Grocery Budget

Are you struggling to stick to your grocery budget?

Kids are back in school. This one has soccer practice {and he’s hungry}, that one has cheer {and she’s hungry}….oh, and this one just remembered to tell you you have to bake 5,211 cupcakes for the classroom by tomorrow!!! Gahhhh! Does this sound like you? Grocery budget is all out of whack?!

It’s hard to save on groceries at times…but we need a plan, man!

Convenience is expensive. That’s why we spend twice as much for milk in a “convenient” store than you do at the grocery store, people!!! Americans (well, me!) love convenience but I love my money more. I was actually surprised to find out that Americans spend less of their income on food than other countries?! I had no idea until I read about it through my IFOF (Indiana Family of Farmers) ambassadorship. With the grocery affordability series I’m part of, I’ve been learning some wonderful things! I wrote a post about it, and also included a 7-day meal plan, which all together was just under $50. Just goes to show that we can spend less on groceries than we think!

Plan your Grocery Budget…and stick to it!

I’ve learned that planning – or at least STARTING a plan can and does save so much money, and TIME! Don’t forget about time!! I wanted to share some tips to help you SAVE some time and money and how to stick to your grocery budget, especially during this crazy and hectic time of year. Put your grocery budget back to work for YOU! Then save that exra money you would have spent for datenight!! Or donuts…Yeah, go with donuts! And coffee. And maybe a mani/pedi. Just kiidddding!

Okay, so here are some tips to help you stick to your grocery budget when life is just crazy and hectic! Also, remember that you can still eat healthy on a budget!

13 Guaranteed Ways to Stick to your Grocery Budget

Prepare a weekly menu. (breakfast, lunch and dinner)

Make your shopping list according to your menu(s), and stick to it.*

Make only ONE trip to the grocery store through the week (so don’t forget the coffee, bread and milk!).

Never go to the grocery store hungry. EVER.

Cook dinners that are freezer friendly.

Make double or triple batches of freezer friendly meals to heat up for busy weeks.

Slow cooker meals save so much time and you always have leftovers for the week.

Pack snacks/drinks into the kids’ backpacks or gym bags for quick after school/before practice or games.

Buy snacks like chips, crackers, nuts, in bulk and portion out in snack bags vs. buying pre-packaged.

Buy meat in bulk or family size packages. Separate and freeze. Usually the more you buy, the less it costs per lb.

Use your store loyalty programs or savings apps, and coupons.

Make coffee at home in the mornings vs. hitting Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts.

If you or your family members make waves about the drive-thru spending, give each member an allowance weekly and once it’s gone, it’s gone! This includes your “running late” coffee stop in the mornings.

* When making your shopping list, be sure to include the extras like snacks, condiments, bread, milk, and other food staples.

I am an IFOF Ambassador for our Affordable Food Tips For Your Family, From Our Family Series. This post has been sponsored as part of the affordability series.

Sometimes I just go through the grocery store blindly, throwing this and that in my cart all willy nilly. I am usually pretty thrifty, but I know that I don’t stretch my dollar out as far as I possibly can. I was challenged to take $50 and see how far I could stretch it for our menu plan this week, which includes this yummy one pan pasta with chicken!

Since me and little man are home most days by ourselves, we tend to pick around at breakfast and lunch. We don’t really break the bank there. It’s dinnertime that costs. Husband is home from work in time for dinner and he’s a meat and potatoes man, if you know what I mean. He don’t fool around.

So – I set out to make my $50 stretch out through 7 days worth of dinners. Below is my menu plan for the week plus a fun one pan pasta dish, but before I share it…I wanted to share some of the tips that I find most helpful on saving money on groceries. I was able to buy everything needed and still had some extra leftover to buy some fresh fruit and dessert.

Tips to Save on Groceries:

Make a weekly meal plan.
Plan your week’s menu plan out according to the meats and produce that are on sale that week at your local grocery store.
Buy meat in the larger/bulk packs and then divide for individual meals.
Try to make meals that you can have twice. Nothing wrong with leftovers! Freeze them if you’re not planning on eating in the next couple of days.
Watch for manager’s specials on meats, dairy and produce.
Of course, use coupons when you can!

This week’s meal plan at our house.
Luckily, lots of these meals can be stretched out to have twice. We don’t mind leftovers!!

Friday – One pan pasta with chicken (recipe included below!)
Saturday – Sloppy Joes with baked potato and salad
Sunday – Crockpot pork chops with corn on the cob and green beans
Monday – Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and green beans
Tuesday – Chicken and dumplings with cornbread muffins
Wednesday – Grilled chicken sandwiches, baked potato and corn on the cob
Thursday – Grilled onion bombs, salad and mashed potatoes

Now, the one pan pasta with chicken recipe………

One Pan Pasta with Chicken Ingredients:
1/2 box of angel hair pasta
1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup of pre-cooked chicken
1 tablespoon of parsley
2 tablespoons of garlic powder
1 cup milk
1 cup water
Salt and pepper to taste

First start by adding your pasta into your pan and then follow with everything else.

Turn the stove on high until a boil. Then turn down to a low simmer. Continue to cook until noodles are tender.

Then mix around and serve. Enjoy.

7 Dinners Under $50 Including One Pan Pasta with Chicken

Author: Jenni

Ingredients

1/2 box of angel hair pasta
1 1/2 cups of shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup of pre-cooked chicken
1 tablespoon of parsley
2 tablespoons of garlic powder
1 cup of milk
1 cup of water
(Salt and pepper to taste)

Instructions

First start by adding the pasta into the pan and then follow with the rest of the ingredients.
Turn the stove on high until the pan reaches a boil.
Then turn down to a low simmer.
Continue to simmer until noodles are tender.
Stir, and serve.

Check out this graph below. This shows the percent of income spent on food consumed at home! Looks like the US comes in at 6.6%.

Now, even though the US has one of the most affordable food supplies in the world, that’s not to say that it is an easy job to stretch those dollars. That’s why it is key to menu plan and budget. Keeping an eye on what is on sale in your stores, what’s in season, buying in bulk when you can. Those are the things that will make a difference!

13 Guaranteed Ways to Stick to your Grocery Budget

Are you struggling to stick to your grocery budget?

It’s hard to save on groceries at times…but we need a plan, man!

Plan your Grocery Budget…and stick to it!

13 Guaranteed Ways to Stick to your Grocery Budget

Do you have other ways to save on your grocery budget during the busy times of the year? We’d love to hear them, make sure to leave a comment below!!

7 Dinners Under $50 Including One Pan Pasta with Chicken

Tips to Save on Groceries:

Now, the one pan pasta with chicken recipe………

Do you have tips and tricks to save money on groceries? We’d love to hear them!!

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