Grocery Savings

If you live in a place where the grocery stores really compete with each other it can be a good idea to make a price book. 

It can be an old spiral notebook. Write down the product(s) you normally buy and sizes, too. Write down the prices at each store. Don't forget warehouse stores, if you use them. I would put down price per ounce or pound, too. Just so you can make sure it is a real comparison. 

Check the prices every so often to make sure they didn't go up or down or that there was a sale on that item on the day you priced it. 

This process helps when the grocery stores in your area have sales. In my region the leading grocery store is hands down the lowest prices already so it really doesn't do me any good. Most of the other grocery stores around here only put junk food and soda on sale, usually. I don't even check their circulars anymore. 

Menu planning is also a good way to save on groceries. Plan for the week and don't go to the grocery store without a list for the week. Some plan all three meals for the day. In my house, my boyfriend and I are on our own for breakfast and lunch, as he doesn't usually eat breakfast, works from home and sometimes doesn't even eat lunch. (How can he do that?) I take my lunch to work so I am on my own there, it is usually leftovers from the night before. I only plan our evening meals. I plan for the week but it isn't set in stone what we eat on what night. Now that I make a bit more money we always have at least one night a week of takeout. Sometimes we have a "forage" night where we each eat what we can find to eat. 

Menu planning helps to make sure your grocery list is complete with all you will need to make those meals each day. 

Cash Only Spending

One sure way to save is to only use cash when you shop. If you don't have your credit or debit cards with you and you run out of cash you can't spend anymore. 

Some use the Envelope System from the Dave Ramsey books. But I think that whole system is just another excuse to buy something else. 

Just use normal envelopes. Label for Food spending, Household needs, Gas, are a few of the options. Use what your family uses as labels. Some might want cash for movies and entertainment. Other families won't. Put the cash you budgeted for that category for the month and put it into the envelope. When you shop, use that cash and when it is gone, you don't spend on that category anymore for the month. 

It may feel embarrassing to have to return things at the checkout if you run out of money for it but that small bit of embarrassment is small compared to the amount of money you would save with the Envelope System. 

Frugal Meals

One sure way to save money is to prepare frugal meals. Cutting the grocery bill may be the easiest way to save money. 

I know how hard it is, though! I love food, good food, flavorful food, a good variety of food! I love my "fancy" food! But pasta is a good cheap food too. Depending on how it is served. I love Pesto but it can be expensive. Pasta with canned, diced tomatoes and beans with spices of your choice makes a good, easy, fast, cheap meal. 

Macaroni and cheese, homemade, from a simple, cheap recipe is inexpensive. Add some peas and tuna and it can be a full, filling meal. 

Try to cook extra and freeze the left overs. It is just my boyfriend and me eating and I learned to cook for 4 so there are always leftover. My freezer is usually full to busting with meals. Which is good for the nights I don't want to cook. Pulling something from the freezer is way cheaper than take out every night. 

My first post was going to be about frugality but since I am going with what is on my mind, mostly, at the time I am going to talk about parenting a "boomerang" kid. My daughter is 25 and is living with me, again. Hence the word, boomerang.
I do believe that parenting a young adult living in your home (again) is just almost as stressful and worry filled as parenting a toddler. It is even harder when said young adult had health issues. Add depression and anxiety to the mix and I am a huge ball of stress. I know this will pass but I am scared, angry, worried, guilt filled, sad...Ugh!