Food Budget - Ways to Give Yourself an Instant Raise

It’s All in The Emotions

Tallying up your food expenses over the last month or two will give you an uneasy feeling. We are all guilty of buying too many groceries and eating out excessively. Going to the grocery store can be an emotional roller coaster. But, if you are like the old me, you find great pleasure in going up and down each aisle. We have moved into a society that buys off impulse. There are many food categories, brands, and products, and it is hard to choose only what we need.

Many triggers are leading to over-buying food. Making purchases for your emotional side can make you feel good at the moment, but it won’t last. Going grocery shopping without a plan can result in loads of unnecessary products in your cart. Before you know it, you’ve racked up hundreds of dollars in groceries, and you still don’t have much to make a meal out of.

Meal Planning On A New Level

Developing a plan before you leave home can minimize impulsive purchases. Meal planning is not only for the fitness gurus. Most think meal planning is about eating the same prepared foods out of a container for a week. But, we are going to take meal planning to a new level. When it comes to budgeting, meal planning is a way to develop your shopping list for your breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals.

Building your meal plan before heading to the grocery store will help you identify the items you need. You won’t buy duplicate items you already have in your pantry and refrigerator. In addition, meal planning will prevent you from picking up things not listed on your grocery shopping list.

Bulk Shopping Is Not What It Bulks Up to Be

After looking at your receipt from one of the membership-only retail warehouse clubs, have you ever thought to yourself, “where in the world is the rest of the stuff?” Then you find yourself in the same membership-only retail warehouse club again weeks later. Unless you live in a home with five football players, bulk shopping can instantly kill your food budget and lead to unwanted or expired food.

If you choose to bulk shop, do it for the items you know you will continue to use, such as condiments, beverages, beauty and personal care, laundry and cleaning supplies, and alcohol. Yes, I said alcohol because everyone knows wine is a household staple (only if you drink responsibly). Bulk shopping should be part of your meal planning. You can add the household necessities to your grocery list once a month or divvy it up every couple of weeks.