Just a couple more posts on this series on saving money at the store! Have you learned anything new? I hope so! See previous posts:
- Plan a menu
- Make it a smart menu
- Buy to your needs
- Price match
- Build a stockpile
- Coupons
- Make from scratch
![BuildingBlocks](https://momsavesmoney.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/BuildingBlocks-300x300.png)
Building Block 8: Know When To Bend The Rules
Once you’ve been at this whole saving-money-on-groceries gig for a while, you’ll start to know when you can bend the rules.
You’ll learn what a good price is for the things you use often. You’ll learn that your best price for spaghetti sauce is $.70/jar, but when it’s $.85/jar, you’ll buy a decent amount to tide you over until the next sale.
You’ll learn that no matter how cheap it is, your family will refuse to eat corn 5 nights in a row.
You’ll learn that 20 jars of peanut butter is too much.
You’ll learn that you just don’t like chicken that much.
You’ll learn that when you see meat marked down because it’s close to its “Sell By” date, you can buy some and freeze it.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, what I spend on groceries shouldn’t matter to you. My family might be half the size of yours. Or twice the size. My family doesn’t have any allergies. Yours might. My family’s income might be half what yours is. Or it might be twice what yours is. My family might plan on eating at home for every meal when your family wants to out twice a week. My family buys diapers for two and formula for one. You might be into all organic foods.
Don’t let someone tell you what you have to spend on groceries. Don’t let someone tell you what you can spend on groceries. No one should compare my grocery budget to Bill Gates’ budget. We have different needs. If you can meet your budget without using coupons, awesome! If you can meet your budget without price matching, awesome! If you can meet your budget without stockpiling, awesome!
To Thine Own Budget Be True!
Where have you learned to bend the rules?
Jayme is a wife to 1 and, so far, a mother to two little boys. She coupons, but isn’t super extreme about it. She price matches and loves it! While she likes to cook, she’s in the stage of life where simple is usually better! She never knows how many hands she’ll have free at dinner time! You can find her at No Regrets Living.