Okay, can we talk about grocery shopping lately? Because wow. I do most of my grocery shopping online now, and even though I don't pay delivery fees, watching my cart total climb higher and higher each week is painful. What used to be a reasonable grocery haul now costs significantly more for the exact same items.
It's everywhere too, not just food. I had to seriously scale back on back-to-school clothes shopping this year because of rising costs. And don't even get me started on stores that used to be "cheap." Five Below's average item is now around $7, Dollar Tree is charging $1.25-$5 for things, and Target? Well, after stepping away during the boycott, coming back to their current prices feels absolutely unbearable. I used to love wandering around Target and finding little extras to throw in my cart, now I can barely justify the basics there. Add in the holidays sneaking up on us, and suddenly my budget feels like it's being attacked from all sides.
Here's the thing though: I can't do anything about inflation or whatever's happening with supply chains or any of that big economic stuff. But I can absolutely control how I handle my money. And honestly? Once I figured that out, budgeting stopped feeling like punishment and started feeling like I was finally getting my act together.
Stop Walking Into Stores Like a Lost Tourist
You know what I used to do? I'd browse online or walk into stores like Target for "just one thing" and somehow leave with $150 worth of stuff I didn't even know I needed. Sound familiar?
The cure is stupidly simple: make a plan before you go anywhere near a store. I started meal planning on Sundays, nothing fancy, just looking at what's already in my fridge and pantry and figuring out what actual meals I can make. Then I write down exactly what I need to buy. That's it.
This one change cut my grocery bill by probably 30%. No joke. Plus I stopped throwing away that bag of spinach I bought with good intentions but never used.
And look, with everything happening in the world, people going hungry in Gaza, food insecurity right here in our own communities, wasting food just hits different now. Being intentional about what we buy isn't just smart money-wise, it's the right thing to do.
Try this: Have a "Money Date" with your partner or family once a week. Sounds dorky, I know, but hear me out. Sit down together, look at your spending from the week, plan next week's meals, talk through any big expenses coming up. Make it a thing, maybe with coffee or wine. It keeps everyone on the same page and makes money conversations way less stressful.
Small Changes That Actually Work
Plan first, shop second. I spend 20 minutes on Sunday looking through my pantry and fridge, then Pinterest for recipe ideas. Game changer.
Store brands are your friend. I was being weird about buying generic pasta sauce for years. Turns out it tastes exactly the same and costs half as much. Who knew?
Use your phone. Every store has an app with coupons now. And those cashback apps? They're annoying to remember but they work.
Never shop when you're hungry. This is basic but I still mess it up sometimes and end up with $20 worth of random snacks.
Freeze everything. That bunch of cilantro you used two sprigs from? Freeze the rest. Leftover rice? Freeze it. Future-you will thank present-you.
Clean out your fridge regularly. I do this every Sunday and it's amazing how much food I find that I forgot about. Sometimes my whole meal plan comes from just using up what's about to go bad.
Shop your own closet first. Before buying anything new, I go through what I already have. Sometimes I find stuff I forgot I owned, and it feels like free shopping.
Holiday Survival Guide
The holidays are coming whether we're ready or not, so let's not pretend we can wing it and stay on budget.
Set your numbers now. Figure out what you can actually afford for gifts, travel, food, all of it. Write it down. When you're tempted to overspend, look at those numbers.
Make your gift list early. Like, now. It keeps you focused and less likely to panic-buy expensive stuff at the last minute.
Hunt for sales all year. I keep a note in my phone of gift ideas, and when I see something on sale, I grab it. By December, I'm mostly done shopping.
Handmade isn't cheap, it's thoughtful. Some of my favorite gifts have been photo books, homemade cookies, or even just planning a fun family activity. People remember experiences way more than expensive things anyway.
Save a little each week starting now. Even $20 a week between now and the holidays adds up to real money.
Consider a gift exchange. Instead of buying for everyone, do a family gift exchange where everyone gets one nice present instead of a bunch of little ones.
The Bottom Line
I can't control what things cost at the store. I can't fix inflation or supply chain issues or any of that macro-economic stuff that's making everything expensive.
But I can control how I respond to it. I can plan my meals, stick to my list, have those awkward but helpful money conversations with my family, and remember what actually matters during the holidays.
These aren't revolutionary ideas, they're just consistent small choices that add up over time. And honestly? It feels good to be in control of something when so much else feels chaotic.
Your future-self (and your bank account) will thank you.
Financially focused together,
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