Each time I get home from the grocery store with bags and bags of food and a mile-long receipt, Dan says the same thing: “It’s ok. We didn’t have anything here to eat.”
I nod my head in agreement, figuring we couldn’t possibly spend as much the next weekend and we’ll get back on budget.
But, then we do.
For example, this week…
versus
Clearly I didn’t do a good job of sticking to the grocery list.
There are two real factors that play into my shopping splurge: First, I get lazy about writing a shopping list. Rather than look through the refrigerator and pantry, I just jot down the items that come to mind. Second, I have a dangerous habit of making up dinners on the fly, which means I like to have a lot of ingredients to work with at home.
In terms of always having enough to eat, this works out pretty well for us. In terms of keeping to any kind of budget, however, I’m consistently unsuccessful.
It’s time to change — and I’m hoping that by publicly challenging myself to rein in our grocery spending, I’ll actually follow through.
My goal is to spend $75 or less each week. Dan and I eat the vast majority of our meals at home, so that money needs to stretch a long way!
Grocery Budget Strategies
- Pursuit of Healthfulness: Great Grocery Reformation (Funny, right?!)
- (Never) Homemaker: Eating Well Need Not Cost a Fortune
- Wise Bread: 10 Tips For Grocery Shopping on a Budget
- Good Housekeeping: Fill Your Cart With Budget-Friendly Basics
What are your tips for saving money at the grocery store?
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