My husband and I took an early anniversary trip to Chicago last month, and although it was well needed (and deserved), it was a little pricy! It was both of our first times in downtown Chicago and we went with a more trendy hotel!! We ended up only spending about 1 hour in the hotel room (besides sleeping). Although it was modern and beautiful, the hotel room was a complete disappointment! It wasn't break the bank expensive but now that we have a better feel for the city, we will be much more thrifty on our next trip to Chicago and go cheap since we are really there just to see the sites!
I'm not the one to spend frivolously. I hate clothes shopping, eat out once a week, barely buy extras. I'm one of those people who wants to buy things but never does because I don't want to spend any money.
After our trip, I started going through some bank statements and decided that I needed to spend some time rearranging my budget. I started flipping through the pages and realized that I'm just spending way too much money at the grocery store!! I am at Kroger's just about every week spending anywhere from $40 - $140. At first I couldn't believe that I was spending so much on groceries. I thought about it a little longer and it's true. I can make plans to run to Kroger's after work for milk, bread, and cheese, and unfortunately come out spending anywhere from $50-80 more on other stuff!!
I sat down and started reading some quick budgeting articles and realized that spending too much at the grocery store is a common problem for many people!! I kept reading the same common thing. Make a list, and if it's not on the list, you don't get it. Other articles suggested meal planning to save money because you actually know what you will cook and only buy the ingredients needed for those recipes.
So, after reviewing the articles I made an effort to stop spending as much money at the grocery stores. My first project was to clear out the pantry, so that when I am grocery shopping that I'm not just buying things "just in case" we don't already have it at home. Not only did I get rid of expired and not needed items in the pantry, but now I have a mental note of what we need, and what we definitely don't need any more of (i.e refried beans & ranch beans --ewwww?? must be my husbands).
I so wish I had the before and after pictures of the pantry still. I had to reset my phone and lost those pictures but the difference was ridiculous!! Even just getting things organized and in order is helping us out with knowing what we need and don't need!
After the pantry was cleared out, I went back to making grocery lists of things that we needed from the store. One thing is, even though I was spending a lot on food, the food wasn't going to waste. It was more of not needing the food -- buying 2 bags of gold fish instead of one. Buying 2 jars of apple sauce instead of just one. I will have to admit that those Kroger 10 for 10 or whatever deals makes it difficult not to purchase your favorite items when it's on sale! Yesterday when I went to the store I stuck to the list! It wasn't even that hard!
I also started making the meal plans again. And instead of just going week to week, I did it for 2 weeks at a time. I also coordinated meals around my son's school lunch menu so that we weren't repeating meals for him. I have decided to go home on my lunch break at least one time a week and put something in the crock pot to cook. That way it will be less stress in the evenings and I won't have the urge to stop at the store after work.
The biggest change is not going to the grocery store every week!! I am proud to say that last week I did not go to Kroger. Literally a full week!! I found out that our rite aid has milk for the same price as Kroger so, I stopped there after work when we were close to running out. That way I was in, and out, and didn't pick up any other things.
I know that some weeks there will be larger grocery bills. But, I am trying to make myself more aware of my grocery shopping habits. I always have a stockpile (at least 10-12) of lean cuisine dinners because that is typically what I grab for lunch every day at work.
Was really surprised at how much I was spending -- even more surprised at how much I probably saved by just cutting out that one week at the grocery store!
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