Closing the gap between desire and reality is achieved through determination
We are all manufacturers. Some make good, others make trouble, and still others make excuses.[i]
Some make garden beds and others, like me, are happy in the kitchen trying out new recipes. I enjoy cooking and my family loves to eat. Thankfully they are not picky eaters. But I also have a growing desire to lower grocery costs without sacrificing quality meals. If this goal is accomplished, it will free up a $100 a month for other purposes.
Between desire and reality there’s plenty of work to do—Here’s my plan:
Determine to stop making excuses and control all impulse shopping. This won’t be easy, but double-chocolate brownies and bottled iced tea don’t need to go home with me! Reaching my goal is more important.
Meat typically makes up a bigger chunk of the food budget but there are ways to make subtle changes. Rather than always buying boneless, skinless chicken breasts, why not choose a few less expensive chicken thighs? If this concept is practiced over a month’s time, it’s possible to see up to a 50% savings on meat costs alone.
Figure out how to stretch ingredients in creative ways
Make marinara sauce with half a pound of hamburger and save the other half to use later in the week. That change alone saves us $3 on every pound of extra lean hamburger bought. Or, leave out the meat entirely. Vegetables like zucchini, carrots, and cauliflower can be substituted without sacrificing flavor. My husband is fond of cauliflower and the medical world suggests eating a few meatless meals a week is good for our health.
Get frugal. Buying in bulk is always cheaper. Beans, for instance, are a powerhouse of nutrition, easy to rehydrate, stretch far in meal planning and taste yummy. Think chili beans, ham and bean soup, salads topped with black or garbanzo or kidney beans, hummus, or a spicy bean dip. One summer my oldest daughter showed me how easy and cost friendly it is to make hummus. It also freezes well so why not make a large batch and save some time, too?
Be coupon conscious. Seldom does a day go by that I don’t receive coupons in the mail. Yes, I’m overwhelmed at times, but flipping through those pages and clipping out the ones my family can use, saves money. The secret is to carry the coupons along or have the store’s app on your cell phone. Combine coupons with a store’s reward program, and the savings multiply.
Love your grocery list as a best friend and accountability partner
This is fundamental to keeping impulse buying to a minimum. Remember stores are designed to arouse spur-of-the-moment purchases—and I’ve made plenty of them.
Stick to the plan
Closing the gap between desire and the reality of lowering meal costs is as simple as sticking to the plan over the long haul and believing, with God’s help, this goal is attainable.
Psalms 20:4 May he give you the desire of your heart and make all your plans succeed.
[i] Making Something, 1001 Humorous Illustrations For Public Speaking, Michael Hodgin, 338
