How To Make $50 Of Groceries Last All Week Long
We’ve all been there. This week, funds seem to be running a little shorter than normal. Whether there was an emergency or a splurge that you didn’t account for, it’s a tough spot to be in. During times like these, it’s important to know how to get by on spending less, and one place at which it can be pretty easy to do this is the grocery store! Fifty dollars worth of groceries can stretch pretty far if you know how to spend them wisely. Here are some tips how to budget groceries and to make your money go further.
1. Budget, budget, budget.
You’re not going to get anywhere without forming a solid plan ahead of time. Compare what you really need to the costs of it all to get a good idea of where to cut spending and where to keep it. This can’t be just a one-time deal either. Make yourself stay with it this time.
2. Compare stores.
Not all grocery stores are created equal. You might be surprised at price variations between different supermarkets, even in the same area!
3. Take advantage of your resources.
I know, I know… this next word has become a joke thanks to some over-the-top T.V. shows, but couponing really is a buyer’s best friend. There are coupons for almost everything you can buy out there somewhere on the internet, you just have to take a little extra time to do the research. In addition to couponing, many grocery stores often provide a “price match guarantee,” meaning that if you find an item at a lower price at another store, they’ll match that price in their own store!
4. Think twice about meat.
Yes, we are an omnivorous species, and many of us are in love with our meat products. However, meat will run you a considerably larger amount of money than plant and dairy-based food items. It’ll take some getting used to, but your pockets will thank you.
5. Forget the brand name.
While you might’ve developed a fondness for those brands that everyone uses, you should try and steer clear of them when shopping on a budget. Brand names will run you a few more dollars than store-brand items (which really adds up when you’re trying to stay under $50).
6. Study eating habits.
For one or two weeks before you plan on slashing your grocery budget, study the people you’re buying for. Look for things they throw away after a meal and things that are left in the fridge at the end of a week. This way, you can analyze the information you take in and spend on only what is absolutely necessary.
7. Resist the urges for fast food.
As enticing as those golden arches invariably are, RESIST THE URGE! They just make you spend extra money (that you probably didn’t plan to spend) on food when you could be making what’s already in your pantry.
Do you have any more tips for how to budget groceries and get the most out of your money? Let us know down below!
