3 Tips For Buying Groceries

So curious me, I decided to ask a question on my Facebook, that I honestly had no idea it would explode as much as it did! So let me ask you, on average, how much do you spend on groceries monthly (excluding toiletries)?

The answers I got, completely blew me away. I mean, I know groceries can be expensive, but it's definitely doable when you stick to these 3 simple tips! After asking, I received many Facebook messages asking me to write a detailed post about how my family grocery shops.

My family and I have been following this system for almost a year now and it has saved us so much money. It can be challenging at the beginning, but it definitely is a money saver!

Tip 1: Sticking to a budget! Every month, my husband and I plan out where our money will go for that month. We always set aside $200-220 a month on groceries...depending how many weeks that month will have.

Tip 2: Using ONLY cash! At the beginning of the month, we go to the bank and take out CASH for our groceries for that month. We ONLY use cash. We follow Dave Ramsey's envelope system and this has been a HUGE lifesaver. I put our cash in an envelope specifically for our groceries. This has helped us out so much. It's so easy to swipe a card when buying things, but when you are handing someone else your money...you begin to feel slightly protective of it. Studies have shown you actually feel an attachment to your money when it is cash and become much more apprehensive with how you spend it. This tip has allowed us to only buy the things we needed and NOT buy random stuff we normally wouldn't have bought.

Tip 3: Write/prepare your list beforehand! A day before we go grocery shopping, I do a check of the fridge, freezer, and pantry to see what we need to restock up on and what we don't. I personally love using the app "AnyList." I am able to share this list with my husband, that way if I am unaware that we need something...he can easily add it and it will show up. It also has a feature of keeping all the items and you can just cross/uncross it when you're done or when you need more.

These 3 tips have truly helped our family save and be more contentious when it comes to spending. It also keeps us accountable to eating healthy as possible. I do not coupon and we also do not splurge much on things like gummy snacks, chips, cookies, candy, etc. But this is what works for my family.

If you liked these 3 tips, please share my post with others who are needing help with sticking to a budget/plan for grocery shopping!

-Becky