Are you spending more on groceries every month than your budget allows? Would you like to reduce your grocery spending? Are you an impulsive grocery shopper?
The grocery bill can get out of control for me if I’m not careful. In fact, when I looked back on our spending in 2013, I was surprised at how much we spent on groceries–about $7600 for the year or $634 a month for my family of four. For me, that is too high.
Last year, I ran a monthly series, The Christmas Savings Club, that encouraged all of us to save monthly so that we could have a cash Christmas. Personally, the club encouraged me to set aside money every month and the relief and empowerment that I felt in December when we paid cash for all of our Christmas gifts was awesome! I will continue to set aside gift giving money on a monthly basis.
This year, I need to reduce our monthly grocery spending to $450 a month to stay within our overall budget I have planed for 2014. It’s aggressive for me to think that we can reduce our groceries by that much and hopefully I’m not setting myself up to fail, so I’m starting another club. Last year’s club made me accountable and I was successful at setting aside the money. This year, I need to reduce our grocery spending and I need to succeed.
The Goal of the Grocery Budget Challenge is to keep our grocery spending in line and to be creative with our meal planning so that we aren’t over-spending. We also don’t want to make our family miserable with bland meals, boring snacks, and not enough food in the house.
Lately when I see my bill at the check out, I’m shocked at how few groceries are actually going home with me. This will be a challenge where we’ll need discipline, support, and planning.
Why YOU should participate in the Grocery Budget Challenge:
1. To help you stay within your grocery budget on a monthly basis.
2. To save your sanity because you’re sticking to your budget.
3. To learn tips and tricks from others on how to stay within your grocery budget.
On the 30th of each month, between January and November in 2014, we will meet here to discuss our challenges and successes for the month. There will also be action steps every month due by the next meeting.
Before our first meeting on January 30, 2014, there’s a little prep work that you’ll need to do:
Action Step 1: Figure out your monthly grocery budget. Make sure the number fits into your overall budget and takes into consideration your family’s dietary needs. It should be challenging enough where you’ll need to be creative with your meal planning, but not too challenging where you’re just going to set yourself up to fail. Plan on spending cash only, not credit cards.
Action Step 2: Develop your own system for meal planning and making a shopping list. Start meal planning ASAP. I’m a paper and pencil gal, for my system and tips, read 11 Simple Meal Planning Tips.
Action Step 3: Meet me here on January 30th so we can discuss the first few weeks of the Grocery Budget Challenge.
Let’s make 2014 the year that we stay within our grocery budget.
Do you feel like you spend too much on groceries every month? Will you be joining the challenge? Let us know in the comments.
Update: 12/1/2014 – the challenge is over, but here is a list of all of the posts:
I am totally interested in joining forces with you each month on the 30th!
Kris Marie – I’ll see you on the 30th! Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
We currently spend $400 on average each month for a family of 3, and I really need to get it down to $300 a month – You would think that $100 a person a month shouldn’t be unreasonable, but yet, it always evades me…
$100 per person each month seems reasonable to me too. My goal is $450 for my family of 4, so it has a little cushion. It’s definitely going to be a challenge.
I love that you are doing this challenge! It is so needed. I try to stick to $20/per person, per week for my family of 8. It sure does make for some interesting shopping challenges. I look forward to seeing more tips throughout the month!
Heidi recently posted…5 Things To Stop Buying Today
Hi Heidi – I bet budgeting for 8 is quite challenging. We’d love to hear your tips for staying on budget. Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
I would like to get our budget to $500 a month for five people: 2 adults and three kids aged 3, 6, and 10. I think that’s reasonable and I’ve done it before, but not consistently. Will you send out a reminder if I subscribe? I am highly likey to forget otherwise! 🙂
Hi Rabia, Consistency is definitely what I’m trying to achieve. I have months where I stay on budget and months when I’m over quite a bit. You may certainly subscribe via email (link on my sidebar) or my Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/FamilyBalanceSheet).Thanks for stopping by and hopefully we’ll see you on the 30th.
Trying to get finances under control sounds like a great challenge. I stopped using credit cards long ago and only use cash to pay for everything. It would be nice to be more aware of how to save money while at the grocery store. I try to use coupons as much as possible, but I know I could do a little more to try and save and having some regular support would be nice.. Great idea!
Amy Ruiz recently posted…Recipe: Easy Chocolate Chip Scones
Hi Amy – Coupons definitely help, but there are so many other ways to save more at the grocery store. I’m glad you stopped by and I hope you join along on the challenge.
I was going to say coupons, too! If the store accepts internet ones, there are coupon aggregation sites where you can just type in your grocery list and see if they have any for what you’re going to buy anyways, without having to sift through newspaper circulars. I use other methods such as store sales, too, though. Thanks so much for linking up with us this week at Financially Savvy Saturdays! Hope to see you back!
I’ve heard of those phone apps, but haven’t tried them yet. Thanks for stopping by!
Do you use a particular one to print coupons for your shopping list from?
I’ll be here. Last year I used less coupons once Wegmans opened near us. Their store brand stuff is awesome and cheaper than name brand + coupon. I spent less money but “saved” less technically due to not using coupons but buying store brands. I keep a spreadsheet. Meat shopping we do at Costco twice a year then I portion it all out in the big freezer.
Jennifer Blacker recently posted…Simple Beef Stroganoff
Hi Jennifer – I LOVE Wegmans. And you’re right, their store brand stuff is awesome and I’ve found it’s way better than other stores’ brands. Thanks for stopping by and I’m glad you can join in the challenge!
I think that’s great saving more money by using store brands than couponing; and it’s a great reminder that we can do that! Would you mind sharing the format of your spreadsheet? I’m very curious. Would you also mind sharing what you purchase at Costco twice a year? I just can’t even imagine it!
I think that’s great saving more money by using store brands than couponing; and it’s a great reminder that we can do that! Would you mind sharing the format of your spreadsheet? I’m very curious. Would you also mind sharing what you purchase at Costco twice a year? I just can’t even imagine it!
http://keepitalltogethertips.com
I can’t get my website to link in the CommentLuv.
I”m joining! I’m not sure where we are with our food budget, though I think we’re doing okay. I haven’t been tracking it for the past 6 months or so.
Barb @ A Life in Balance recently posted…Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids
Hey, Kristia, can I grab your grocery budget image to use in my monthly post to link back?
Barb @ A Life in Balance recently posted…Valentine’s Day Crafts for Kids
yes and Thank you!
I’ve admittedly been spending a bit more on groceries this month, but I haven’t eaten out AT ALL, so in the end, I think I’m doing better financially.
Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life recently posted…Financially Savvy Saturdays!
Kristina,
I am definitely in need of some accountability measures! This is a terrific idea! I have tried using only cash before and always end up overspending and needing to dig out the check card. I do find that using the individual scanners at my giant helps me stay more on track. At Wegmans I am more likely to overspend on all the awesome natural foods, and fancy stuff. Don’t get me wrong, Wegmans is my fave store. It’s just dangerous for me. I love the idea of saving now for Christmas too! I will add this to m calendar.
Laura – I use the individual scanners at Giant too. I love how they keep track of how much I’m spending. And I’m also a Wegman’s fan–their store brand products are awesome!
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
Lowering our grocery bills is one of my financial goals for 2014. I would love to see what is working well for other people. For me it is planning and researching. I create meal plans on Sunday and also review Pinterest for what some potential ideas may be. Then when I am shopping if ground beef is on sale over chicken, I swap meal ideas on the fly for the more cost effective one.
Shannon @ Financially Blonde recently posted…Music Mondays – The Champ
Shannon – Pinterest is a goldmine for recipe and money-saving ideas. I use it too when creating my meal plans.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting.