I’m always watching how much I spend on groceries, as this is the one area of my budget that I have the most control over. When I was making good money my estranged wife wanted $500 every two weeks for groceries and cleaning supplies and clothing. I thought it was way too much, but for the sake of peace I kept my mouth shut and gave it to her. I look back and can’t believe that I actually did that! Now I spend under $300 per month, sometimes even less than $200 per month on the same things. I haven’t bought any new clothes for myself in about a year, but I do have to buy clothes for my kids all the time — they just keep growing or wrecking what they have. Little kids are like that. So, here are some of the things I do:
- I always buy the generic product. Never buy brand name. Often you get a better product with generic labelling, and you’ll certainly save a lot of money.
- I go into the grocery store with cash only. This is how much I can spend, regardless. If I want more, I can’t do it that trip. This has saved me a lot in impulse and junk food buying.
- I take a list with me of exactly what I need. Nothing more. No nice-to-haves, no treats or extras. Only what I need.
- I don’t buy movies or books or other sundry items at the grocery store. Those are for discount stores (if at all), such as the used book store. The library is even better.
- I take my kids with me whenever I can. They get impatient and tired quickly, after all, they are only two and four. This makes me hurry to get what we need and not linger and look at other things.
- I add up everything that I am buying, keeping a running tally of how much I am spending. I also round up to the nearest fifty cents. This helps me to stay below budget as I usually reach my total before the total is actually reached. I’m usually about $2.00 below what I thought I was spending.
- I bring my own bags/baskets. The store I shop at is the cheapest, and as a discount style grocery store it charges for plastic bags. So this saves me a little bit. Plus they give a credit for the number of bags I bring. I always bring a couple of extras, just in case. That not only gives me room to split up the groceries into smaller, lighter units (that way the kids can help carrying them), but I also get more credit for the bags. And as a bonus, I’m helping the environment.
The biggest thing here is that I only buy what I absolutely need! That is the greatest secret to shopping frugally for groceries. I found that when I bought what I wanted I still ate it, but I also tended to accumulate a lot of food in the cupboard, and there was a fair bit that spoiled and got thrown away. And there were still things that got freezer burned because they sat in the freezer too long. I won’t go through that again!
Tags: better managing your budget, saving on grocery budgets, shopping frugally
I don’t agree with your opinion of generic products. While it is true that some generic stuff is better, and it’s usually always cheaper, it’s not always true. Some generic products are made with lower quality ingredients, so you need to be careful in what you choose.
Another good tip is to eat before you go to the store. If you are hungry you tend to want to impulse buy more stuff.
The point is that most generic products are simply brand name products that are re-branded. While not all of them are, 90% or better are at least of the same quality, at least when it comes to food and medicine. Try it once, and if you don’t like it, then go ahead and spend more! And I always advocate doing grocery shopping on a full stomach with a list in hand!