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My #1 Tool that Saves Me Hundreds on Groceries

This post may contain affiliate links. That means if you sign-up for services or make a purchase after clicking on a link below, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Also, I am not a financial advisor. I'm a blogger who LOVES to share how I manage the finances for my household.

August 20, By Kristia 5 Comments

This post was originally published in 2015. I still use this simple tool for meal planning!

Meal planning is the #1 way I save money on groceries. I can NOT stress that enough and I write about it all of the time.  So I’ll repeat it.

“MEAL PLANNING IS THE #1 WAY I SAVE MONEY ON GROCERIES.”

And there is one tool that makes meal planning very easy. I’ve tried countless other options, but I always go back to basics, and this one simple tool has helped me save hundreds over the years.

Are you ready?

It’s mind-blowing…Well, not really, but it is very effective.

Ta-Da:

My #1 Tool to Save Hundreds on Groceries

A spiral notebook.

Yep, doesn’t that rock your world?

This simple spiral notebook is what I use to plan our meals and my shopping list. When I take it with me to the grocery store, I stay on task. When I leave it at home, I have no plan for my trip and buy things I don’t need, forget the things I do need, buy things that are already in my pantry, and not surprisingly, my budget will be blown.

I use one page per week and on the left side of the page, I list the days of the week and write down my meal ideas. The right side of the page is for my grocery list.

I attach a binder clip to hold any coupons for my grocery trip and take a pen with me to take notes and cross items off my list.

And that’s it, folks! I know there are some pretty printables available on the web, (I even include one on my subscriber freebies page) but I’ve found a simple spiral notebook works so easily.

When I am diligent about using the notebook for meal planning, my grocery bill stays within my budget.

Good News! During back-to-school season, these spiral notebooks are deeply discounted at Staples. Unfortunately, the picture below is from 2015 and the 17 cents is outdated. It’s now 2022 and I found them at Staples on sale for 35 cents…still quite a deal!) 

Staples 17 cent Notebooks

 

Want to lower your grocery bill? These posts will help:

  • How to Save Money on Groceries
  • 4 Simple Grocery Apps that Earn You Cash Back
  • 11 Simple Meal Planning Tips
  • How I Use Pinterest for Meal Planning
  • 8 Freezer Meal Recipes
  • 10 Paper Products to Avoid

My #1 Tool that Saves me Hundreds on Groceries

Filed Under: Saving Money - Groceries

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Comments

  1. Jean says

    March 16, at 11:07 pm

    Love it we make a list every week and then our pantry doors are dry erase doors and I add the menu each week. It keeps us on track and everyone loves to see what we are having each night

    Reply
    • Kristia says

      March 17, at 10:12 am

      I love that your pantry doors are dry erase. That’s a great use for the space. Thanks for stopping by, Jean!

      Reply
      • Amy says

        April 26, at 3:24 am

        We write right on the fridge door with dry erase marker it comes right off with a dry cloth or some rubbing alcohol for certain colors.

        Reply
        • Kristia says

          April 26, at 3:40 pm

          That’s a great idea. We have an old fridge and the surface has a texture, so I don’t know if I could do so, but I like the idea of making it public for the family to see.

          Reply

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