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Are you wanting to decrease your spending at the grocery store and save more? Try this $300 grocery budget challenge with me!
One of my financial goals for the new year is to spend less on groceries. We eat every meal at home, so our grocery budget is a little higher than some. But, we hardly ever eat out.
I know we can do better. So, I’m challenging myself to a $300 a month grocery budget challenge. Want to join me?
The goal of this challenge is to track your grocery budget better and stay under budget for the month – whatever budget you decide works for you!
It’s just the 2 of us, so I feel like we should be able to eat on $300 a month.
If you want to join the grocery budget challenge with me, feel free to set your own price goal. Every family is different, so find a number that works for you.
Here’s the plan:
I will give myself only $300 a month to buy groceries for the 2 of us. This will include breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack food, and desserts.
I feel like I shop pretty frugally already, but I know I can do better. When I’m grocery shopping, I tend to go by my list but sometimes grab those great deals, too.
The budget:
$300 for each month
$75 a week
I tend to shop once a week, so I will have to stay under $75 each week. If I go over one week, I will have less to spend the next.
I’m sure some weeks I will spend more than others.
Where I will shop:
Aldi is my #1. I make my list and get everything I can there. And what I can’t find there, I go to Publix.
Honestly, I love Publix for great deli lunch meat and the BOGO deals, but I know there are better prices.
I plan to stop in at Kroger and check out their mark downs on meat and produce to see if we can save more in those areas.
Update: I have been regularly shopping at Kroger and love their markdowns and I think they have really great deals in their weekly ad.
Related Post:My Favorite Things to Buy at Aldi
What I plan to buy:
I love making a menu for the month or week, and then checking what I already have to complete those meals. Check the fridge, freezer, and cabinets. Then, I make my list for the items I lack.
We will need food for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snack food, and desserts.
I will include household items like toilet paper, paper towels, laundry detergent, and such since I buy these at the grocery store.
Related Post:13 Easy Lunch Ideas – Save Money by Packing Your Own Lunch
Making a menu plan:
Having a meal plan is key to knowing what to buy and saving as much as you can. You can make a monthly meal plan or just week by week.
The best place to start is making a list of your family’s favorite meals. Once you have that master list, you can use a simple calendar or planner to write a meal in for each day.
Related Post:Theme Nights Meal Planning – Make Meal Planning Easier
Knowing exactly what you plan to eat will help you know exactly what to buy. You will have all the ingredients you need and be ready to cook at home.
This will save you money in a few ways. First, if you have everything you need to make your meals for the week, you won’t have to stop by the store as often. Going to the grocery less often means less impulsive purchases.
Second, if you know what you are cooking each night, you won’t be as tempted to go by the drive thru.
Third, you will waste less food (and money) since you only bought what you needed.
Related Post:5 Easy Steps to Meal Planning: Save Time, Save Money, Waste Less
Let’s get started!
Are you ready to join me? I’m starting this $300 grocery budget challenge in January to start the new year off right.
I will update this post as I shop and let you know how it’s going and what’s working for me.
Use the tips below to join me on this grocery budget challenge!
Cheap Meal Ideas:
I’m all about making cheap and delicious meals. These are some of my favorites!
- Spaghetti
- Grilled Chicken
- Italian Chicken
- Tacos
- Burgers
- Flatbread Pizzas
- Quesadillas
- Chili
- Stew
Related Post:
20 Tips to stay on budget:
- Take cash out and place in an envelope. Once this cash is gone, you’ve spent all your grocery budget money.
- Always make a grocery list and stick to it.
- Only go to the store once a week.
- Make a menu plan each week.
- Try monthly meal planning.
- Or try once a month grocery shopping.
- Try to make as many meals from scratch as you can.
- Make homemade desserts instead of store bought.
- Pack your lunch everyday.
- Use leftovers for lunches.
- Keep breakfast simple.
- Buy snack food in bulk and divide into serving sizes to save money.
- Drink mostly water and avoid buying a lot of drinks. (We could do a lot better at this!)
- Try store brand products.
- Shop the sale ad.
- Check unit prices to make sure you are getting the best deal.
- Try shopping at a different store.
- Check dollar stores for basic items. Our Dollar Tree has bread, peanut butter, lots of snacks, and basic food items.
- Look for mark downs on things like meat and produce that are close to expiring. Use these right away or freezer for later.
- Make more vegetables and sides and less meat to save money and eat a little healthier.
I hope this challenge and the tips above will motivate and inspire you to stick to a grocery budget, too!
I have found a weekly grocery budget is easier to keep track of and stick to instead of trying to divide the budget and make it stretch the whole month.
You could try having one major grocery shopping trip at the beginning of the month, and make your whole meal plan for the month. And then have a small budget each week for fresh items.
You’ll find what works best for you over time and the budget that works best for your family.
Want some more frugal ideas to help you eat well on a tight budget?
Check out these awesome posts!
$40 Weekly Meal Plan for 2
21 Quick and Easy Meals on a Budget
Theme Night Meal Planning: Easy Dinner Ideas for Every Night of the Week
My Favorite Things to Buy at Aldi
12 Cheap Meal Ideas: $2 Per Person Meal Ideas
37 Things You Should Always Buy at Dollar Tree
20 Things to Eat on a Tight Budget
