Know how to stretch your food budget without feeling broke? We’ll let you in on our little secret.
Wondering how to stretch your food budget without going hungry? Good food doesn’t have to cost a lot. We’ll show you how to make the most of your grocery spending, so you aren’t eating ramen noodles every night. Follow these tips to enjoy healthy, filling meals for less:
Make a Meal List
The biggest mistake people make when they try to save on groceries? They buy cheap foods they’ll never use. It makes sense then to make a list of all the meals you know you like before you start planning.
You don’t need 30 meals for a month of eating. Listing sides and beverages isn’t necessary at this stage. Attempting to make a full menu for a month of eating may overwhelm you before you get started. Just get a good idea of the types of foods you already like to eat. Once this is done, you can browse weekly grocery store specials to see which meals you can make with the weekly specials.
Pay Attention to Weekly Specials
Most chain grocery stores have one or two big sale items every week. Match these ingredients to meals on your list of favorites. Once you have a few, go through the rest of the ad pages to find complementary veggies, side dishes and other ingredients to round out your weekly meal plan. Use the ingredient-based recipe search at MyRecipe.com to discover new meals that take advantage of the week’s super specials.
Just read the ads carefully to find out when weekly deals go live. Your plans will all go to waste if you arrive at the store and their specials are sold out already. In fact, you’re more likely to waste money if that happens, so resolve to come home and re-plan if needed. Do not buy a week’s worth of groceries if you are hungry… or disappointed.
Prepare Yourself for Grocery Shopping
Today, many areas have the option of shopping over the computer or by mobile app. If you have that opportunity, take it. Staying out of the store is more than worth the cost of delivery. Industry research shows us that most people splurge in the store. Prevent yourself from throwing away precious funds by shopping from home where it’s easiest to stick with your shopping list.
If you absolutely must go grocery shopping in the store, make sure you eat a satisfying meal before shopping, bring your list along and stay aware of in-store advertising. The more time you spend walking through aisles, the more likely it is that you’ll buy something you don’t need. Taking the kids along with you? Let them know ahead of time you have no money for items off your list. You may want to include a sweet or two on in your grocery plans, though. Completely abstaining can make children – and adults – crave snacks, leading to unhealthy eating habits.
Invest in Quality Water
If the problems in Flint, MI, have taught us anything at all, it’s that drinking quality water filter is paramount to good health. It also helps your budget. Many people overeat because they mistake thirst for hunger. Getting into the practice of drinking a glass of water with every meal will help you cut back on portion sizes and eat less food.
Do you or your kids hate drinking water? Sometimes simply changing the temperature can help. While ice water is a popular favorite, a mug of fresh, warm water flavored with honey or mint can be a special treat too.
We hope these tips on how to stretch your budget will help you do better financially than ever before. However, if you run into the need for extra money, Title Tree is always here to help. Visit your nearest Title Tree store when learning how to stretch your food budget – or if you need a little help making ends meet.