At CHI FOR YOURSELF, it’s all about the energy. But money problems can lower your vibration in a hurry. Getting a handle on your money flow can do wonders for your energy flow!
Your mortgage, car payment and most of the rest of your bills are pretty much set. But you actually have some control over how much you spend at the grocery store.
Next to your mortgage, groceries figure to be your biggest monthly expense. Here are a few ideas to help you pull in the reins on food expenses.
Make A Grocery Budget
Start by tracking how much you’re spending on groceries for a few weeks. From there, come up with a weekly or monthly budget. Put that money toward groceries and whatever you do don’t overspend. Next, try cutting back your budget by $20 per month. Keep going and see how low you can go. The remaining tips will help you do that without feeling like you’re depriving yourself.
Keep A Price Book
Who doesn’t love a bargain or a good deal? They are all over the store, but do you know if what they advertise as a good deal is actually saving you money?
Keep a little notebook on you. Or keep a text document on your phone with the regular prices of the items you buy most often. That way you’ll know what kitchen staple is least expensive and where to buy it. And you’ll be able to see if that “deal” is a genuine deal.
Your price book will also come in handy when you browse through weekly grocery flyers. You can decide if a loss leader deal is worth a drive to the store long before you ever set foot out the door.
Come Up With A Few Frugal Dishes
You don’t have to make drastic changes and eat nothing but rice and beans all week. Instead, think of a few inexpensive dishes your family enjoys.
They may be rice and beans. Or how about a big pot of soup or chili. Often meatless dishes will be your best frugal bet. Or use meat in small portions on frugal dish days.
Plan a few frugal meals each month and combine them with any and all leftovers. This will make a big difference in your grocery budget.
Cut Out The Extras
Make a list before you head to the store and stick to it. All those little extras like the fancy bread from the bakery or the candy you grabbed at checkout start to add up. Get in the habit of skipping those extras unless there’s a good reason to buy them.
Stick to your list and you’ll cut your grocery bill by quite a bit each week. It’s amazing how all those little extras add up.
Give these tips a try and see if you don’t start to see savings on a weekly basis. Save up for a fun summer vacation, pay off those credit cards or start building your financial safety net.
What you do with all the extra money each month is up to you.
JohnK 8-21-2017
Overheard: “Money is like love; it kills slowly and painfully the one who withholds it and enlivens the other who turns it on his fellow man.” ~ Kahlil Gibran
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