I've been thinking a lot about this blog and how I really want to revive it however, I've been thinking that I want to take a little bit of a different approach. While I love to coupon, it is certainly time consuming and sometimes a huge headache. I have over the last year or so been trying to find balance with couponing without obsessing if I miss a deal, finding great deals without coupons, eating healthy on a budget, and having food storage on hand. I've failed miserably at gardening but have not given up; it's on my agenda to start again hopefully next year. I started canning about 2 years ago and love the process. Anyway, my hopes for this blog are to share what I learn along the way as I try to find balance especially when it comes to a tight budget and let me tell you there are few budgets that are tighter than mine, in fact that's also on the list-tighten the budget. So with that said, lets see where this goes. In other words no strict plan just stick to the title Be Provident....getting our financial house in order (the rest of my house could use a little order too!)
Let's get started with my top 10 Grocery Budget tips
1. Write a budget...this is so important, and most of us really hate this one. I know I really hated the thought of a budget until I heard someone in a talk at church say that a budget is like the commandments, while some people might see them as restrictive we who believe no that it is the commandments that keep us safe and give us freedom. A budget is exactly the same, it keeps us financially safe and keeps us from the dangers of debt. Light bulb moment for me. Before you write your budget keep track of how much you currently spend in groceries, otherwise you may get discouraged. So be realistic and adjust along the way. You may have to start a little higher and then as you get better and finding deals and are more aware of your budget, you may be able to reduce your budget.
2. Become a cash buyer. I love Dave Ramsey's envelope system the idea is simple, you just prepare your budget, put the amount you have budgeted for each category in a separate envelope and when it's gone...it's gone! I feel so much more in control of my money when I can physically see what I have and I feel completely out of control when I use my debit card! Make sure to include food storage in your budget even if it's just a little bit or maybe a monthly food storage budget as opposed to a weekly one.
3. If you are going to shop Walmart, take your ads. I love Walmart, but if you think that shopping exclusively at Walmart is giving you the most bang for the buck, I'm sorry to be the one to tell you it's not. However, if you take your ads to Walmart and price match then you're doing well. Two things to be aware of when you price match there is a specific price match policy here be sure to read it so you understand what they will and will not price match. Also it can be a bit of a headache at the register. Just be sure you tell the clerk before he/she scans each item that you want to price match. I have never had a problem with the 2 or 3 Walmarts I have shopped at in Las Vegas but some people have a terrible time price matching. Although they have never asked me for the ad, I always make sure I have them in my purse.
4. Shop the Grocery Store ads. I don't believe in having lists and lists of products with prices comparisons etc. That is so overwhelming! But I do always have in mind the top 5-10 items I buy all of the time. While I love to try new recipes, the bottom line is that there are certain things my family will eat and many things that they will not eat, so usually our meals have the same basic components. For example we use a lot of tomato sauce, beans (refried, black etc) chicken stock, and so on. These are items that I buy all the time so I know what price is a "stock up" price so when I see that price I....stock up! Same goes with meat and cheese which can be frozen.
5. Eat Produce in Season. Fruits and vegetable in season are at their best price. This is where canning and freezing come into play. If you see a really great deal on say peaches, if you go at the beginning of the sale and ask the produce manager for a case, I've never had them say no, but they usually want to order it for you so they don't run out of stock. Then, you can can or freeze for the winter. Also, look for co-ops or groups that order, and then there's the best option...a garden!
6. Cut back on Meat. I'm not saying you need to eat a vegan or even a vegetarian diet, but most of us probably eat way too much meat. I have tried to cook a couple of meatless meals each week two of our favorites are lasagna roll-ups and sweet potato flautas (I'll post the recipes later). Make meat the side rather than the main course for example in your spaghetti sauce cut the amount of meat in half or in your casseroles load up on the non-meat ingredients and cut down on the meat. Just know that meat is expensive and can eat up your grocery budget in a heartbeat. Also, if you're saving on meat you won't feel guilty spending a little extra on things like healthy fish or even higher quality meats or organic produce. Whatever works for you!
7. Shop the Drugstores. If you need to run to the store for cold medicine or aspirin or milk, I would never say go to the Drugstore because it's probably you're most expensive last minute option. But if you watch the ads you can get some awesome deals at the drugstore. I often get eggs, cereal, diapers (Walgreens are my favorite even better than huggies and pampers in my opinion!) and lots of other things. Again, it takes just a minute or two to browse through the ads (their online if you don't take the paper), and put them in your purse if you're going to Walmart. You can also get great deals on toiletries and medicine, but that takes a little work with rewards and cards and points which if you're interested are awesome, but if you don't want the hassle there are lots of other goodies at the drugstores.
8. Cook. Seems fairly obvious, right? Eating out can kill you're weekly grocery budget in one meal! That's not to say that we never eat fast food or eat out (okay we almost never eat at a real restaurant), but we're busy and there are many days when it's 5:00 and you (I) have no idea what to do for dinner. A couple of good solutions: freezer meals more on this later, I always have frozen ravioli and jarred pasta sauce on hand for a quick meal, instead of running to fast food, run to the store and pick-up some hamburger or turkey burger, buns and chips (I also always have fresh fruit and veggies on hand) check your ads really quick and see where the cheapest buy is I promise you that even at regular price it will be cheaper than fast food, we also run to Sams or Costco and grab a cooked chicken and rolls and salad my kids love this for a meal. Anyway, cooking almost anything is cheaper than eating out.
9.Make your own cleaning supplies. It's quick, it's easy it's non-toxic, and you might be amazed at what you can clean with a few simple ingredients like baking soda, hydrogen peroxide, and vinegar. More on this to come. I promise you that home-made fabric stain remover is so much more effective than the store bought version.
10. Food Storage. This one is so much about peace of mind. There is something so comforting about knowing that you have food in your cupboard. Don't run out and buy food storage. I have a great method that I learned from someone else that I'll share in another post, but buy what your family will eat. Don't buy food storage just to have it sit in your pantry for 30 years. Buy a little bit at a time when you see a good price, stock up, use it and rotate it. Learn to make bread from your wheat...it's a cinch. Save that extra grocery money for things like a wheat grinder or water barrels. Lot's more to come on this topic!
Well that's a pretty good start!
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