Cutting Costs With Nutrition in Mind
You shouldn't have to give up healthy and nutritional dieting habits because of economic status.
If you're like me, saving money right now has become a top priority. With bills and other expenses taking priority, the grocery budget is the first thing I look to cut. As we seek affordability, we often give up nutrition and health in exchange. But budgeting doesn't mean you have to give up nutrition. Here are some examples of how to keep your grocery budget while buying nutritious foods.
Budgeting
Maintaining a budget requires hard work and dedication. For many (especially me), resisting impulse buying is key to saving money while grocery shopping. Julie Jaggernath, in an article for myMoneyCoach, writes some great tips for staying the course while at the store. Here are some key points:
- Preplan your meals for the week and make a strict list of what you will need so that you don't stray while at the store. Many stores even offer downloadable apps where you can track how much your final bill will cost.
- Some people prefer not to shop from lists, which is perfectly fine! Instead, set a desired spending amount before your shopping trip. As you shop and keep track of the items in your cart, prioritize which items you need for the week.
- It is more cost efficient to buy things that are not individually packaged and pack them in snack baggies yourself at home.
- When it comes to bulk items, there is often a cost savings for buying, for example, chicken broth in a six pack compared to six individual cartons.
- Do not buy in bulk if the product will end up wasted. Always looks for the best possible deals, but do not buy unnecessary items just because they are on sale or at a cheaper price if bought in bulk.
- While things like coupons are extremely beneficial, only use coupons for items that you actually need.
