Groceries
We have been talking about inflation and one of the pain points that has hit, and a pain point for a lot of people when it comes to their budget any time of the year, is groceries. Yep, we are feeling the price increase everywhere, and again, it’s just one of those places that you just tend to overspend, and that’s how I feel.
It’s Just Costing More
It made me so sad a few months ago when we upped, in our EveryDollar app, our grocery line item and our Costco line item, because I was like, “It’s just costing more to buy basically what we’ve always bought,” but I hate it. It’s not fun to be able to see, golly, it’s just costing so much more money. But guys, that’s the reality we live in.
How Can We Beat Inflation?
So, how can we beat inflation? What are actions that we can take that can help us with our food budget going into 2023?
Strategically Planning Ahead
So, one of the best ways to save on groceries is by strategically planning ahead. This is so, so key, and I know that can feel really overwhelming, and meal planning, I think, has different levels of what people do, but if you’re just smart about a few things and simplifying your grocery planning, it actually can save you money.
Curbside Pickup
So, even things like curbside pickup, okay? Walmart, Kroger, and a few other large chains will do this on their app, and you can pick it up at the store without even getting out of your car. Now, some of them have a small fee for these services, or there might be a minimum amount that you have to buy in order to do it, but I’m telling you, it is worth it, because you’re going to be able to see when you check out, okay, how much am I spending?
You’re Not Impulse Buying
So, you’re able to look in real time and cut things you need to cut if you need to. You’re not impulse buying when you’re getting out and you’re shopping, you know, through the store. If you have kids and your kids are with you all the time, and they’re not like, “Oh my gosh, Mom, I want this and this and this,” I just really, does it simplify it. So, if you can do curbside pickup, I recommend that.
Having a Meal Plan and Meal Prep
I also recommend having a meal plan and meal prep. Wasting food equals wasting money. We are all guilty of it, including me, but it’s amazing when you plan out what you’re going to have that week, you are less likely just to go and eat out, you’re less likely to waste food, and you’re less likely to overspend on groceries when you have a plan. You know the ingredients ahead of time, and you know what you’re going to do.
Look Ahead of the Week
So, I do this every single week, you guys, seriously, every Sunday. Now, look ahead of the week. I’m like, “Okay, here’s what’s going on, you know, Tuesday night I’m gonna be home to cook, so I’m gonna cook Tuesday night, I’m cooking Wednesday night, I’m cooking Thursday night, and then Friday night, we have this party thing that we’re gonna go to,” so, like, I mean, I literally look at every single night of the week and I plan, and if I can throw things in a crockpot, I do that.
Just Having a Plan
If I can meal prep to save time on cooking, I do that, but I’m telling you, it has saved us so much money just having a plan. So, I really, really encourage you to do that, because you’re able to say, “Okay, if I don’t have a plan,” and especially you working moms out there, working parents, like, you get home and you’re exhausted and it’s like, “I don’t know what to do.” This is going to help guide you.
Grocery Store Loyalty Programs
Also, check out grocery store loyalty programs. So many grocery stores offer discounts, coupons, promos, everything for customers to be part of their loyalty programs, and so read the fine print, though. I don’t want you signing up for a store credit card or anything like that, and you don’t want to join something that you have to pay a fee, you know, or something like that.
No Fees, No Debt Involved
So, no, no fees, no debt involved, but a lot of these programs are great, because they will send you coupons, you will see deals, and if you’re gonna be shopping there anyways, might as well rack up the points and get some free stuff, because it is worth it.
Freeze-Dry and Canned Foods
Also, freeze-dry and canned foods. So, again, crockpot meals, like I had talked about earlier, they’re inexpensive, because you can usually throw inexpensive ingredients in them, and it’s awesome. You can even freeze things like soups or that kind of thing to eat later in the week, which I’ve done that. You can find meat on sale, and you can bring it home and freeze it. I do that.
Canned Fruits or Frozen Fruits and Vegetables
Buy canned fruits or frozen fruits and vegetables, because they’re going to last longer than fresh. Antonyms are even less expensive. If you have an herb garden, that’s really going to help you save some money. We did that this summer and this fall, it was wonderful, because, again, you’re like, “Oh my gosh, there it all is,” and then you can actually freeze herbs in oil and ice cube trays to keep them from drying out and use them throughout the year.
Food Preservation Hacks
https://ask.fsis.usda.gov/article/How-do-I-handle-leftovers-safely?utm_source=chatgpt.com
That’s amazing. So, there’s a lot of different food preservation hacks online that can save you more money, but look into that, you guys. That will help you.
Pay Attention to Where You Shop
Also, pay attention to where you shop. So, prices can vary a lot store to store for the exact same item, so where you shop can save you a lot of money, and don’t shop at certain stores just because you’re used to it, you like the experience. Honestly, look at the stores that have the best bang for your buck, because in my head I’m like, “I mean, why buy bananas from Whole Foods when you can buy them at Aldi for less?” Right?
Shop Around and Compare Prices
Like, you can just look to see, okay, what makes sense for my budget right now, and always, don’t assume that higher-end stores are always going to have the highest prices. Sometimes they are, more than likely, but actually shop around and compare prices. So, like, if this is the area of your budget that you feel like the most stressed about, then do some work around it, okay?
Do the Work of Checking
So, yes, looking at different stores and comparing prices, it may take some extra effort, but at least you’re able to see, okay, that’s going to save me here and here and here, and making a few of those switches is going to save you money. Remember that stores are always changing up their products and their pricing, so you never know which one has the best sales and value, so you have to check. Do the work of checking.
Find Money-Savings Substitutes
Find money-savings substitutes. So, instead of, you know, buying, like, chicken breasts that might be more expensive, you can actually buy ground chicken, which sounds so gross, but a few recipes I’ve done earlier call for ground chicken, which, again, I know it sounds disgusting, but it’s been for, like, enchiladas where we’ve done these, like, Greek, like, chicken ball, meatball things, and, and it’s amazing, and it’s less expensive than buying chicken breasts, and I’m like, “Oh my gosh, this is amazing.”
Buy Whole Fruits and Whole Vegetables
So, again, there’s different substitutions that you can do. You know, frozen fruits and vegetables, again, are usually cheaper than buying them fresh. Buy whole fruits and whole vegetables instead of the pre-sliced stuff, because that’ll cost you, you know, dollars more just to get them pre-sliced, where you can buy a chopper and chop it yourself, and then you can save some money that way. It’s great.
Where Are Great Deals?
So, there’s some ways around it, you guys, to look to see, okay, where can we, where can I be wise with my grocery shopping? Where are great deals? What are options that I can pick? What’s the planning I can do? What’s the work I can do ahead of time? All of this together will help you save money on your budget, but you have to be intentional.
Staying in Budget
You have to be able to say, “Okay, here’s what we have,” and it’s okay to say, “Wow, this week we spent too much, so next week I’m going to look at recipes that are cheaper.” So, whether it’s chilis and soups, or you have breakfast for dinner one night, I mean, like, there are even meals that you can do to save you money, but all of it, you guys, is so worth it to have that margin and to know that you’re staying in budget.
Take Control of Your Money and Create a Life You Love
I want to help simplify this and give you money back in your grocery budget, because, hallelujah, I think we all need it. So, remember, you guys, to take control of your money and create a life you love.
