4 tips for building a balanced on a budget grocery list
Unpopular opinion, but ever since I was a little girl, I have LOVED grocery shopping!
My mom used to bring me with her every week, I’d have my very own cart & everything!
But growing up, I’ve learned not everyone feels the same…
Most people don’t think of their childhood when they think grocery shopping. They think about how chaotic & expensive it’ll be!
But grocery shopping doesn’t have to be chaotic & it can be budget friendly!
Over the years, I’ve snuck quite a few tricks up my sleeve & here are a few of my favorites!
4 Steps for Building a Balanced on a Budget Grocery List
Don’t Start Until You’ve Eaten Something
We all know grocery shopping on an empty stomach is a big no-no & so is writing your grocery list. While you can’t buy these things when writing your list, you can get irritable and make rash decisions. So do yourself, and your bank account, a favor & eat something before you sit down to write your list.
Figure Out What the Family Wants
I know what you’re thinking, “I buy the groceries. Do I really have to consult with my family before making the list?!” Yes, you do because while you do buy the groceries, asking your family what they want to eat throughout the week can help avoid arguments later on in the week. You don’t have to agree on everything & you don’t have to put all of their requests on the list, BUT if you can make everyone happy a couple of times a week, why not?!
Note the Options
Once you know what everyone’s requests are, write them down along with any lunch, breakfast, and snack ideas. Having a master list of what you’re planning on eating can make creating the list A LOT easier!
Create Your Template
One of the best things I’ve ever done, when it comes to making my grocery list, is using a template! It’s super easy to make & makes creating the list, and actual grocery shopping, so much easier! To create your template, you’re going to take a pice of paper, draw a cross, and about 3/4 the way down the vertical line, draw a horizontal line half-way through the vertical line. You should have 3 separate spaces to write”categories” - Produce, Protein, & Grocery. Produce will be any kind of produce you plan to purchase, protein will be any kind of protein you plan to purchase, & grocery will be anything that doesn’t fit into the produce or protein categories - basically, anything down the aisles.
Planning is an amazing pathway for progress! Ever since I started making (& sticking to) my grocery list, I have made healthier choices, spent less time in the grocery store (giving me more free time), and spent less money on groceries! Making your list doesn’t have to be complicated! I put mine in my notes section every week :)
