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How's your grocery budget looking this week? I really hope that you're focusing not only on pinching those pennies with all the great deals out there, but also keeping track of your spending.
As I shared earlier this year, we increased our budget to $85 per week in 2013 as I really wanted to stock up on more fresh produce for our family (and love Sam's produce which is a little pricier than Aldi's!), however so far we're still staying right around $60. Here's where our money went this week:
- Publix: $32.63
- Kroger: 27.86
- Total: $60.49
- Make a spreadsheet. I have a simple excel spreadsheet that keeps up with my savings, and this morning when I realized I'd lost this week's receipts I headed out to the trash because I really want to know where my money is going each week! When you get back from the store, enter your total amount spent as well as savings in, and see how you're doing each week. (So far this year we've spent $280 for $670 in groceries . . . woot!)
- Determine what you want to spend each week on groceries. Consider your family size, the amount of time you realistically have for bargain hunting and couponing, and what you’ve spent over the last three to six months on groceries. Also check out your pantry, take into account what items you’re stocked up on and which items are looking pretty slim, and determine your budget for the future.
- Don’t go to the store for one more “deal” if you’ll be tempted to purchase more than you really need. It’s so easy to see another bargain, head back to the store, and overspend on purchases that aren’t really all that necessary. What’s even more tempting is to grab one more not-so-great-deal as you go. Know what your budget is and stick to it, no matter how great that deal may be. (I promise, I’ve been a penny-pincher for quite a while and there is always another bargain deal . . . really!)
- Remember that you can significantly impact your families financial situation by how much you spend at the grocery store, as the amount of money spent on groceries is one of the few items in your family’s budget that you have complete control over.
If you need to change your grocery budget in 2013, this really is a great time to start, and I know you can do this. Determine today how you want your year to look, set realistic goals, and decide to take control of your finances instead of allowing them to control you. I can't wait to hear how you're doing on your goals, and am excited to see how we'll do in 2013 to pinch those pennies even further!
Share how you've done this week by clicking HERE ~ I love hearing from you!
New to budgeting and don't know where to begin? Here are a few posts that might help you get started:
- Don't Sacrifice What You Really Want For What You Want Right Now
- Budget Check Up Week One: Have You Determined Your 2013 Grocery Budget
- Are you on an all cash budget?
- New to couponing? Here's where to start.
- How Does Your Grocery Budget Look?
- Extreme Coupon Fraud: What You See On TV Isn't Always Real
- Are You Spending Within Your Budget?
- Save the Way You Can Save: Penny Pinching Is Not A Competition
- Are You Satisfied With Your Penny Pinching?
- You Do Have Time To Coupon (But You Don't Have To Do Everything. . .)
- Are Coupons For Everyone?
That was one of my concerns, if its realistic to keep a small budget buying formula & diapers? Not to mention i have to buy meats this week. I was going to set my buget at $80. I did okay last week, course I just thought about it usually i try to spend $100 when my husband gets paid which actually IS $50/week. So that isnt bad at all right? But formula is $25/can and it lasts about 5 days maybe.
I think I’d figure out what those items cost you per week. If the formula costs you $25, then figure it out per day so that you have that much in your budget – the same with diapers. Those are two huge expenses, but as your child gets older you’ll be glad to have that money because they’ll start eating more!
One other thought with the formula: my doctor recommended that we get the generic brand and my kids did great on them after I finished nursing. They were older (9 months), but check with your doctor first and that might save you some money too!
Always ask your doctor for samples of formula. A lot of the time, they get samples and the samples go unused. When my twins were on a costly formula, I cried to my doctor one day asking her when we’d be able to switch to a cheaper kind. Turns out, they had cases of samples that they could give me. So every time I was at the doctor, even if the appt was not for the babies, I asked for formula samples. Helped save us a lot back then.
Cristy
Great tips Cristy – thanks so much for sharing! 🙂
I am way under this month! I committed to spending $85/week including all household goods (even diapers and pet product). Yesterday I spent $29.25 making my total $158.39 for the month. Money is very tight this month due to an unforeseen work delay for my husband. Even with 5 weeks in the month I will end the month spending only about half my budget.
Great job Vanessa! It’s got to be hard when the budget tightens, but goodness that’s fantastic that you’re sticking with it (especially when buying diapers and pet food.) Hang in there, I know you can do it! (Sounds like you’re well on your way ~ woot!) 🙂
Thanks i will try it!
So you have a template for the excel spreadsheet, i am not 100% familiar with how to create one with formulas & such.
Hi Samantha! I just have a VERY basic excel spreadsheet. Basically I include the date, store shopped, how much I saved and how much I spent. There’s a little auto sum button that I use to total it, and that’s it! Keep it simple – just a place to keep up with your spending and saving so that you know where you’re at.