by Tyson Elder, Saanich Peninsula Lions Food Bank –
For some, the idea of a “food budget” seems like a daunting task, but it can be the secret to success when saving for a vacation, a major household purchase or even alleviating debt. Here are a few tips to help you tackle your monthly food budget and maximize your success rate.
Track Your Spending. Before you know what your monthly food budget will be, you need to track all of your food purchases. It’s not just your trips to the grocery store that make up your food budget: grabbing a snack at the gas station, going out for dinner or drinks, and going for a coffee with friends should all be included in the tally.
Keep your receipts after every trip to the store and track how much you are spending. There are lots of great apps for your mobile devices that not only make it simple to track your spending, but make it fun by “game-ifying” your budget.
Prioritize Your Spending. Do you love fresh fruit and vegetables? That might mean you have to cut back on some of the more fringe items on your grocery list. Keep snack food purchases to a minimum; they are a fast way to raise the bill on grocery spending. Instead opt for bulk trail mix, nuts, homemade cookies and popping your own popcorn. Alternatives like getting your produce at roadside stands and farm markets or even growing your own is also a great way to offset costs.
Avoid Dining Out. If there is one way to destroy everything you’ve been working towards with your food budget, it’s dining out. Make it a personal policy to not eat out due to laziness. Make double batches and freeze them. Have a quick meal accessible at home. Save restaurants for special occasions and treat yourself.
Shop For Sales. Take advantage of sales to stock up your pantry, but don’t hoard. Buy things that you know you will use frequently. Otherwise they go bad in the cupboard, and you’ll be wondering if you can donate things to the food bank past their best before date.
Consider the supermarket you shop at wisely. We’d all love to shop exclusively at the high-end stores, but they don’t always offer the best bang for your buck. Comparison shop for the things that you buy most from multiple grocery stores to find the best deals.
Plan Ahead. They say “variety is the spice of life,” so make sure to mix it up. Find new and exciting recipes to try. Curries and stews go a long way and make great leftovers.
