Do you find yourself with very little left to spend by the end of the month even though you seem to spend little? Chances are the problem lies in your grocery bills. Most of us don’t realise this, but we all end up spending a lot more than we decide to for our groceries, whether it be overstocking or impulse shopping. In fact, studies show that most impulsive shopping is generally done in the food section rather than apparel or accessories. Here are 12 ways to budget your groceries every month without much effort.
Track what you actually spend for a month so you get a realistic idea. This way you can draw up a sensible budget.
Budget your grocery bills for a month, since your salary is monthly too. But plan your meals per week. It is impossible anyway to plan meals for a month. Plan it for a week, rather than deciding impromptu every day. This way you will avoid eating or ordering in because it’s too late to plan a meal now.
Name your priorities, like vegetables, grains and dals and list it that way. Other things like dried herbs, sauces, condiments and juices come at the bottom on the priority list.
Buy your vegetables from the local market rather than a supermarket that offers discounts. The difference is likely to be only a rupee or two, but you have scope to bargain for a lower price. And the veggies stay fresh for longer periods, thus eliminating wastage by rotting.
Image Courtesy: Radiokafka / Shutterstock.com
Take out the time to compare cheaper options in terms of both brands and stores. Some stores and brands deliberately mark up the price. Make sure you are paying the right price for a product.
Keep track of how often you eat out and look for ways to cut it down. For example, plan to eat out only on two Sundays in a month. Eat out with friends on special occasions, but never because you feel too lazy to cook. This would drastically cut expenditure and help plan your groceries better.
Keep a running checklist on your fridge listing items you may need shortly. This way you won’t end up buying extra bags of sugar or pulses and allow the old ones to rot.
Start planning a menu before you hit the store. This way you won’t do much impulse shopping.
Stay away from discount coupons. Strange as this sounds, you may actually end up shopping more and shopping for things you don’t need in order to cash a coupon. Likewise for a sale – stock, but don’t overstock.
Greens have a short shelf life and can get expensive during monsoons. You can easily grow herbs like dhania, pudina, spinach, methi and curry leaves, used for daily cooking.
Buying small snack packs every day at work is expensive. Instead buy in bulk and take small quantities in Ziploc bags or small containers every day.
Shop for groceries online. When shopping online, its difficult to meander beyond the section you need to visit and make impulsive purchases. Also the amount you spend is much more visible to you, thus making you conscious.
Image Courtesy: Shutterstock
More on>> Money
