I’ve been gearing up for my next grocery shopping trip for almost a week now. Apparently when I do something, I do it right and I make sure my goals are met. For a brief reminder, this is my game plan for going to the store this week to meet my requirement of only spending $250 on groceries per month.
1. Only bring $65 with me to the store(s) I go to this week.
2. Coupon clip and use them up!
3. Keep track of all spending in the month of February
4. Post my grocery shopping each week
Before I go grocery shopping, there is something you never see behind the scenes. I am a planner beyond belief. I meal plan like my life depended on it. I make sure I have everything I could ever need to make my life go smoothly in the week ahead. A few months ago Meg @ Running Foodie sent me an amazing master grocery shopping list that she uses while meal planning. This list has been a life saver. I have tweaked it to make it my own, of course, but the premise is still the same. If anyone else wants a copy as well, please let me know — I will ask Meg if she minds if I pass it along.
It is a Saturday morning/afternoon ritual that I go through my pantry, assess what I already have, and see what meals I can make for the upcoming week. I have four meals planned for this week — we have a busy night Wednesday, and I always plan for leftovers one night.
You might notice in parentheses by some items I have a different store written down. Let me explain — I usually go to 3-4 stores each weekend to make sure I get the best deals. It doesn’t take as long as you would think. All stores are within a short proximity to one another, and I stick to my list. I’m in and out of stores quickly, and probably can make it home in less than two hours if the stores aren’t busy. I’ll admit that Wal-Mart gives me the heebie jeebies, but it is the only place I can get the lunchmeat I like for the Husband (Hormel All Natural — no nitrates!) for the best price available ($2.50 a pack compared to $4.00 at Jewel Osco).
This week I am planning on going to the following stores:
1. Trader Joe’s
2. Dominick’s
3. Jewel
4. Aldi
5. Wal-Mart
It’s really not as crazy as it sounds, I promise. I always look at the weekly ads to make sure I get the best deals at certain stores. I usually do not go to Dominick’s, but I found some deals I really can’t pass up. When you sign up your savings card (read: my parents’ savings card — sorry mom, I’m taking advantage of you) you can get some really great coupons they automatically upload to your card. You don’t even need the card with you when you go; all you need is the phone number it is associated with.
I have also been finding great coupons like it’s my job. I think I spent a total of 1 hour yesterday finding the best possible coupons online and printing them out. I found some great ones, and I can tell I am going to get some great deals this week.
I was going to wait until the 1st of the month to go shopping, but the 31st will have to do. Since we are expecting the biggest snow storm Chicago has seen in years on Tuesday-Wednesday, I don’t think trekking out into the storm is worth it. I’ll be going to the store(s) Monday afternoon, and I can’t wait to show you what I buy and how much I spent.
I’m crossing my fingers I stay within my budget — hopefully all my hard work pays off!
Question: What is your strategy when you grocery shop each week? Do you meal plan and coupon clip? Do you think I can stay within my allotted budget?
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