Money Tips: Grocery Lists Are Smart Spending Plans
Spending plans are a money management tool designed to help you manage your purchases and control spending.
When you plan for the purchase, you know the amount of money you budgeted for the expense — which allows you much more control over your spending. You can set a cap on the amount you will spend. In this way, you’re much more likely to save money on your purchases because you can factor in sales items.
Grocery stores are recurring revenue systems. Stores make money week after week, often from the same consumers. A grocery spending plan — a list you take with you to the store — is your best weapon against a system designed to encourage you to spend more than you actually want to. A grocery list helps you curb impulse spending.
A money-savings tip: Do not sample food during your shopping. And if you sample, remember that you do not have to buy that caloric-loaded, lip-smacking, hips- and butt-swelling treat. It’s a marketing tactic! Don’t fall for it.
Another money- and health-saving tip: Make the majority of your purchases from the store’s perimeter. Stay on the edge where the fruits, vegetables, and nutritious stuff lives. The high-fat, high-sugar, lower nutritional value products are located in the middle of the store.
Make a grocery list before you go shopping. You will spend less and have what you need to prepare delicious and healthy meals for the week. Each week is different; make a new list before every trip.
If you want to go for frugality — and why not — look for coupons and sale items. Advertisers spend billions annually to get you into stores to buy sale items and all the other goodies at full price. It’s a money-wise person who takes the time to check out the newspaper before her weekly shopping excursion. Buy only what is on your list. You’ll save money, eat better and healthier, and lose a few pounds too. It’s a win-win way of managing your life, money and health.
Monitor your spending regularly. After the first month, review your progress. Have your food expenditures decreased from the months before you started relying on a grocery list? Are you eating more of the food purchased instead of tossing fruits and veggies out because you didn’t include them in your meal plans? What about your kids — are they wasting less and eating better?
What benefits have you experienced from preparing your grocery spending plans? Let me know.
Warmly,
Judith, The Money Lady
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June 22nd, 2009 at 2:28 PM
This is so true, if you know what you want before you go and you stick to your list then you'll be just fine. A lot of people have trouble doing this though.
June 24th, 2009 at 6:55 AM
I agree with you about spending plans, like me I only buy what i need and what I regularly use and like you have mentioned we make it a point to list we everything that we at home to avoid over spending. Great post….
June 24th, 2009 at 2:08 PM
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July 5th, 2009 at 8:28 PM
I enjoyed your post about grocery lists. Not only are they are a great way to save money but also time, something my clients often say they don't have much of. I particularly like the tip about staying on the edge of the shop where the nutritious stuff is – it's so true. Thank you for these useful and timely reminders.
July 18th, 2009 at 1:14 PM
Yes, preparing a grocery list is the best solution to avoid over-spending and I can vouch for this. This is very essential when you are under a limited budget. I also prepare a list whenever I go in department stores. No list means no buying for me
July 18th, 2009 at 11:21 PM
That's a great point. Like you I make lists when I do other kinds of shopping. When buying winter or summer clothes, I list the garments I intend to buy. It means I buy outfits and pieces that work well together. I'm better able to avoid impulse purchases, particular the pieces that I won't wear.
July 20th, 2009 at 11:13 PM
interesting material, where such topics do you find? I will often go
July 28th, 2009 at 5:01 AM
This information is great. I would be able to save money, which is very important and do more things as well. Thank you for this post.
August 7th, 2009 at 7:22 PM
i've never heard that tip about the fatty foods being in the center of the store, but now that i think about it, all of the crap on the shelves is processed and all the stuff on the walls are usually meats dairy fruits and veggies.
November 4th, 2009 at 10:57 PM
It is good to find a valuable post here on saving money on groceries. The tips and ideas are worthy. Every mom should have these tips to avoid mistakes. Buying groceries with Coupon codes are great way to save money online. It also saves time without having to visit physical stores.
November 10th, 2009 at 12:42 PM
What you wrote is great advice any way that you look at it.
November 18th, 2009 at 12:21 AM
I think planning make every thing easy and sufficient. By using this tips we can definitely control our spending.