There is nothing more frustrating than having a pantry full of items, but nothing to make for dinner. If you follow these three easy steps, you can save money on your grocery bill without even using a coupon:
First, Organize your items!
It is important to have your pantry and fridge organized. Being able to see as many objects as possible will make it easier to realize that you actually have them! Then you won’t need to do the “Do we have any mustard? I’m not sure, well, let’s grab some anyways” scenario. I completely understand that you may not want to re-organize every single time to shop, so make a realistic schedule to take a few extra minutes and get things straightened up. If you have a calendar on your phone, set a recurring reminder once every two or four weeks to re-organize.
Then, Plan out your Meals.
I never felt it was necessary to begin menu planning until I really wanted to save money. Now that I have subscribed to RelishRelish.com, I am thrilled at how easy it is to round up a week’s worth of meals. There are many options available online for helping you with menu planning. Another popular site is E-Mealz.com, which was recommended by Mr. Dave Ramsey himself. These are sites you have to pay for, but it’s worth the money. For instance, if there’s a really good deal on tomatoes at the store, you can search these sites for recipes that call for tomatoes! Then you aren’t buying a bunch of random ingredients for one-time meals. Having fewer ingredients for a wider variety of meals definitely helps your budget.
Finally, Make a List.
I cringe when I see people walking around a grocery store without a list in their hand. You will buy more items you don’t need when you don’t make a grocery list. Since your items are now organized and you have planned out your meals, making a list should come naturally. You can quickly pick up the items you need, and you’ll likely be set for the week! Even if you are making a quick run into the store, jot down the items you need on a piece of paper. My quick trips always seem to be the ones where I end up buying twice as many items that I really didn’t need in the first place.
I used to let so many items expire because I simply had no clue they were in my pantry or fridge. I think you’ll be quite surprised to see how easy it is to make the most out of your grocery budget before you even touch a coupon.