How to Keep a Grocery Bill at $200 a Month for 6 People

How to Keep a Grocery Bill at $200 a Month for 6 People

Groceries are something everyone needs, but something that can also be extremely expensive. When it comes down to it, setting a budget is important. Some families have large grocery budgets and others have small. If you’re on the small side and have at least 6 people in your family, you may be wondering how to keep a grocery bill at $200 a month. Well, check out these tips.

Shop at the Bulk Stores:

One of the best way to keep a grocery bill at $200 for a month is to shop at the bulk stores. Sometimes it may feel like you’re spending more at one time but think of the quantity you are getting. Oftentimes, I take try to make as many meals as I can out of one thing. I might get a huge thing of hamburger and make spaghetti, hamburgers, nachos, and so on. Buying in “bulk” can really help you save money.

Use the Meal Planning Websites:

I LOVE this when it comes to keeping our grocery bill super low. You can actually meal plan with websites. Plan to Eat is one website in which you can simplify your meal plan and even create a shopping list. It makes everything super simple! There are literally dozens of meal planning websites out there.

Keep Your Budgets in Check:

I have noticed that it’s easier to only spend $200 a month on groceries when I keep everything else in check. I usually take those $200 and I put it in an envelope. It’s easier to keep myself in check with the amount of money I have to spend. Also, I try to stay on budget with everything else because in return it helps me to stay on budget with my grocery bill.

Avoid the Fluff:

When it comes down to it, a human really needs meat, veggies, fruit, and a few carbs. The extras that everyone eats on a daily basis is not necessary. If you can buy your meat in bulk and buy the veggies and fruits at a discount, think ALDI, then you can really make this $200 grocery bill for 6 people realistic. You basically have to cut out snacking and extra portions, but it is possible.

Make it Yourself:

I have also discovered simple things like growing my own garden and even making things from scratch can be a lot cheaper than buying. If you’re trying to feed a lot of people at one time, this is your best route.

Dive into Couponing:

Whether you are a beginner or a pro, couponing is the easiest way to save money. Coupon stacking is when you can use two or more coupons together to save more, meaning, you can use in-store coupons along with your manufacturer coupons on a single item. Most coupons you find will be manufacturer coupons, which can mostly be found in your Sunday paper. Store or Retailer coupons are issued by the store themselves, which can be found in weekly ads or even on racks directly. Another option is printing coupons from the store’s online website.

Take Advantage of BOGO:

When stores are offering a buy one get one free sale this is the best time to stock up your pantry on a cheap price! Many stores allow you to use manufacturing coupons with the BOGO sale as long as you satisfy the required purchase with the coupon to include the size needed to purchase.

Comparing Prices:

Comparing prices can be tricky at times. Always look for the unit pricing, which are located on the stickers right below the item, to make sure that you’re getting the best value for your money and for every dollar spend. One thing that can always throw you off is different sizes. It’s like comparing apples to apples. It may be cheaper but you can get more from it by just paying a few dollars more.

Buy off Brand:

Buying off brand or generic items are generally half the price of namebrand. Yes, in some cases name brand items are better than generic. But you have to decide if quality is worth the extra cost.Sometimes it makes sense, other times it doesn’t.  It’s all on a matter of opinion.

Picking the right time to shop:

Shopping on the weekends is when you generally get the better deals and pricing. Many stores offer most of their sales during this time. Weekends are also the busiest times to shop. So know your prices and learn how to spot a great deal on everyday items that you may not need now but will indeed need later and stock up while the pricing is good.

Stick to the List:

As hard as it is stick to your list, try to refrain from impulse buying. Never go on an empty stomach, bring a snack with you or mints to tide you over until you are back home. Going alone is another key factor to guarantee you will have no “extra” items pop up in your shopping cart.

Price Match:

Shop at places that do price matching in order to make your shopping trip to the grocery store a one stop trip. Walmart is the number store who does price matching. Always bring the ad you’re wanting to match to make sure things go more smooth for the check out.

Rain Checks:

If you go to a store intending to buy a specific item on sale and find out they are out of stock do not get discouraged or give up. Ask for a rain check on the item so you can still pay the sale price when they come back in stock. Rain checks are a great way to take advantage of deals at a later date.

Being prepared before heading to the store is the best way to stick to your money budget. Take advice from others on their grocery shop!

**Be sure to join our HOT Black Friday and Holiday Shopping Savings Group so you won’t miss any of the awesome deals we find throughout the year to help you get what you need for less!**