Tips Tuesday – Save Money Groceries

Save Money Groceries

I am the first one to admit to regularly falling off the “budget bandwagon.” It generally happens when there is too much going on in our lives. It’s days when I feel I just can’t be bothered with checking to see if there is a coupon for an item, when I forget to bring my coupons to the store, or when I become too distracted by everything around me to even care.

Here’s an example, you go to the grocery store to pick up a gallon of milk and happen to run across half a dozen or more other items you just “must have.” You then purchase those items. The $4 trip to pick up milk has now turned into a $30+ trip which includes items we most likely didn’t really need right now. Repeat this scenario enough times and it’s enough to throw a wrench into an entire month’s grocery budget.

Here’s my Save Money Groceries tip in order to avoid this scenario.  I recently started keeping a small steno pad in my purse. I generally have three lists running; one for groceries, one for non-grocery items, and one which is a “to do” list. Before I head into the store for groceries or sundries, I tear out the appropriate list and scribble big $$$ signs on it with a highlighter. Yes, I keep a highlighter in my bag of tricks! This is a reminder to me that purchasing anything more than what is on the list is wasting money out of my grocery budget.

My husband always keeps a running list of things we need on a sticky note in the kitchen. When he goes to the store, he buys what is on the list and only what is on the list. I have yet to figure out exactly how he does it but with this new system I have, I’m hoping it will become crystal clear.

How do you keep from repeating this same money wasting scenario? Let us know so we can share it with our readers!

Like our Tip to Save Money Groceries? Here are more Frugal Ways to Save Money tips:

• Save Money on Exercise Equipment
• How To Coupon Effectively And Save Money The Right Way
• Save Money on Appliances