Our family has always been fairly solidly middle-class. We have all of what we need and a lot of what we want. Although I’ve never gone crazy with loading my grocery cart up with big-ticket items like steaks and lobster, buying food has always been mostly about what my kids will eat and what’s easy to get on the table.
This year, money is tighter and income that has always seemed stable now feels more uncertain. Things cost more, and I’m paying more attention to my grocery bill, making an effort to bring the number down.
My partner and I have cut back on many extras and have agreed to postpone big purchases for the next 12 months, but we still have to eat. I have a 14-year-old and a 15-year-old, and sometimes the amount of food they eat defies physics. Historically, my grocery bill is around $1,700 a month. Aside from our mortgage, food is our family’s biggest monthly expense.
Now, I’ve cut that number down to about $1,400 a month. I bet I could get it even lower if I continued to get more organized so I could limit the need for last-minute trips to the store. Here’s how I’m saving money on groceries right now, and no, it isn’t stretching my proteins with pasta or canned beans.
Meal planning is actually worth it
Despite the hype that sometimes surrounds meal planning, I’ve never been good at it. Meal planning enthusiasts have always struck me as slightly smug in their over-organized skills, with fancy calendars and stickers on their grocery lists. But, they were onto something and I’ll happily eat humble pie now.
Taking a few minutes on Sunday to map out our family meals for the week saves time and money. While I usually start my plan based on what sounds good or what my kids tell me they want, I now compare that to what’s on sale and what’s already in my pantry and freezer.
I’m also careful not to overplan, because I’ve found that it increases the odds of food waste, which is something I’m particularly mindful of right now. I plan four dinners weekly, which gives me at least one meal of leftovers. Since my husband and I work from home, we eat leftovers for lunch. Leftover veggies get chopped finely or pureed and added to stews or sauces. It adds nutrients and eliminates waste and usually, no one knows that there’s broccoli in the spaghetti sauce except me.
I stay out of stores as much as possible
Staying out of the grocery stores has been the biggest money saver for me.
I make my kids contribute to a digital grocery list that they access through our Amazon Alexa, and I order my groceries online, which means I’m not tempted to buy something that’s not on my list.
I do most of our grocery shopping at Walmart, so I invested in Walmart+, which costs $98 annually. While I don’t get a discount on food, I get free home delivery and a discount on gas. The biggest savings have come from avoiding impulse purchases while physically in the store. No more “Ooh, cashews weren’t on my list, but that end cap display is super-tempting.”
I buy fresh produce in smaller amounts
Sometimes, it costs more to eat nutrient-dense foods, such as fresh produce, than it does to stock up on canned green beans. I’m a firm believer that fresh is better, and I buy as much produce as I can afford, but I’m way more conscious of food waste these days.
A few months ago, I would have come home with a giant farmers market haul and not thought much about that blob that used to be broccoli in the crisper drawer the following week. Now I buy only what I know we’ll eat and I prioritize using up perishables when I meal plan.
I manage expectations
I’m very upfront about money with my kids, and they understand why they’re getting the store brand tub of vanilla instead of a name brand now. Ice cream is ice cream.
I also hear myself saying “Not this time,” in response to requests for treats or junk food more often. Not everything can be a priority and we choose to prioritize leisure and recreation, and make sure to budget for our kids’ sports. The fact that they don’t get name-brand popsicles on demand isn’t a bad thing, and they’re not even complaining anymore.
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