Cut Food Costs with Our Grocery Planner Templates

Grocery purchasing on a finances is considered one of budgeting’s biggest challenges—particularly as costs proceed to rise. Get organized and lower prices with our free worth tracker and grocery planner templates.

Groceries have been a sore spot in my finances for years, and because the deadline approaches for assembly considered one of my private monetary objectives, I made a decision to actually give attention to this continuously fluctuating expense in order that I might funnel my financial savings in direction of one thing that issues extra to me proper now. 

It’s taken a whole lot of trial and error, however during the last 12 months and a half, I really feel like I’ve lastly dialed it in. I’m going to share some numbers and techniques, however please take note: Grocery costs fluctuate wildly throughout the USA and past. What I share here’s what works for me in Maine. If I lived in NYC or Seattle or principally wherever else, costs would most undoubtedly be completely different. My grocery invoice can be greater in some locations and decrease in others.

That’s why I don’t spend a whole lot of time evaluating my grocery finances to others. I give attention to my common since that’s an actual quantity that I can management. However with that being stated, implementing a couple of of those methods and placing our free worth tracker, kitchen stock, and meal planning printables (see beneath!) to make use of might help scale back your meals finances, too. 

Additionally, for readability’s sake, grocery spending for me contains the whole lot I purchase on the grocery retailer apart from pet meals, which I observe individually. (I’ve three cats and a canine, so I actually need to know what they price me so I can put together appropriately.) Some folks select to checklist their family items like cleansing provides or paper towels right into a separate finances class. Do no matter works for you! 

Grocery Spending Historical past (it’s some huge cash)

Alrighty then, with that out of the best way, let’s take a look at a few of my grocery spending historical past. Being the finances nerd that I’m, I’ve information going again to December of 2016. (To be truthful, YNAB, my budgeting app, tracks this for me—managing this info by myself for this lengthy would put me in an entire completely different class of budgeting glory.) 

Can we simply cease for a second and take a look at that whole? I imply—wow. Over the previous 6+ years I’ve spent over $17,000 on groceries. As one individual. That simply blows my thoughts. Oh, and that massive spike within the center? That was my “Oh my gosh there’s a pandemic I must go purchase all of the issues!!!” purchasing month. The spike a couple of months later? I used to be sick that month and actually wanted a great popsicle provide. Simply sayin’. Our finances tells the story of our lives. 

My month-to-month common over that point was $261.38. I’m purchasing only for me, and like I stated it contains non-food objects like shampoo, paper towels, cleansing provides—you get the concept. So actually, that’s not too unhealthy. 

However over the previous few years, I began to actually really feel that I might do higher and unlock extra money. So I made a decision to goal for spending $200 a month on grocery objects. To be completely sincere, I wasn’t positive I might do it. However setting my aim uncomfortably low pressured me to concentrate to my grocery spending in a means I hadn’t for some time. 

Seems I geek out on these items, so I made vital progress. 

Right here’s my grocery spending for 2021:

I used to be fairly dang near $200! I used to be actually happy with this. 

Then 2022 hit and meals costs have been on the rise. Actually, it didn’t have an effect on me at first (extra on that in a bit), however I’m feeling it now. But it surely’s making me shake my fist on the sky and say, “I can’t be deterred! I’ll keep at $200 a month for 2022! I can do that!” 

(Generally having a cussed aggressive streak is an asset!)

Tips on how to Scale back Your Grocery Price range 

In terms of grocery purchasing on a finances, it’s important to resolve which lever is extra vital to you: time or cash.

Right here’s what I imply by that: Proper now, I’m keen to spend extra time (worth purchasing, cooking, and so forth) with a purpose to decrease my prices. Time is one thing I’ve and I get pleasure from engaged on this. Nonetheless, my good friend and colleague Ernie has three teenage boys. Time is treasured to him. So he’s keen to spend extra money on groceries if it frees up time in his life. 

The place I’m keen to drive to a couple completely different shops to get the very best costs, Ernie’s philosophy is “I’m going to put the order on-line and simply do curbside decide up and increase—I’ve acquired my Saturday again.” (Sidenote: On-line ordering can also be an effective way to curb impulse shopping for.) 

I respect that. I’d in all probability really feel the identical means if I had three youngsters. 

So I absolutely count on some folks studying this will likely be in Ernie’s camp and that’s A-OK. However in case you’re keen to place a while in, I’m your lady—and there’s so much you are able to do to decrease your grocery spending.

Methods to Save Cash

If you happen to’re keen to spend just a little time to save cash, attempt incorporating the next ideas, methods, and strategies into your purchasing, planning, and eating routines:

Obtain Our Grocery Planner Templates

There are such a lot of instruments out there to assist set up purchasing and meal instances that it’s nearly overwhelming, which is why we tried to consolidate the whole lot you want into one helpful PDF useful resource that’s each editable and printable.

Our free Grocery Planner templates embody a pantry stock with areas for a restocking checklist, meal concepts, and an avocado ripeness tracker (as a result of not ripe, not ripe, not ripe, rotten appear to be the levels of avocado existence), a fridge and freezer stock, and a weekly meal planning template. Hit the button beneath and obtain it to get began.

Free Grocery Planner Templates

Know Your Costs

I’ve three grocery shops I am going to recurrently which are near me. I assumed I knew the costs, however I wished to make sure. I’ve longed for an app that might observe costs throughout the shops the best way I would like it to, however I haven’t had a lot luck discovering one. So I constructed a worth tracker in Google Sheets. It was eye opening to say the least!

Grab yourself a copy of my price tracker here in case you’re . (Finest utilized by spreadsheet nerds). 

To make a replica, go to “File” and “Make a replica.” Principally, every row is an merchandise, and whenever you enter the costs for that row/merchandise, the cell with the bottom worth turns inexperienced. 

The value variations between my shops had been surprising to me—I can’t stress that sufficient. Sure, it was work to construct it out, however now preserving it up to date takes a couple of minutes right here and there after I sit all the way down to construct a purchasing checklist. Costs for many shops can be found on-line, which makes it a bit simpler, so examine between Walmart, Aldi, Amazon, and your native grocery shops. And also you don’t must do it multi function sitting. First, construct your grocery checklist of things you recurrently purchase. Then seize the costs for one retailer, then the subsequent retailer one other time.

The opposite factor about listening to costs on this means is I do know a great deal after I see one.

Maintain a Effectively-Stocked Pantry

I acquired higher at this in the course of the pandemic and now I’m a professional. I might simply go two weeks with out purchasing with out blinking a watch. Other than that benefit, I may also whip up any variety of meals that I do know I’ll get pleasure from in a short time.

Our Grocery Planner templates embody a listing checklist on your pantry, fridge, and freezer, and a meal planning template, so remember to obtain that and also you’ll at all times know what to replenish on. 

This additionally helps restrict journeys to the grocery retailer—the extra journeys I make, the extra I are inclined to spend. Try this weblog submit about how to go grocery shopping once a month. 

Concentrate on Your Common

As I discussed above, I keep watch over my common. I’m not anxious about spending the very same quantity each month. Some months I run above $200 if I come throughout some nice offers and wish to replenish. When that occurs a couple of months in a row, I do know there’s meals out there, so I cook dinner from the pantry and freezer to carry down the typical.

Contemporary produce is vital to me, so in months the place I’m making an attempt to spend much less, that’s the place I proceed to splurge. Having recent fruit and veggies readily available makes it simpler for me to make wholesome meals. 

Purchase Generics (Retailer Manufacturers)

Mindy over at See Mindy Mom did a fascinating analysis of manufacturers versus generics. I largely purchase retailer manufacturers, with a couple of exceptions, so I used to be already doing this, however I had no thought how a lot cash it saved. If you happen to aren’t doing this, it’s value making an attempt. And in case you discover a retailer model of one thing you hate, effectively at the very least now you already know and you’ll return to the name-brand stuff guilt-free.

(Mindy is a superb useful resource for finances household meals. 10 out of 10 would suggest her channel.)

Meal Plan 

That is value your time and it doesn’t should be tremendous fancy. You don’t want to determine each snack for each day. You simply want a framework. 

I do that on the weekend and cook dinner a couple of larger issues that I can reheat over the course of the week. Right here’s a typical weekly menu for me.

Breakfasts

• In a single day Oats with Strawberries and Blueberries
• Scrambled Eggs with Oven Baked House Fries

Lunches

• Egg Salad Sandwiches (typically with do-it-yourself bread)
• Tossed Salads. I make up a few half dozen of those and retailer them in particular person glass containers. I simply pull one out every day—increase—achieved.

Dinners

• Taco Soup
• Inexperienced Chili Hen Enchiladas

Snacks

• Fruit
• Popcorn
• Tortilla Chips with do-it-yourself salsa

That’s only one week, nevertheless it’s sufficient to maintain me pleased and assist me keep away from take out. Use the meal planning template in our free printable to provide you with a straightforward meal plan of your personal. And take a look at this weblog submit on meal planning myths—it doesn’t must be tough or time consuming! 

Ten Go-Tos

One solution to preserve meal planning manageable is to determine what your high ten meals are; select issues which are straightforward to make and budget-friendly. Right here’s my checklist:

1. Selfmade Pizza. I make this in a forged iron skillet. I make wonderful do-it-yourself pizza. It’s my superpower.
2. Taco Soup (as talked about above)
3. Burrito Bowls
4. Selfmade Hen/Turkey Pot Pie
5. Roasted Veggies with Grilled Hen Breasts
6. English Muffin Pizzas—a little bit of an emergency meal for me. (Thanks Dad!)
7. Baked Beans and Potato Salad
8. Corn Chowder
9. Selfmade Focaccia with Roasted Veggies
10. Sweet Chili Chicken Bowls

Want some cheap and easy meal ideas? We’ve acquired you lined.  

Eat What You Purchase

I’m satisfied all of us throw away an excessive amount of meals, myself included. (What number of instances have these recent greens became a mushy mess?) So my newest aim has been to complete what’s within the fridge earlier than making one thing else. Generally which means getting just a little artistic, like turning that previously recent produce right into a smoothie. 

I additionally make an effort to not make an excessive amount of of anybody meal, and if I do make an enormous batch of one thing, I’ll throw half within the freezer immediately. 

Purchase Components, Not Processed Meals

You gained’t see a whole lot of processed stuff in my cabinets. For probably the most half, I purchase elements and use what I purchase throughout a number of recipes. There’s typically a mindset that in case you’re spending too little on meals, you’ll be able to’t be maintaining a healthy diet meals. I’ve not discovered that to be true. If I purchased all natural from the native farmer’s market, yeah that might price extra. (And if that’s vital to you—go for it!) 

However there’s simply no query that cooking from scratch saves cash. And the psychological overhead of making ready a meal lessens as your expertise and habits get higher.

In order for you assist studying to cook dinner there are many channels on YouTube that may show you how to. Simply search round. I discussed See Mindy Mom; I additionally like Meals with Maria and Frugal Fit Mom. All three are nice in case you simply wish to binge watch to get concepts.

How I Combat Leftover Fatigue

In terms of leftovers, the wrestle is actual. I imply I loooove taco soup, however I don’t wish to eat it each day for every week. That simply doesn’t work for me. The lengthy standing suggestion is to freeze half for later, and that works for some issues, however not a lot for others. 

I additionally prefer to cook dinner extra typically, so currently I’ve additionally been doing the alternative: I cook dinner a half batch as an alternative of a full batch. This provides me much less to eat by, saves freezer area, and I get to attempt extra issues. 

In case you have an enormous household, this will not work as effectively for you so get within the behavior of dividing massive batches into smaller parts and perfecting your freezing routine. 

All of this may look like a whole lot of work, however you construct habits as you go. Make it extra manageable by selecting one space to enhance on first—begin evaluating costs, take stock of what you’ve gotten, create a listing of your 10 Go-To Meals, or work on a meal plan. 

Identical to you’ll be able to select which financial savings lever to drag (time or cash), you too can select your personal tempo for revamping your grocery spending. Possibly you’re prepared for a 100-yard sprint to the end line of frugality with a whole overhaul of your meal planning and purchasing. Maybe you’re an extended distance marathon runner who must meander by Complete Meals a couple of extra instances. Any enchancment is an enchancment and saving in your grocery finances might help you’re employed in direction of reaching monetary objectives that matter extra to you. 

So that you’ve downloaded our free Grocery Planner templates however have you ever began a finances? Strive YNAB without spending a dime for 34 days and revel in much less cash stress with a monetary planning device that places your cash to be just right for you. 

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