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PUBLISHED: | By Hilary Erickson
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Oh, the feeling of a stocked pantry. The idea that you’ll never run out of anything. You’ll always have the item you need at your finger tips. Likely, for the next year. It’s taken a lot of time for me to admit this, but I have a buying problem. When I see something on sale I want to buy enough of it to last forever. This tip might just help show yo how to save money on groceries!
**Although this tip is 100% true, if you’re looking for other tips to save on your groceries, the Grocery Budget Makeover is available now! **
And then we thought we were moving. And I lived off that pantry for a good amount of time. Which, was awesome. We were able to save for the upcoming moving expenses (which never materialized, so instead we were able to save just about $700 dollars last summer by living off our pantry).
But, then the last can of black beans was gone. My husband didn’t have a new job and I was like, “OH MY HECK, I HAVE NO MORE CANNED BEANS.” Of course, I had a ton of dried beans, but that’s so hard…. (not hard if you have this great pressure cooker, which is what I’ve done). BTW, beans in cookies. It’s a good thing.
And I’ve found a new way to help our grocery budget.
And it’s mind blowing.
Wait for it…..
.
.
.
That’s right. By buying less stuff, I save money.
{mind blown}
Even if those canned beans are 30cents, if I buy 50 of them, that’s a lot of cash. BUT, if I just buy 5, that’s a lot less cash.
Are you catching up to the math here? This is obviously common core stuff.
Believe me, it’s not calculus, and no one feels more dumb about it than I do.
This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t stock up on items when they’re on sale.
But it is to say that you need to find some mid-ground if you have a penchant to over-buying {#guilty}.
I am grateful that I have a husband who kind of rolls his eyeballs when I have enough canned tomatoes to last through the zombie apocalypse.
I mean, I heard they seem pretty unstable — maybe we can just chuck cans at them and get away?
So, am I off the pantry excel file?
Sort of. I am actually still a HUGE fan of that. Really seeing what you WANT to store in your home is great. I think it’s the first step to saving money at the grocery store.
BUT being realistic about what you need to store in your home is an even better tip.
So, I still have canned beans and canned tomatoes, maybe 5 of each and when that dwindles to two I look for a deal for more.
I also go to the grocery store less. Maybe just every other week.
I’ve been better about cooking larger batches of meat and then using it during the week for other meals (and I still buy chicken in bulk). It’s a huge time saver, and brain saver.
Related post: 5 Little monkeys Coupon Code
I have also spent a little more on fun products to try some new recipes, especially when I was using a meal plan service more frequently. They gave me ideas I’d never had before and it has been really fun to search the ethnic isle for things like Garam Masala. And as always, cooking at home is the #1 tip to saving money!
A photo posted by Pulling Curls Blog (@pulling_curls) on
So, buy less. To save more.
{mic drop}
P.S. {awkwardly picking mic back up} I realize this tip is insanely stupid (similar to my best financial advice ever) but it is really something I’ve taken to heart lately. Maybe it sparks some ways to buy less at your house too!
P.P.S. If you’re to master your grocery budget in other ways — I recommend you check out the Grocery Budget Makeover — Erin really knows what she’s talking about.
If tips like this help you brainstorm ways to save at your house, be sure to sign up for my newsletter with a free budgeting worksheet:
And check out all my other money saving tips
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