These Budget Meal Planning tips allow one family of five to eat well on only $300 a month.
We’ve all gone to check out at the grocery store proud of ourselves for staying under budget.
Then, we see the final total and ask ourselves what went wrong? I’ve been there many times myself many times.
My kids have had a meltdown in the store that only the promise of a box of Cheez-It’s could cure, and we can’t pass up a sale that good even if it isn’t something on our list that week.
Slowly, we find ourselves spending more at the grocery store then we ever intended.
You don’t need to spend a lot of money to feed your family, even if you have a large family! This is why I’m showing you how to feed a family of five for only $300 per month!
NOTE: This is based on the shopping experience of one family and is used only as an example. Your budget will be determined by the needs and diets of your family. However, no matter what you set your budget at, these tips can help you to save even more money each time you go grocery shopping.
Ladies, leave your kids at home
I know that it can be hard to find the time to head to the store, let alone a time when you can go without the kids.
However, your kids really do slow you down! You will be less likely to add impulse buys into the cart or things you don’t need if you don’t have your kids with you.
Wait until your husband can watch the kids, or hire a babysitter so you can do your shopping. You could even offer to swap turns with another mom, and watch her kids for her while she does her shopping.
Stick to a MONTHLY meal plan instead of a weekly plan
The best way to save money on groceries is actually to meal plan monthly instead of weekly.
This allows you to see at a month’s glance what you will need, which then allows you to bulk buy if need be!
Since you are shopping monthly, if something goes on sale that you know you need, you can buy it ahead of time.
You’ll find more details on planning a monthly meal plan below.
Learn to shop sales
The best way to shop at the grocery store is to learn how to shop for sales.
Building a stockpile at home means that you can buy things when they are the cheapest!
When you head to the grocery store, you are only looking for the items that are on sale and maybe some fresh produce.
Make things from scratch
I know a boxed cake mix is way easier than having to find all the different ingredients in your pantry.
The reality is that the box of cake mix is about four times more than making it from scratch!
Learn how to make staples in your home from scratch and you will save a ton of money!
Taco seasoning, muffins, pancake mix, and even pizza dough are going to be much cheaper if you make them yourself.
Buy only what you can eat, and use it all up
One of the biggest budget busters is buying more than you can eat, and letting that food go to waste.
Buy only what you know your family can eat, and if you have to buy more, learn to freeze it!
Once you’ve bought groceries, make sure you are using every last drop before you head to the store for something new.
As you can see, it’s not hard to stick to a small budget!
While you may need to adjust your budget for your family’s specific needs, this should be a guideline to help you reduce your grocery budget once and for all.
If you find the idea of meal planning to be a daunting task, check out my 30 Day Meal Planning System that makes it super easy to do!
The Complete Meal Planning System will give you the simple steps to take in order to become a meal planning pro in no time at all.
Meal Planning can seem like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be.
Using the tips and tricks in this 30 Day Meal Plan Guide and the companion Custom Recipe Cards below, you can easily create a personalized 30 meal plan just for you family that you can use all year long.
Along with this Complete Meal Planning System you will also get the complete collection of Meal Planning Worksheets!!
Do you have any money saving shopping tips to add to this list?
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