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.
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