consider allowing yourself a minimal budget for basics to help use what you have.
Know the price per unit – It’s no longer good enough to know what you pay for an item because everyone is in crunch mode as inflation sets in. Producers don’t want to raise prices, so they restructure their packaging but charge the same amount of money, also known as “shrinkflation.” It is important to note since these cleaver practices are expected to ramp up as inflation continues to go up, so get a notebook or create a note on your phone and start familiarizing yourself with what you pay per unit.
Meal plan – Once you have determined what items you have on hand and decide what meals you want to make, based on those items, determine how many meals that will get you through and fill in the rest. When meal planning, though, allow some wiggle room and think of different ways to use your ingredients so that if you are too busy to make the chicken enchiladas that you intended initially for the week, you make chicken tortilla soup or tacos.
Incorporate low-cost meal options – Not all meals are pocketbook-friendly, and while it’s fun to try and recreate a meal you once had somewhere or saw on tv, remember to include economic meals, including meatless meals. Think breakfast for dinner, veggie pizza, mushroom risotto, or cheese enchiladas, to name a few ideas.
Stick to the plan – Once you determine what items you need from the grocery store, stick to your list and avoid impulse buying. One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is to order your groceries online. It also allows you to see how much money you are spending as you shop.
Shop the sales– Remember, with the expected increase cost of groceries, it may be wise to stock up when you find a good deal, so leave a little wiggle room in your grocery budget. Don’t just look to stock up on pantry-type items, but if you have space and find a good deal on meat, stock up.
Buy produce in season – This is a no-brainer, but it will taste better if you focus on buying produce in season. Consider shopping for produce at a local farmer’s market. If you find fresh fruits and vegetables that your family enjoys on sale, consider buying extra and freeze or can them for later. But not all produce freezes beautifully, so do your homework before committing. Check out resources such as Pinterest and Google that share what works and the best way to can or freeze or produce for later use.
Are your kid’s snacks busting your budget? – Avoid buying prepackaged individual size snacks. Buy the large box or make homemade snacks and divide them out yourself. Don’t forget to incorporate inexpensive options like boiled eggs, sliced-up fruit and vegetables, and consider buying the larger size rather than the individual yogurt cups. Finally, if your kids are old enough, show them how to make their weekly treats. After all, it is our responsibility to teach them and show them how to be responsible.
Repurpose leftovers– Most people don’t care to eat the same thing two days in a row, so think of ways to reimagine your leftovers. So you have a few choices. Turn your leftover baked chicken into chicken nachos, tacos, or tostadas. Turn your turkey burgers or hamburger into a chili by cubing them up into bite-size pieces. At the very least, you can prep the meat, place it into a freezer-safe bag, and pull it out when you are in a hurry. Trust me, having cooked meat in the freezer makes putting dinner together a lot easier. Heck, I even freeze soups, stews, and chili for a quick go-to dinner. Whip us a batch of cornbread or open up a bag of tortilla chips, and voila, dinner is served.
Keep some conveniences on hand – besides keeping a few leftovers in the freezer, try to also have quick recipes on hand as a quick go-to dinner. Eat omelets with a side salad. On occasion, buy the prepackaged lasagna if you need to. It’s probably still cheaper than going out to eat. Listen, the days of having a hot meal with meat, two sides, and rolls are fewer and further between, but that doesn’t mean that your meal can’t be delicious and nutritious.
Make homemade to stretch your dollars – Rather than buying can beans, buy dry and cook them when you have time on the weekend. I do this often and freeze two or three containers to use later on. Try your hand at baking bread or muffins. Keep some out for now and put some in for the freezer for later. It can be intimidating to try something new at first, but it can save you money, and at the end of the day, you control what ingredients go into the meal. A win-win if you ask me.
Give your green thumb a try – Think of a couple of things you could grow that would be a saving to your budget, like fresh herbs, tomatoes, bell peppers, cucumbers, or plant a fruit/citrus tree. Just be aware that trees may take some time before they produce good fruit.
Sign up for reward programs – Some stores offer a loyalty program where you can get discounts for being a member, which is a no-brainer if it’s free to join. You could also sign up for programs like FETCH, where you scan your receipt and accumulate points that you can use to earn gift cards, and while this may not cut down your food bill when you go to the store, you could use it to make other purchases on Amazon or number retail stores.
Shop online – If you find it challenging to stay on budget, consider ordering your groceries online. On most sites, you can keep a running tab, search sales and clip any coupons offered right from the comfort of your home.
