Dear Piggy Bank,

We both work full time and we try hard not to eat out or order in too much and I think we’re doing a pretty good job. Where we are having trouble is our grocery bill. I’m not really sure how it happens but I’m surprised at the amount at the check out and surprised again when we get our credit card statement. Have you got any suggestions to keep us on budget? We budget $850 per month for four of us.

Great Grocery Bill

Dear Great Grocery Bill,

It’s easy arrive at the check out with a few extras in the cart and maybe this is what’s happening or maybe not. When the two bread winners work full time it can be a real challenge to make sure there’s food in the house nevermind spend any time coupon clipping. Here are a couple basic suggestions:

1. Draft a weekly menu (including lunches and treats)
2. Shop with a list

To take a good look at your food spending and make a bigger dent you can try the following:

• Review past grocery bills and determine where the money is going. Is it treats, prepared food, impulse buys or special dietary requirements?
• Prepare a realistic monthly food budget – be sure to include infrequent shops or bulk orders.
• Consider whether a freezer is something you have space for.
• Are you willing to purchase seasonal items such as fruit or vegetables in bulk and freeze them? How about meat and/or fish?
• If you have the time to check out sales or discount events, your shopping list will be up to date and there will be less thinking on your feet, comparing prices in your head.
• Taking advantage of great sales is a fantastic way to minimize your food costs if a) you can store the extra quantities and b) it’s food you will eat.
• Manage your menu and be sure to inclde some nutritious but low cost meals with leftovers for lunch.
• Prepared foods may seem simple but often take the same ‘hands-on’ time as a meal from scratch once you’ve added a couple other pieces to the meal. And they do add to the cost.
• The Internet is a great resources for nutrious but meals made from a small number of ingredients (and small number of your minutes!).

Hope this helps,
Dear Piggy Bank