Over the last several months, I have let my frugal grocery habits slide. When the cashier hit the total button on my last excursion to the grocery store, I asked her if she was kidding. They know me pretty well and so she knows that she can tease with me freely. She pointed to my overflowing basket and said, “Are YOU kidding me?!”
In that moment, I realized that as our income has steadily increased over the last year, the use of my tried-and-true grocery savings plan had decreased. I stopped making a menu, started eating out more, and saw a decrease in the amount of money available for savings.
Something has to change.
$100 Grocery Challenge
Prior to this erratic shopping behavior, I was able to purchase all of our groceries and personal items for about $25 per person per week. For an average family of four people, this equals a $100 weekly budget. In our family, I would spend less than $600 each month.
This “grocery” budget included food items, toiletries, cleaning supplies, and (at that time) baby needs. In other words, everything.
All of tips and tricks I use for buying groceries are in my ebook, Advanced Penny Pinching.
But somewhere along the way, I gave up on saving money and let the budget go to ruins. However, in order to be a good steward with the resources God has entrusted to our family, I know that I need to refresh my knowledge, dust off my coupon folder, and get serious about abiding within a grocery budget.
I know everything I need to make this happen. I just need to do it.
Join the $100 Grocery Challenge
In order to increase my success, I am pursuing a twelve month challenge and will be sharing the resources I use to make it happen with YOU. My pantry list, menus, recipes, and shopping lists are all coming soon!
I would love to have encouragement along the journey. If you plan to join me, comment below with your best tips and/or join the Being Mom Facebook Group.
Let’s do this!
Want to get started right away?
I recommend using Grocery University to learn how to stockpile and use coupons.
I like this idea! So for my family of 7 at $25 each would be $175. I accept the challenge.
Exactly. Glad to have you aboard!
I came under budget for week 1. Woohoo!
I have been doing this. I pray before going to the store for good deals on things we can use. Then next would be watching for mark downs. Yesterday went to the closest major city to GFS and found turkey for 50 cents a pound, 30 oz bags of chocolate chips for $2 each and cookie sprinkles 50 cents. Always be on the look out for clearance. We try and get as much organic or healthier lunch meat. I cut the coupons out and try and have them with me to match with markdowns. We are a family of 11. Keeping a well stocked pantry by doing this kind of stuff.
Those are some AWESOME deals, Lisa! Great job!
I really like this idea. I am the only on that works for a family of six. So that means I wwill need 150 a week to make it happen. I am in.
I’m in! We are a family of 5. I live in a small town with only one grocery store and (luckily) a CVS. My goal is to NEVER pay full price for anything so I shop the sales ad and also watch for markdown. Especially on meat. I once got the 90 percent fat free ground beef for $1 a pound same with boneless skinless chicken breast!!! But I always find good deals there in the discount meat bin. Some people don’t like to purchase meat from there but I have never had an issue with it. I still watch the dates on it. CVS is great for purchasing personal care items. I try to pair a coupon with the sales ads and watch for Extra Care Bucks deals. I’ve let my budget go too since becoming a working mother. Time to get back on track!
I am in. $100 for our family of four. this will be a big change for us, but well worth it.