Know Your Budget

The first step in budget meal planning is understanding exactly how much you can afford to spend on food each week or month. Take a close look at your income, necessary expenses like housing and transportation, and savings goals. Any remaining money can go towards groceries and dining out.

As a guideline, the average American household spends around 10-15% of their income on food. If your food budget exceeds this percentage, look for places to cut back. If you struggle with having enough money for nutritious foods, explore local food assistance programs.

Set Meal Planning Goals

Before creating meal plans, define what’s most important to you. Health, taste, convenience, and variety are common meal planning goals. Prioritize what matters so your plans align with your lifestyle.

For example, if healthy eating is a top priority, make sure to include nutrient-dense foods in each meal and snack. If affordability matters most, center meals around low-cost ingredients like beans, lentils, and seasonal produce.

Stock Up On Budget-Friendly Foods

Grocery shopping strategically will make it much easier to stick to your budget. Focus on buying versatile ingredients that provide balanced nutrition, fit your dietary needs, and deliver plenty of portions at a low cost per meal.

Here are some of the most budget-friendly foods for stocking your kitchen in 2024:

– Beans and lentils
– Eggs
– Frozen fruits and vegetables
– Bananas and seasonal fruit
– Canned fish like tuna
– Whole grains like brown rice and oats
– Spices and herbs
– Staples like olive oil, garlic, onions, potatoes

Shop sales, buy generic brands, check unit prices, and use coupons to get the best deals on groceries. Patronizing discount grocery stores can provide major savings too. Resist impulse purchases and avoid prepared foods to control spending.

Plan Out Weekly Meals

Creating an advance weekly meal plan based on what’s already in your kitchen helps minimize food waste and spontaneous takeout decisions. Structured plans also simplify grocery lists and shopping trips.

When planning, include a mix of meals utilizing perishable ingredients soon, foods already on hand, and new items you need to purchase. Shoot for variety within your budget parameters by alternating cooking methods, ingredients, cuisines, and flavors.

Leave room for flexibility in your plans. For example, a weekly dinner schedule might look like this:

– Monday: Veggie fried rice (use up produce and leftovers)
– Tuesday: Black bean tacos
– Wednesday: Lentil soup and salad (easy, affordable meal)
– Thursday: Chicken pasta bake
– Friday: Tuna melts with fries (use up canned tuna)
– Saturday: Eat out or leftovers
– Sunday: Meal prep session

Get Creative In The Kitchen

Preparing economical meals doesn’t mean sacrificing flavor or nutrition. With skill and creativity, you can transform humble ingredients into appetizing budget-conscious dishes.

Practice fundamental cooking techniques like sautéing aromatics, making pan sauces, and baking proteins and vegetables. Learn how to balance flavors using acids, healthy fats, herbs and spices.

Research affordable ingredient substitutions, sale items, and produce in season when recipe inspiration strikes. For example, zucchini or carrots can replace pricier veggies in many recipes. Canned or frozen produce works just as well as fresh in cooked dishes too.

Implement a weekly meal prep routine to cook homemade foods in bulk for quick, budget-friendly meals all week. Casseroles, soups, grains, and proteins like chicken or tofu reheat easily for grab-and-go lunches and dinners later.

Meal planning on a budget does take effort and strategy. But with the above tips, you can take control of food costs while still enjoying nutritious, delicious home cooking in 2024 and beyond. What budget meal planning tips would you add? Please share in the comments below

The post How To Make A Budget Meal Plan? appeared first on Thrifty Therapist.

Grocery is probably one of the major categories of our monthly budget. We spend most of our money buying food and stuff at the supermarket. Still, one of the problems most people face is that we tend to spend beyond our budget limit every time we go grocery shopping despite the budget set aside for this category.

So, here’s a list of tips that will help you save money on groceries.

1. Create a Meal Plan

Creating a meal plan allows you to know ahead of time what to cook and what ingredients you need for your meals. In addition, this is a helpful strategy to make a list of the things you need to buy on the groceries.

If you want to know more about creating a meal plan, check out my other blog, “How To Make A Budget Meal Plan With 7 Easy Steps,” perfect for beginners.

Suppose you don’t like meal planning or don’t have time to create one. Then try this $5 Meal Plan that will provide you with meal ideas that only cost less than $3 per person. Try it now for FREE for 14 days!

2. Create a grocery shopping list and stick to your grocery budget

Creating a grocery shopping list will help you shop faster and more efficiently. Also, stick to your weekly or monthly grocery budget to avoid overspending. If you are so stubborn enough to stick with your budget, you should try the envelope budgeting method. This method encourages discipline and allows you to spend only the cash you need on your expenditures like groceries.

3. Eat before you shop

Don’t let your cravings or hunger take control over you while you shop for groceries, for this will allow you to end up stacking snacks and foods on your cart that you don’t actually need or are not on the list, which results in unnecessary spending. So always have a full stomach before you go grocery shopping.

4. Avail loyalty and savings program

Loyalty and savings programs are offered to most supermarkets nowadays, and availing of these will allow you to save money on your next grocery trip. Better only avail the programs of the supermarkets where you frequently shop. Make sure always to read the terms and conditions for every program.

5. Avoid buying items at checkout counters

Be mindful of the small stuff you are putting on your cart, especially those near the checkout counters. Also, these areas are very attractive for kids, so better leave them at home when you do grocery shopping or be strict regarding your grocery list.

6. Don’t be fooled by sales

It is so eye-catching to see buy 1 take 1 or buy 2 take 1 as you walk along the grocery aisle. But, don’t be fooled by this sales marketing, for you are actually paying for all items. Though sometimes buying things on sale will save you some bucks, always ask yourself first if you really need those or, better, look for sale offers for the items found on your grocery list.

7. Grow herbs and spices

Grow some herbs and spices, and make use of your space. Nothing feels good than having a FRESH and FREE ingredient added to your meal. Once you’ll find out and compare how much your homegrown spices cost in the supermarket, you will highly appreciate how much money you actually save.

8. Avoid buying unnecessary and unhealthy drinks

Water is basically all we need. Though coffee, tea, and juices have also been a part of our daily drinks, it’s acceptable to stock a few of them. However, you may opt to cut out some of your unhealthy beverages (beer, soda, etc.) and buy them occasionally. Plus, drinking a lot of water has many health benefits and saves you tons of money. So, not only are you saving money, but you are also keeping yourself and your kitchen healthy.

9. Shop for veggies or fruits at the Farmer’s Market

Farmer’s market offers you fresh produce at a lower price. Low prices mean more savings, and not just you were able to save, but you also helped those farmers in their living.

10. Avoid shopping daily and opt to buy in bulk

Always set your schedule when to shop for groceries. It may be once a week or twice a month. Stick to your plan as necessary and avoid shopping for groceries just because it is on your way home, for it is time-consuming and lets you spend more. You can also opt to buy in bulk for the things you often need, which will save you time, money, and energy going back and forth to the supermarket. Plus buying in bulks offers a lot of discounts too.

11. Pay with cash

Paying with cash allows you to spend only within your budget limit as compared to credit cards. But, if you pay with cash and are still trick into overspending, you can try envelope budgeting. This is an excellent budgeting method that will allow you only to use the money set for your expenses like groceries.

12. Save your receipts and be mindful of the prices

Always review your receipts after you shop and note the typical items you frequently need and buy. Take note also of their respective prices. In this way, you will know how much these items cost and help you create an effective grocery budget and list.

13. Buy Generic brands

We often thought that branded items are the only stuff with reliable quality, taste, or ingredients. Little did we know that some things under generic brands offer the same quality at an affordable price. So next time you shop, check out for items with generic brands, and you will be amazed how it will save you tons of bucks.

14. Always recheck prices

Be cautious with the price posted on the supermarket racks for every item. It is not uncommon that what you thought is the price for an item is actually the other items’ price. And you will be surprised when you reach the cashier and the price posted is different from what you even thought. So better take a closer look and always recheck for the costs of the items you pick.

15. Only buy the items that you need

Buy what you only need. Stick to your list and avoid overspending.

16. Be familiar with the supermarket layout

Being familiar with your favorite supermarket’s layout allows you to find the stuff on your list faster and prevents you from strolling around, which you might end up buying items that are not on your grocery list.

17. Always check for the expiry dates

Checking the “expiry dates” or “best before” of the items you plan to buy is a must, especially those on sale. I highly recommend selecting items with far expiry dates for it will allow you to have ample time to consume them (in which you won’t have to buy the same thing repeatedly) and prevent waste.

THERE YOU GO!

Use these tips the next time you shop for groceries and be amazed at how much money you can save. And, you can use the extra money to add to your savings, pay some debts or make investments.

If you know more money-saving grocery tips, you can share them in the comment section below.

Read Next ⇒ 5 Easy Money Hacks You Wish You Knew Sooner

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The post 17 Useful Tips To Save Money On Groceries | Thrifty Therapist appeared first on Thrifty Therapist.