Spending less money on food is becoming a necessity for many people. When groceries have doubled and almost tripled in some areas of the world, you have to get creative about managing a tighter budget. Here are 8 lifestyle changes that can help you manage a tighter food budget.
Become A Master Meal Planner
Meal planning is the biggest lifestyle change you can make to help you manage a tighter food budget. When you meal plan, you set things in place before you go to the grocery store, and you stick to that plan for the week. One of the best things about meal planning is that when you get good at it, you can grab a few things on sale and stretch your meal plan.
Go Out, But Be Careful
Go out when you want, but look for happy hours with food specials or weekly dining deals. Remember, you can always go out for an appetizer and come home and eat a salad. Eating out can get expensive, but when you share meals, go at the right time, and pick economical places, it is at least doable.
Learn Portion Control
Not only will portion control help you with your grocery budget, but it will help your diet at the same time. Keep portions fair but limited; you may get more than one meal out of a dinner you put together.
Use a Physical Grocery List
Put everything you need to buy at the grocery store on your list and stick to it. Cross the list off as you shop, and avoid those aisles with all the expensive processed foods.
Start A Small Garden
Notice we suggest a small garden. Large gardens actually have high start up expenses and can take years to produce properly. However, growing herbs or sprouts in jars is a great way to cut down on expenses but still have high-quality food.
Spend Some Time Learning About Food Storage
Food can last longer than you think but must be stored correctly. When you purchase fruits and vegetables, you will want to ensure you use them all. Follow proper washing and storage techniques so your food lasts. Wasted food is literally throwing money down the drain.
Get Creative With Recipes
Leftovers are a huge way to save money on your tighter food budget, but you don’t always have to stick to the original meal that you had. If you grilled some chicken one night, go ahead and turn that into a chicken quesadilla the next night. Leftovers don’t have to be boring.
Plan Special Meals
Finally, to help reward yourself for staying dedicated to your tighter grocery store budget, make sure you plan some special meals from time to time. These meals can be something that requires a higher priced ingredient or a little more prep work. Planning these special meals will cut back on monthly expenses but leave you with something fun to look forward to.
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