Why Is It So Hard To Stay On Budget? – Groceries

The easiest budget to bust is also the one we have the most control over.  So why is it so easy to go over budget? 

·                     Is it because groceries keep going up in price? 

·                     Do we need a bigger grocery budget in the first place?

·                     Are the teenagers eating us out of house and home? 

These are all questions I have been hearing a lot lately.  And I am seeing some real frustration here.  So I asked some questions of my own. 

·                     How often to you shop?

·                     Do you use a meal plan?

·                     Do you shop with a list?

·                     Where to you shop?

·                     What kinds of things are you buying? 

Sometimes the answer is simpler than we realize - STOP SHOPPING. 

For those of us who love to shop for groceries, love to cook, are foodies, and love a bargain it is difficult to stay out of the store.  We are lured by the ads, by coupons we have clipped and their impending expiration dates, and by the hunt for a great deal. 

Sometimes we are just itching for an excuse to get back into the store so we can shop some more.  “We ran out of toilet paper so we might as well troll the aisles for bargains too, since we’re here.” 

Sound familiar?  I’ve been guilty on many an occasion. 

You have to know when to stop. 

Not every bargain needs to be your bargain.  Not every great deal needs to come home to your house.  Not every markdown item needs to be purchased by you.  Guess what?  There will be other bargains, deals and markdown items.  You know it’s true. You have seen them time and time again. 

So go back to the basics: 

·                     Have a plan.

·                     Make a list.

·                     Shop where you get the best prices.

·                     Limit your shopping trips – no more than once a week.

·                     When you’re out of money, you’re out.  Stop shopping, walk away. 

Be willing to make do if you run out of something.  If you absolutely have to make an extra trip, get what you need and get out of the store.  Don’t shop. 

What is something you struggle with?  Do you have a tip you’d like to share? 

You might enjoy revisiting Meal Planning, Our Grocery Budget and Grocery Shopping.