99 Ways to Save

2008-10-03T09:14:00.000-07:00

Wow, we are paying so much more at the gas pumps. Our groceries have gone through the roof. What a better time to focus on our budget and still live the style of life we are used to.

I find so many websites on how to save, clip coupons etc. Mostly they don't apply to the way our life works. So I thought I would start a new blog about how we save.

Take this month for instance.....I only want to spend $300. on groceries. That is $200 dollars less than what I normally spend. But it is time to tighten the belt and give it our best efforts.

Here is how we are doing this.

1. I planned out our monthly menu.

2.I put in a few nights that we will have beans instead of meat.

3. I chose foods that contained some of the same ingredients so I could make a few meals ahead of time.

4. I put a limit on the kids drinking milk, we will only buy 3 gallons a week.

5. I looked through my cabinets to see what I already had and used that food in my meal plan.

6. I took a look at what I was buying in bulk at stores like Costco and decided what would stretch our budget further, if I was to buy one of two of those items instead of six. (while I generally believe it is easier on the budget to buy in bulk-you don't get as much variety and will find yourself going to the store more often)

7. I listed out every thing that I would need to buy for my menu. Then I put a price beside that item, to indicate how much I would pay for it.

8. I left some room in the budget for weekly specials that I can't pass up. (this also adds variety to our menu)

9. I gave my shopping a little extra effort. I live close to several stores, and while I will not make a special trip to a store just to get an item, when I am close by that store running another errand I will stop in.

1o. I keep my handy list with me. If an item is over my set price, I don't buy it at that store.

11. I keep my pen handy and write down the actual price of items I find for less. This is a fun game of sorts. It shows me where I have saved and gives me change to put towards a purchase that is close to my price, but perhaps a few cents over. Doing this and knowing where I am at budget wise, also lets me add a few other items that I may have forgotten to write on my list, without going over budget. More to come!