Want to read about the rest of the Budgeting 101 Series? Find it: HERE.
Budgeting 101: Class 9
Want to cut your grocery budget and save money?
Tips and Tricks for stretching your money.
Food Budgeting
Trouble Zones:
It's important to know where your Trouble Zones are, because once you recognize them, you can find ways to avoid and improve them.
Most of the Main Trouble Areas in a food budget come from:
Not keeping track of spending & budget
-OR-
Lack of self discipline, whether small or large
So here are some of the common Trouble Areas:
NOT STICKING TO YOUR SHOPPING LIST
(Little by little it adds up. I wont lie...I don't always sick to my list, but that doesn't make it right. AND I constantly am aware of the room in my budget, to keep from over spending.)
NOT PLANNING AHEAD
(This is a big one, and makes some of the biggest budget problems. A little planning goes a long way. Less impulse buying, less expensive convenience purchases, less waste of food going bad, less last minute runs to the store, etc. Meal planning really does save money!)
SHOPPING TOO OFTEN
(This seems minor, but the more you shop the more likely you are to buy "extra" things. It seems small but all of those little things add up. Plan ahead and try to shop once every two weeks.)
SHOPPING WHEN HUNGRY
(This is a killer. Everything looks good and when you're hungry, your self discipline is weak.)
IRREGULAR PURCHASES FOR COMPANY/ENTERTAINING
(Anything from: the extra food needed, to more expensive cuts of meat...these quickly add to or break the budget. Entertaining, Holidays, etc. all are great...believe me, I love both, so planning ahead and budgeting appropriately can make this work without breaking the budget.)
TRYING NEW RECIPES
(New Recipes can push the budget, whether they need new ingredients you don't normally purchase or worse, they are a flop...wasting the ingredients and the money. This doesn't mean don't try new recipes, but definitely look into them, their cost and plan appropriately.)
STORE GIMMICKS
(Stores are there to make money. Understand store set up…and how they can fool you. Just because items are in the aisle or on the end caps with fancy signs, doesn't mean they are a great price. Stores place foods and treats by the checkout stands, and right as you enter the store. They know what will sell and encourage impulsive purchases.)
Take a little time to plan and you can save lots of money on groceries each month, while still eating well!
Interested in more ways to save check out these other Budgeting Tips:
I also find that taking someone with you while shopping can also be a trouble zone. If I have my husband or kids with me, we end up buying more than what I had planned and budgeted for. A pack of candy may not be much, but those extra bucks can add up to a lot if it happens often. -Roslyn @ US Educational Financial Solutions
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