BUDGET--menu planning! (update)

BUDGET it really isn't a bad word, it is an important word especially in these economic times. Budgeting for the family is something that my husband and I have done since very early in our marriage, when we were starving students! Little did we know that it would be such a part of our lives and the way we do things for so many years.

I also worked for in a grocery store for several years and I learned some of the tricks that they use to get you to buy more when you are in the store. The front page of a sales ad always has loss leaders that attract you to the store then they have specialty items for the growing season and holiday seasons. They stack end caps (the end of each aisle) with things to tempt you for example cookies, snacks, pop, most things that kids will beg for! There are many tricks that surprised me so be prepared when you go into the store,

Here are some tips that have helped me stay on budget, build my storage, and prepare my family meals.

1. Always make a list. After years of doing this I noticed that there were things that I always purchase so I made a permanent list with these items already on it. I also found that if I had a list posted and encouraged my family to write down items that they used up we weren't caught empty handed especially with frequently used items. It was effective most of the time. Place your list in the same place all of the time so it becomes a habit!

I finally made up a list on my computer that I could print up easily for shopping trips. I use the color just to keep it from being boring.

I was once told that grocery stores hate to see people with big lists because they are likely to buy less frivolously! I know that I stay within my budget with a well planned list.

2. Use a Calendar. I started with a large poster board and made a calendar on it with big squares to keep track of family activities. I had it laminated and used erasable markers to write on it. Doing this helped me remember things and places to be and it also helped me organize and plan menus out. I knew certain days I simply couldn't handle anything but a really simple and fast meal while other days I could try a new recipe or use one that required a little extra time. The calendar also helped my family know where I was as well. Over time the calendar got smaller and matched what I have in my planner, I still use an old fashioned planner that I carry around. I have made up my own planner pages after years of buying various different kinds, I can put reoccurring events in once and then keep track of the ones that come up for me and my family. I love that I can sync my planner with my husbands via emails.

(The calendar I use is from Outlook and then I add my own personal pages and lists. It took a little time to get it set up the way I like it. I love the color coding system because it helps me identify things quickly.)

3. Make a menu-look at your recipes. I plan menus two weeks at a time and that was based on when payday came for us. I carefully look at the ad's in the paper or online to look and compare what the various grocery stores in our area have on sale. Then I look at my calendar and start planning out the menu. I think my family gets tired of me asking if anything sounds good or they want something specific but it helps. We also have a lot of traditions that involve food so that plays into menu planning as well. I knew a woman that planned out a years worth of menu's for her family and then that is what they had, regardless, because of her busy work schedule. It worked very well for her and her family but I found it very resstrictive. I have a major list of our favorite recipes to pull from and add to it as we find new things but I continue to plan two weeks out based on the sales and season. Plus I love to try new recipes all of the time.... Don't forget to check your recipes just to be sure that you have everything you need to purchase. Doing this eliminates quick trips to the store because you forgot something. Those quick trips to the store always cost more than you think they will because things reach out and grab you. Plus the quick trips cost you time.

I also plan trips during the two weeks for perishable items such as milk and produce but I still have my handy list.

4. Use Cash. While I know that this isn't practical for everyone we looked at our needs and set a monthly or bimonthly budget and got cash out of our account and put it in a safe place. As I grocery shop I use cash for the items that I purchase and it helps me to stay within the budget. When you use debit cards or checks it is easy to over spend. When the cash is gone, the cash is gone. It taught me to be a little more frugal. I often have some left over cash and I can use it to by extra storage items or put it aside and add it to other months and not withdraw anything from my account for a pay period and use that cash. My children all watched me do this as they have grown up and some have done various modifications to what works for them. I have had people ask me how much we cash we use and I tell them that it really depends on what the income is and it isn't the same for every family.

5. Use Coupons. Coupons recycle every 3-4 months if you use them that is a good tip to know. In some areas of the country you can double and sometimes triple the coupon and if you use your weekly ad that can add up to great savings. In my area stores don't do that because too many people were to good at it. When I was working at the grocery store I once had a woman who lost an envelope of coupons in the store and she fell apart. She went to look for those coupons before she could make any purchases, she found them. After her purchase was totaled and the coupons were deducted I learned how effective she was and what a difference it made to her budget. With that said be careful with coupons because they often tempt you to buy things that you might not regularly buy and they are on name brand items. Name brands often cost more than the generic or different brands do. Some generic brands are not worth buying but you need to try some to know what you like and what you don't want for your money. While working I was able to do some blind taste testing with people to help them appreciate the stores own brand. Many people couldn't tell a difference in some of the products or even like the store brand better. Don't be afraid to try new brands and watch for the sales because they can often be less than a name brand item even with a coupon.

6. Don't shop on an empty stomach or when you are very hungry. Because you will buy more of the tempting things you are set up to fall for. This is not a new concept but it is an important one to remember.

7. Shop alone if you can. You know what you are planning and you won't get all of the "can we get this..." In addition if you know the layout of your store well you can plan out where you need to go and make your shopping experience go much faster. Many stores have maps that you can get to help you out. I always tend to get things thrown into the cart that I am not planning on if I take others with me.

8. Shop earlier in the day. While this isn't always something that can be done it is usually the best time to shop. Most grocery stores really restock at night and so the shelves are full and produce is freshly stocked. Specialty areas like the deli and butchers are there early to prepare for the day.

As empty nesters I kind of fell away from our shopping plan and found that I began spending more money and since I wasn't regularly checking what I had on hand I was buying things I really didn't need to.  Once again I am back to my way of shopping.  My husband works part time in Honolulu and when we are there we are able to stay in a unit with a kitchen and cook.  We learned very quickly how expensive it is there to shop for example, a gallon of milk on Waikiki is over $9.00 while in some of the neighborhood stores it is usually $5.50 or more.  Since we rarely have a car we have to make lists for when we do and we have to be careful to be thorough because riding a bus or walking to the store doesn't make it easy to "run" and get a missed item.  Plus time is money. 

Happy Shopping