A few weeks ago I spoke on a panel for the communications fraternity I was a member of in college. While it makes me feel super old to be an alum speaking on panels, it did give me the opportunity to share what I’ve learned in the ‘real world.’
One of the first questions we discussed was how to manage your money. Z and I are somewhat strict with money, since we like to travel pretty often! One of the big areas where we save our money is food- we don’t eat out very often, and I cook almost every single night and pack a lunch almost every day. I know every budget ever will tell you that this saves money, but that’s because it’s true!
I wanted to break down how we spend our money on groceries and how we plan out what to buy, where, and when, and how you can grocery shop on a budget!
- Plan your meals ahead of time. Since I like to cook, and know that I’m going to actually use the ingredients I buy (more on this later!), I make my list based on what I need for the week. I do have quite a few staples that I almost always buy/keep in the house so that I can whip up a few of our favorites no matter what. You don’t need to have a Pinterest-perfect plan, just a general idea of what kinds of meals you’ll be eating that week.
- Use coupons and rewards systems. I’m a huge nerd, but every week I read through the circulars that come in the mail from the grocery stores near us. I split our shopping between Sprouts, Aldi, and Tom Thumb, depending on what I need. I know some people will balk at the idea of going to more than one store, but when you start to see the price difference it is worth it! I also don’t go to all three every time I shop, now that I know where the deals are I pick stores based on what’s on my list. I use Sprouts for fresh produce, Aldi for almost everything (if you’re not shopping at Aldi, read this!), and Tom Thumb for more generic items that can be hard to find at the smaller stores. We also use a rewards card to rack up points for gas!
- Use what you buy. Americans waste something like 50% of what we buy each year, despite one in six people going hungry. It drives me crazy to throw away unused food, especially produce, so I try to only buy what I need that week. Shop like a European- buy smaller quantities of food once or twice a week, instead of doing a big shop all at once. Is it slightly less convenient? Yes, but you’ll save a ton in the process! In this same vein, buying in bulk is not always the best. You may save a little per pound, but are you going to use all of that? Stick to buying in bulk for non-food items like toilet paper or paper towels.
- Stick to your list. I never ever ever go to the store without a list. Will I inevitably pick up things that aren’t on the list? Yes, but I make sure they are actually things I’m going to use/eat. Making a list helps you stay organized and on track!
- Track your spending. Since Z and I split all of our bills, we track what we spend on utilities, groceries, dog supplies, etc. and try to stick to a budget. If you don’t even know where to start with budgeting, start by tracking your spending! See what you spend on groceries, takeout, drinks, that 3 p.m. Starbucks run, etc. If you notice a lot of unnecessary spending, start cutting down slowly. Track what you are buying at the grocery store and what ends up in the trash three weeks later. If you know in your heart that you aren’t going to eat that bag of kale, don’t buy it!
- Leftovers are your friend. I almost always have leftovers- I can never quite get the hang of making the perfect amount of food for everyone. But, this means that we almost always have lunch for the next day. If there aren’t leftovers, I make sure to always have ‘sandwich stuff,’ as I call it, or ingredients to make a salad so that we aren’t forced to buy lunch. Do I always pack my lunch? No, sometimes life gets in the way. But I’ve gone an entire month without buying lunch!
These are just some of the tips that help us to save on groceries! This can be a huge expense, especially when you shop for more than one person, but it’s easy to do it on a budget!
What other budget or food-related topics would you like to see on the blog? Any other tips I should include in this list?
