We use the B-word often in our house. You know the one: budget. I always joke that we have the Great Budget Summit every so often in our home to keep ourselves on track. It’s not the most fun meeting, but it is absolutely necessary to keep ourselves on track with spending and saving. It’s just one of the many ways we practice financial fitness.
One area I always tend to struggle with regarding our budget is groceries. I’m not sure why, but it seems to be the area that I stray from most often. This year, I’ve resolved to stay on track with our grocery budget and watch it a little more closely. There are some great tips from Chase Bank in this article.
Here are the basics I’m trying to stick to this year to keep me on track:
1. Create a plan
Each Sunday, I make a meal plan and one trip to the grocery store for the week. Multiple trips to the grocery store, due to lack of planning, always gets me off track. Going to the store just once, means I’m purchasing just what we need and not mindlessly making trips throughout the week. I find that avoiding those unnecessary trips saves a good bit and keeps us closer to our budget. I also find that having a plan keeps us from eating out as much — which is always great for the budget.
2. Plan around savings
I look at the weekly ad for the grocery store each week and attempt to plan based on savings. Which meats and produce can I find the best price on? Those are the items that will be the stars in our dinner dishes for the week. The great news is that everything in the store eventually cycles through, so you’ll never get bored with your choices by planning around the savings.
3. Shop full
I know that sounds crazy, but I spend more money when I shop hungry. Everything looks delicious and it gets me off my plan. If I shop when I feel full, then I’m less likely to purchase impulse items and more likely to stick to the list of things I really need. It also ensures I don’t end up with a shopping cart full of snacks for the week.
4. Shop the best deals
Do you have a store in your town that is notorious for their great prices? Or maybe in the town over? It may take a little extra driving or planning, but we’ll be shopping at grocery stores with lower prices and quality products, rather than overpaying each week.
For more great tips on staying financially fit and all the tools you need to help you get there, check out Chase Financial Fitness.
This post is part of a sponsored collaboration between Chase and SheKnows
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