Your grocery budget probably needs a little revamping like mine does, and so I came up with a few tips for creating what I believe, is a functional grocery budget. This method of dividing up your expenses will help you to make sure you aren’t overspending, and of course, help you to make the most of your money.
3 Steps to creating a grocery budget:
Track your grocery spending. Track your spending over a couple of months and come up with an average. Or look at your receipts from the last couple of months to figure out an average. You will want to look at what you are spending at the grocery store and restaurants. It will be a big help to have these separated so you can see where you need to cut down your spending most.
Set your grocery budget – Because you now know the average amount you spend at the grocery store and restaurants each month, you can set your goal for your grocery budget. For example, if you’ve discovered you spend on average $800 a month, you might want to set your goal at $700 by cutting down on restaurants and prepackaged grocery store food. I don’t recommend drastically trimming your grocery budget right this instant. Give yourself some slack and don’t put pressure on yourself to come up with an impossible-to-stick-with number. You’ll get discouraged and may end up giving up.
Make your grocery list with your new grocery budget in mind. Having a plan for your grocery budget is how you are going to succeed. Pick recipes and ingredients that are simple. Plan for leftovers to stretch the budget.
In addition, here are some practical tips to help you stay within your newly created grocery budget:
Don’t forget to budget for all meals and snacks, not just dinner.
Many menu plans include only 1 meal a day – the evening meal. This doesn’t help you to create a shopping list or functional grocery budget when it doesn’t provide for breakfast, lunch or snacks. You need to focus not just on the menu plans that give you low budgets for one meal a day, but also plan for your breakfasts, lunches and snacks.
Make healthy foods a priority.
One thing often seen in a grocery budget is not enough room for healthy foods. If you are sacrificing your health to save a few dollars each month, it isn’t worth it. Feeding your family great nutrient-dense meals and snacks isn’t an option – it is a necessity. Consider the 40/30/30 rule when shopping for groceries. 40% of your grocery budget is fruits and vegetables. 30% of your grocery budget is lean meats and dairy. 30% of your grocery budget are things like dry beans, rice, spices and other items to fill in gaps in the menu plan.
Use coupons only on items you need.
While I’m a fan of couponuse, when it comes to your grocery budget it is important to not get carried away. The thrill of the coupon hunt can quickly become a reason to spend more money for the sake of the “deal”. Make sure you are couponing for items that truly are needed and the best deal possible. Just because there is a coupon available doesn’t mean that they should be used.
Plan meals that can be used multiple ways.
Not only do you want to plan low-cost meals, but you want to plan for things that will provide you with leftovers for lunches or a second evening meal. You may also want to look for meats and protein sources that are versatile. Things like a roast or hamburger can be used in multiple recipes making them easier to buy in bulk packages and stretch further. A roast cooked on Monday can have leftovers used in a quick beef and vegetable soup, stew or even tacos or chili. A whole chicken can be shredded and added to soups, casseroles, salads and sandwiches. Using every bit of the cheaper cuts of meat throughout your weekly menu plan can easily make your grocery budget manageable.
Follow your local sale cycles to stockpile as needed.
Sometimes it’s beneficial to buy extra of select items when they are at their lowest prices. This could be vegetables and fruit in the summer months to freeze for later, or could be canned goods in winter months. Watch your local stores’ sale cycles and stock up accordingly to provide your family with food at the best prices possible year round.
These tips for creating a functional grocery budget are just the beginning. To really do well you also need to take into consideration your area, sale cycles and your family needs. A functional grocery budget is one that provides your family with great meals while staying within the expense plan you can afford.
Budget meal planning is vital to the health of most household budgets. Nobody looks forward to rice, pasta and beans for every meal, but sometimes a financial strain means you have to really look closely at your food intake as a place to eliminate extra expenses. These tips for busy moms to help budget meal planning become easier, are perfect for keeping you well fed and your finances in order.
Stick to what your family loves.
One of the biggest budget meal planning blunders around is trying out too many new recipes each month. Unfortunately, what looks great on a blog, television or in a magazine may not meet your families taste preferences. Stick mostly to those tried and true recipes and flavors you know everyone will eat so you aren’t wasting money on food that ends up in the garbage. Try 1-2 new recipes a month and if they are enjoyed, add them to your rotation. Here’s a list of our family’s favorite meals.
Keep accurate track of what you have on hand.
A pantry and freezer list is a must when you are budget meal planning. Your meal plan should include items you have in stock in your pantry. Knowing what you have on hand keeps you from spending too much on items you don’t need. Basically, it will keep you from making last minute stops at the grocery store and spending extra because you forgot an ingredient.
Get to know your butcher.
Whether you use a traditional butcher shop or your local grocery store meat counter, knowing the butcher is a great way to find the best deals on meats. Not only can you talk to them about the end pieces of meats that are perfect for stews and chili, but you can find out when they are running a sale, or when something is about to be marked down because it is near the end of its shelf life. These little things can save you a ton of money on meat purchases.
Create a core base of ingredients.
Many families like specific flavor profiles more than others. When you figure out what your family tends to gravitate toward, you can easily start shopping for those items in bulk. Whether it is a type of meat, produce or base like pasta or rice you can find most groceries in bulk for less than individual servings would cost.
Plan meals for leftovers.
One of the best ways to save money while meal planning is to actually plan your menu for leftovers. Not only can larger batches of some meals save money on a second evening meal, they can save money on your lunch expenses. Soups, casseroles and many one pot meals are perfect for leftovers. If your family doesn’t like eating the same thing multiple times in a row, you can easily create the double batch and store it in the freezer until later in the month. Then all you have to do is thaw and reheat in the oven or slow cooker.
These budget meal planning tips are perfect for moms who are busy juggling kids and work. Not only will they help you stay on budget each month, they will provide you with great meals your entire family will enjoy.
Moms, how do you stay on budget each month when it comes to groceries? What are your tips for making food stretch further?
If you are looking for a way to make planning, prep, and meals easier and faster you may want to begin by prepping in advance as soon as you bring home your groceries. Spend a couple hours on Saturday or Sunday to do food prep and you will be amazed at how much time you can save and stress you can avoid throughout your busy week.
The first part of good food prep is meal planning. If you sit down and work out at least a week’s worth of meals in advance on paper, it serves several purposes in making everything run smoother.
You save money grocery shopping if you have a plan.
You won’t be wondering what’s for dinner at dinner time.
You can make healthier choices and set yourself up for success.
Meal and snack time options will be more plentiful.
Meal Plan & Shop
So sit down, make a list of dinners, lunches, breakfast ideas, plus your family’s favorite snacks then make a grocery list. Grab the list, your coupons, and your wallet. Next head to the grocery store and load up on everything you need. Bring it home and set it all on the counter. Most times before I do a big grocery run I also like to scrub and empty out the refrigerator so it’s ready to be loaded up for the week.
If you need some inspiration, this book is a good resource with meal and snack plan ideas.
Once you have done your shopping for the week (or maybe even the month) and brought home bags overflowing with fresh vegetables, canned goods, pasta, meat, dairy, etc… Now what do you do with it? How do you prep it all for the week ahead so that you are not stressed with coming up with dinner every night at 5:00? I’m going to share with you my favorite tips, methods, and tricks for making weekly food prep work for you. We’re going to prep for all 3 meals including bag lunches, and snacks.
Gather Your Tools
Make sure you include these items on your shopping list if you are not already stocked up: Mason jars, freezer bags, sandwich bags, and plastic lidded containers in various sizes. These are key tools to meal prep success so I suggest designating a shelf or basket for storing these items handily. Reusable containers like this or like this are perfect for prepping lunches.
Bring home your groceries and set them out on the counter. You can go ahead and put away things like milk, butter, etc.. into your clean fridge. The idea behind meal prep is to get as much done in advance when you have time so that during the week you are just doing minimal work to get dinner on the table and lunches packed. Now you are ready to get started on The meal prep….
Fruits and Veggies
Wash them well to remove wax, dirt, and pesticides that may be on them. Place them in strainers or on paper towels to drain. Check your weekly menu and pre-prep your veggies for meals. Slice, dice, shred, etc.. I have a mandolinand I absolutely love it for food prep, makes it quick and easy. I just rinse between different items and move on to the next one. Once I’ve finished the slicing and dicing, I divide them up into bags and smaller plastic storage containers. Don’t forget to designate some for healthy snacks and put them in special containers. Carrot sticks, cucumber slices, apple wedges, grapes, cherries, etc… If salad is on your menu for lunches or dinners make those up as well. Mason jars are great for this.
Prep and cook meat
Again, looking at your meal plan, you can pre-cook a lot of your meat and freeze it for quick reheating and adding to your meals. Chili on your list? Brown and drain 1 pound of meat. Hamburgers? Go ahead with seasoning and flattening them. Place them in freezer bags divided by sheets of wax paper. If you buy meat in larger bulk packs to save money, but don’t want to cook it yet you can still divide it up into smaller portions before refreezing it.
Divide up snacks in individual packs
I tend to not buy many things already individually packaged because it costs a lot more. It’s cheaper to buy a large bag of chips and divide it up yourself and really, it only takes a couple minutes to do. This is great for snack time or for packing lunches, you can just grab one or two items and toss them in the lunchbox.
Prep Lunches
If you have kids, my favorite trick is to turn an entire loaf of bread into peanut butter & jelly sandwiches. If you have the freezer space, make them all ahead and place in freezer bags, stack in the freezer then simply pull one out and pop in the lunches and it will be thawed and ready by lunch. You could do this with lunch meat and cheeses as well.
Make slow cooker meals
Make up your favorite slow cooker or Instant Pot meals in advance. Place meat, starches, veggies, and seasonings in big freezer bags. Freeze, and pull them out in the morning, dump into slow cooker and come home to a hot meal ready to go. Or pull it out and cook it quickly in your Instant Pot. If you don’t already own a slow cooker or Instant Pot you should definitely get one…or two. 🙂
Now, you’re pretty much done and this gives you a fabulous start to your week with just a couple hours of preparation! Now grab a cup of coffee and put your feet up, you deserve it!
I do the bulk of my food prep in one day but during the rest of the week you should think ahead. If you make pancakes for breakfast then make a double batch and freeze extras in baggies for popping in the toaster on busy school mornings. Having soup for dinner? Freeze the leftovers in small plastic lidded containers for lunches.
I’d love to know how you prepare for the upcoming week. Let me know in the comments below!
Summer is in the air and your local farmers markets are open and ready to provide you with super fresh and flavorful produce. Wandering the market makes for a perfect morning or afternoon and supporting local farmers is a great bonus. Here are 5 fantastic reasons to get out there and buy local produce.
5 Reasons to Buy Local Produce
Flavor & Freshness.
Buying fresh fruits and vegetables at the peak of their season provide you with the best flavors and are perfect for your favorite recipes. Vendors usually put the best of their crop up front, so get there early.
Support Farmers.
Smaller family farms rely on their yearly crops and benefit from us buying directly from them each season. You can also stimulate your local economy by shopping at your grocery store when you look for locally grown produce.
Sense of community.
By supporting local farmers and buying their produce, you can feel a sense of community while shopping at the farmer’s markets. It’s a chance to get to know who’s growing fresh fruits and vegetables in your surrounding area as well as ask questions about how they are grown.
Healthy eating.
When buying local, the fruits and vegetables you buy and cook with are ready to eat. They are filled with their natural nutrients and provide a healthier option on your dinner table.
Environmentally friendly.
By visiting your local farmer’s markets and buying fresh produce, you’re helping to protect the environment by cutting down on the travel expense of transporting from province to province or even country to country. Overall air pollution is lessened and truck fuel is saved.
For the best experience, go early and enjoy visiting all of the vendors at your own pace. Some vendors will offer samples so that you can taste what you are buying. Many times you end up finding fruit and vegetable varieties that you may never have heard of before. Enjoy the fruits of their labors all season long!
One easy way to save money is to skip shopping for a week or two and use what you already have on hand in your pantry and freezer. I like to think of it as shopping in my own home. I like to do a “Pantry Challenge” at least once a year, when I notice my freezer and pantry getting really full! I can usually find quite a few things that I’ve forgotten about :P. Being really intentional about using what I have already purchased saves us a ton of money!
Here’s how we make it work for us:
Take Inventory
This is a major key to success in doing a pantry challenge for us. If I don’t know what I have stuck in the nooks and crannies, then it’s hard to make a plan of attack.
Menu Plan
Based on what I wrote on my inventory list, I’ll come up with a menu plan that will carry us through until most/all of the food is eaten. I’m terrible at “inventing” meals so I’ll usually add our tried and true recipes along with some really basic recipes that I’ve found via Pinterest or something. (I need a recipe to work with)
Set a Goal
Having a goal or two when you embark on a Pantry Challenge is important. Usually when I eat from the pantry, I do a month long challenge. So one of my goals is to avoid any major grocery shopping for one month. Another goal I set is to only spend $25 a week on essentials (fresh fruit/vegetables, dairy, eggs). I think it would be impossible to do a month long challenge without shopping for some essentials. However, setting a goal of spending only $25 a week will still help significantly in keeping more money in the bank account!
Here’s how you could make it work for you:
Make it a Game
Along with taking inventory, making a menu plan and setting a goal or two, turning a pantry challenge into a game can really add fun to meal time. Rather than thinking of a pantry challenge as a hard thing, why not see how long you can survive without going to the store. Or see what kind of wacky (edible) meals you can create to give the whole family a laugh.
Focus on what you do have rather than what you don’t have
Be thankful for the deals & steals that you have already taken advantage of to fill your pantry and freezer, instead of thinking of all the ones you’re missing out on in the grocery stores. Or, are you really wishing you had more rice? Find some new ways to love all those potatoes that you do have.
Get Creative
It’s time to get creative again! Whether it’s breakfast for dinner to finish up some pancake mix, using stale bread to make bread crumbs, cooking is about enjoying the process and breaking out of the mundane. Creativity comes when you have 12 boxes of pasta and need a new recipe. Think of all the ways you can use up that leftover ham and go for it!
Here’s a list of basic meals that you should be able to create with some of your inventory:
Do you find it hard to prepare tasty and filling meals when you’re in between pay days? Cooking hearty meals on a tight budget can be a challenge, but the truth is, it’s totally possible! You can enjoy a tasty, healthy, and filling meal for less when you give these frugal meal ideas a try. Bonus: You can whip them up in no time!
1. Loaded Tomato Soup and Cheese Sandwiches
Prepare a pot of tomato soup and toss in some filling extras such as rice, cheese, or pasta. Prepare with a side of grilled cheese sandwiches and some cucumber slices.
2. Baked Italian Chicken Legs and Rice
Chicken legs are one of the cheapest cuts of chicken. Bake chicken that has been marinated with Italian dressing in the oven. Prepare with a side of rice and a small side salad if budget allows.
3. Baked Potato Bar
Prepare baked potatoes along with a buffet of toppings. Enjoy them with sour cream, chives, cheese, bacon, ham, or other tasty toppings that turn them into a meal. Side with soup if the budget allows.
4. Ham and Cheese Croissant Pockets.
Take canned croissants and stuff them with ham and cheese before rolling. Prepare as usual. The end result is a hot and tasty treat that is best when served with inexpensive soup, steamed vegetables or salad.
5. Brinner!
Brinner is when you enjoy breakfast for dinner! Eggs, pancakes, and fruit can all make for an inexpensive but hearty dinner. If budget allows, prepare some sausage links or bacon.
6. Hamburger Casserole.
Cook a pound of hamburger and drain. Add in a packet of brown gravy mix. Add in a cup of frozen corn as well as a cup of frozen peas. Pour the mixture into a baking dish, top with shredded cheese, and finish off with frozen tater tots. Bake until golden and enjoy. It’s cheap and easy.
7. Meatless Taco Bar.
Create a meatless taco bar with shells, refried beans, cheese, sour cream, beans, avocado, lettuce and tomatoes. With so many fresh toppings, you won’t even miss the meat.
If you need to prepare a hearty meal on a budget, give these ideas a try! You’re sure to create something tasty in no time flat.
What are your go-to frugal meal ideas for when the grocery budget is running dry?
If you need some inspiration, 
Bring home your groceries and set them out on the counter. You can go ahead and put away things like milk, butter, etc.. into your clean fridge. The idea behind meal prep is to get as much done in advance when you have time so that during the week you are just doing minimal work to get dinner on the table and lunches packed. Now you are ready to get started on The meal prep….
