Howdy all. Another cool morning here - it is just so delightful. That will change drastically by the end of the day! Tomorrow looks to be a icky day for sure. July and August are always the hot ones!
Groceries are the one place we can control our spending - REALLY! I know many prices have gone up in the past few years. Often people don't have salaries that increase as well. There is the problem. Like we mentioned last week, groceries are variable, as you chose what you buy and how you shop.
I call basics - dry beans/legumes, rice, pasta, potatoes, canned meats (shelf stable), sauces, oats, and baking supplies. It may not be balanced, but you would not be hungry.
When getting ready to shop:
- Inventory what you have on hand. Shop at home first - always! You may not need to go at all
- Know NEEDS and WANTS - you don't have to go for 'wants'!!!!
- Use a list - fill in only. Buy what you don't have or are about out of
- Stop convenience shopping. Sure, we all have a few convenience items - but don't make ALL your items that. Cook your own!
- Use store cards, coupons, discounts, - look for clearance and manager deals - they save money
- MY rule is pay CASH. Try not to use debit cards or CC's unless you can control yourself!! I often wonder when you use those - how do you know when to "brake"? With cash - you have X$, so that is all you can spend. This is mainly for people REALLY needing to watch their dollars. I just prefer cash myself for most all things - that is just me.
- Don't shop daily! You will overspend in a minute. You may not realize it - but will spend more money this way
- Take lunches and snacks when you go out - stops impulse buying & NEVER shop hungry!
- Shop the cheaper stores when possible, and not the high-end stores
- We always say shop less - which is a great rule. BUT, each week, there are specials - those can be great loss leaders, so you may want to take advantage of those - try to get the limit if possible
- Plan your meals around what you have and what is on sale
- Learn to do without some things and substitute and get creative
- Use it all up! Use the leftovers and bits and bobs in some way
- If you can get fresh goods at farm markets, co-ops, etc. - do it. If you don't grow your own, there are great ways to get fresh in season goods. Also check your produce dept. for a markdown bin. Here, we have Kroger, and they have .99 bin. You can great deals in it. They have a section in most departments for clearance.
So, take control where you can. If you are actively trying to save money for a specific reason - these ideas will help. I know not everyone will like these ideas, but for those really trying to cut back and save - they are wonderful!
Along with other small things - turning off the lights and water, turning up the AC, turning down the heat, being mindful off all you have and using it up, and just getting CREATIVE - you can help yourself save some.
Best of luck to those who are truly trying to save and cut back. We will be your cheerleaders!!!! If you wonder about something or have questions - just ask. There is plenty of experience here, so hopefully we can off a good idea or word!
Have a wonderful day my friends. So happy to have you here.
We can all use the cheerleaders in our lives. This is a great blog post, Cheryl, with so many good tips. We've been in use it up mode here, using things that seem to always get pushed back for another day. Well, not this week! I've been using them up and my freezer is emptying out and I like that. I agree with you on not buying something just because it is a good deal. If we won't use it, it won't come into the house. I don't need anything else I won't use here. LOL
ReplyDeleteYes mam, we do! Thanks. I think there are many of us in the use it mode. I mean that is why we bought it - to use it!
DeleteI like being prepared for the future too - but I don't want things to go bad. So I am using the oldest first and going forward. I will replace when necessary.
Oh goodness, we all have that stuff we don't need - trying to get rid of it here - and like you, don't need more!
It would help me if my reserve storage pantry were more convenient, and not in a cupboard at the back end of the house. However, that's how this house is built, so there I am. I do try to use up from back there and refill with new. My son suggested better shelves, and that would be a great thing, if we ever get around to it! :D
ReplyDeleteI have a store card that I put cash into every month. That really limits what I spend, because I can see every time how much is left. It also means I can go through self-checkout if I'm in a hurry and there are long lines for the cashiers. I rather use the cashiers though, they're nice people, need the jobs, and sometimes self-checkout is a big pain. Our self-checkout will not accept cash, so the store card is *it* unless one uses debit or credit cards. I hope never ever to *need* to put my groceries on a credit card.
MaryB
Well, take your bags or a box back there with you - fill it up and add to your kitchen needs! SHOP!
DeleteThat is kind of neat that you can add money to a store card. Not sure if we have that anywhere here.
Kind of like a gift card. That is another thought - people could get a gift card with an allotted amount of money - use it and be done. You can refill most cards - so do it again next month.
I truly don't like self check. I just don't use it - my choice. I will wait for a cashier every time.
I have used my CC for a huge stock up around holidays - but it gets paid immediately. I do that if gift shopping too - because I may not have enough cash on me.
Never pay interest on groceries - defeats the purpose!
Oh yes, it *is* a store gift card. I was given it about 5 years ago and that's when I discovered it could be refilled, so I did. Originally had planned to keep just a bit of money on it in case I ran out of $$ before I ran out of month and needed more milk or bread. Slowly I realized how useful it really was! ;)
DeleteMy store is a local area chain, and it also sells gasoline, so if I'm out of town I could buy gas if needed. At home all my gas is paid in cash... but sometimes when away one needs to save the cash for other things.
MaryB
Brilliant! Great idea.
DeleteThis morning was just lovely. It was just below 70* when we went out at 7 a.m. to work while it was cool. We have tackled a little landscaping project and hopefully it will be done by fall.
ReplyDeleteIt can be easy to go off the rails when shopping. Want..need... We try to avoid making anything that calls for an exotic spice or other ingredient.
I walked a lot this morning - it was so nice. Good luck with your project.
DeleteIf I charged my groceries it sure would be easy for me. I like just taking cash and only having a certain amount to spend.
We are being extra careful with food waste. I think in the last 3 months most of our food spending came from Flashfood , a $100 Gift Card to Target and local farm stands. Just keeping one foot in front of the other.
ReplyDeleteI have not used FlashFood - I hear a lot of people talk about it. I heat it has good deals. Sounds like you have been very mindful of your spending. Sometimes one foot in front of the other is all we can do - just keep moving forward!
DeleteWinco is by far the cheapest store in the Northwest. Not long ago I was talking to the cashier about their prices being .50 to $1.50 less on every item, then commented, "I know people who like to shop at fancier stores and will pay the extra to do it." Her answer: "Well, you can't fix stupid."
ReplyDeleteThere are a lot of areas of anyone's budget that they control, not just groceries. For example, entertainment. Skip going to the movies, make popcorn and stay home. If you want to see something that isn't free, pay $3.99 to rent it on a streaming service. Don't go out to dinner so often and do NOT get takeout (which costs as much as going to the restaurant) and above all, do NOT pay for Door Dash and similar services. Take a picnic instead of eating out. (It's more fun anyway). Do not buy books. Use the libreary. Cuts down on clutter, too. Also: Clothing. There probably isn't an adult in America that doesn't have an adequate wardrobe for at least a year. Rearrange your clothes and look for new ways to wear them. Stay out of stores, including thrift stores. Do not shop to entertain yourself.
This is just a small sample of spending money THAT YOU CONTROL. I would love to see more examples.
She is right!!!! LOL I have heard a lot of good things about Winco.
DeleteOh heck yes, we can control things. I guess I didn't think much about those things as I very seldom eat out, and don't spend on entertainment or travel.
All the things you mention are big money grabbers. SO many people just want IT now and pay big for it - in many ways. Never been that way - as I have simple tastes. Thank you for giving more examples - that it great!
I'm so glad you are getting a little break from the heat this morning. Such great tips for saving money! We are having a huge freezer clean-out this weekend and we are going to start eating down the freezer. It's time, and I don't want to see so much of it go to waste.
ReplyDeleteJust a small reprieve - but I will take it!
DeleteGood for you - use it and don't waste it. I see folks throw away food and it might as well be cash that they are throwing in the trash. Kind of scary when you think about that way!
No break from the heat here. It's 95 with the feels like temp 112. We're supposed to have this through the first of August. Not a fan but what can you do?
ReplyDeleteDang girl. That is hot. Humidity was way down this morning - starting to come back in. I think tomorrow is to be 94. Yep, nothing we can do but try our best to stay cool. Take care.
DeleteI do use my debit and credit cards for shopping. On my cc I get points I can use for other purchases. How I keep track is a budget spreadsheet that tracks what I've spent to date versus my budget. I update it at least once weekly. Since I've returned from the city, I've managed to build up a decent inventory, so this week's shop is mostly sale items. I'm grateful that our local Independent grocer does have clearance items, though it's generally 50% off of the regular price, for veg/fruit and bakery items.
ReplyDeleteWe're finding that meal planning and planning to use up what we have works well for us too. If you recall the pantry photo I shared, I've challenged my daughter to find one thing each week to use. This upcoming week will see us using a taco kit she'd bought that has been languishing on the shelf. :)
I am seeing prices actually dropping slightly in our area. Not to pre-pandemic prices but less than we've seen for some time. Of course, local or regionally veg and fruit are now becoming available too. Every little bit helps.