If all you had to feed a family of four each month was a measly $300, do you think you could do it ? What sort of grocery items would make the list and what would stay tauntingly on the store’s shelves ?
So just how much do you think you could save on food ? How about $50 or $100? Possibly you could cut your bill by virtually 50% if you listen to some of the following suggestions :
First you must split the budget you have into three categories ; weekly, bi-weekly and monthly. Once you have the totals fixed, try to find a way to make it happen . If you budgeted too tight, only then consider how much more you really need to spend .
Second, identify your WEEKLY needs ; milk, bread, fruits . These will be your saving graces when the troops are hungry . Load up on these items weekly in order to ensure that you always have a healthy snack on hand . This should run you about $15/week .
Thirdly, identify your BI-WEEKLY needs ; things like lunch meats, eggs, cheese etc . Try maybe $20 or $30 every two weeks. Go for leaner cuts of meat like chicken and prok as they are usually cheaper than beef.
Fourth, get the rest of your food items at one store . Only take a set amount of cash with you (to prevent temptation of over spending) and create a grocery list before leaving for the store . You only need to do this once as many of the items (Cereal, meat etc.) are going to be purchased at regular recurring intervals . Other items (sugar, flour etc.) may be exchanged every other month. In this example you have $200 left.
Fifth, have a schedule of meals that you can rotate . Cheap, healthy meals like stir fry can be budget friendly as they use less meat than full pieces of chicken or beef for dinner . Plan to have a meat meal offset by a simpler dish like pasta every other night. By doing this you will accomplish two things. first you’ll have a better meal variety and secondly, you won’t use up all the good dinner ideas the first week leavinf you family complaining the second week as you feed them hamburger helper every night .
Another obvious thing that will help you lower your grocery costs but in worth mentioning is to always be on the hunt for kroger coupons .
Clearly the $300 suggestion will depend on your family , the age of your kids and how much your budget exactly allows. Whatever your money situation , taking the time to devise a plan and thinking about your choices will assure that you have more money in the bank for other important things.
If your interested I recently came accross a website that is offering $250 in kroger coupons. I suggest you have a look .
Enjoy!
