I believe stretching your budget means working with what you have. Besides using coupons–there are ways to make what you have work! Join me for 30 days of stretching your budget–this series is not just about couponing, but using what you have and making it work!
I can’t say I have ever enjoyed budgeting. I am not a numbers person, I just need a number and I usually make it work. If you have not made a budget for yourself, I suggest you do. Budgets help you limit your spending and keep you in track with your long term goals. They also keep you from living paycheck-paycheck.
Creating a Budget requires three steps:
- Identify how you’re spending money now.
- Evaluate your current spending and set goals that take into account your long-term financial objectives.
- Track your spending to make sure it stays within those guidelines.
Need help with a Grocery Budget?
I get this question often: How do I know how much I should spend on groceries? There is no real rule to this. When my husband and I sat down to make a budget for our groceries–we had a number that we could work with and stuck with that. This number stayed for awhile because we found that coupons and cutting down helped us keep it. Until recently (almost two years later) we are now finding that we need to increase it.
Our family of five spends $300 per month on groceries. This is 50% lower than what the USDA feels a family of 5 would need to live off of the “thrifty plan”. Many people have a misconception when it comes to food. They feel that they need to eat, so they just accept that what they pay at the store is what the NEED to do. This is not the case.. I suggest you challenge yourself and find a number you are comfortable with–and set a limit.
My Name is Josie and I live in sunny Southern California and I am a stay at home mom to three beautiful boys. We all know that living in California is a task of it's own and saving in California IS possible! I started this blog mainly to share all the awesome deals out there and show others how to save in any area of life. Even though you may make the commitment to be frugal and pinch your pennies doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice!
I look forward to seeing more posts about this!! I really need to stretch things further!!
This is why I love you Josie!!! I can’t wait to see more posts, especially with the Holiday season around the corner. I’ve had to budget out of necessity and so, far you have helped me cut my grocery budget and I have nice stockpile for rainy days.
The PDF was very interesting and eye opening. For us (two men), we spend about $60-$65 a week, so I guess we are doing very well. A stockpile helps immensely (I now have 18 boxes of cereal, none of which did I pay more than 99 cents).
As you know, the secret is to stock up when it’s a low price (for example meat) and then don’t buy for weeks. I still have one corned beef left from the St Patricks Day sales at 99 cents a pound.
Finally, thanks for all the Vons tips this week. I *rocked* the Catalinas and coupons. 72 percent off on 50 items for a grand total of $44.10 (and got another $2 off Catalina on the Del Monte veggies)
Harry
Thank you for your contribution Harry!
I love this site it has helped me sooooo much. I work for a school and i do not work summer. I started couponing in March 2012. I set a goal to stock up as much as i can from March to May. I was amazed at the amount i was able to stock up in a couple of months. I actually went the whole summer without buying any toiletries (shampoo, toothpaste deodorant bodywash, razors, toilet paper, etc.) , cereal, butter and detergent. for the first time in a long time, i was able to breath knowing that my family of five had the necessaties. I just returned back to work and ready to start my stockpile again this time i have 10 months to work with. Thanks Josie, and everyone who adds info to this site, all of you have helped my family in ways that you wouldnt even know. Its amazing how a couple of coupons .25, .50. $1- can add up and knowing when to use them, can save you hundreds in the long run.
I think planning a menu and sticking to it really helps also. We are also a family of give with an infant. We have a bigger of $250 a month. Works pretty good.
Looking forward to this! maybe do a post about the clearance section (when do they mark down, best time to go, etc)? Also heard about an app called shopkick that gives out gift cards for going into certain stores?
Wow I never knew about the USDA site considering I am feeding a family of 6 on 400.00 a month that is really good. I was trying to get it down more I think now I am holding steady at 300.00 or less.
WOW!! can’t wait I can use a “BUDGET” and need to!!
looking forward to your series. I’m always trying to learn new ways to stretch my dollar!!! Trying very hard to get out of debt. I love your site Josie – I learned how to stockplie and how to “stack” my coupons. Thank you
That PDF was definitely interesting since I fell way below the monthly cost for a family of 2! It made me start my morning with a smile. I avidly check your site and just wanted to thank you for all that you do. Fresh out of graduate school and finally living out on my own was possible from all the savings opportunities you post and how you explain and teach the “art” of couponing! … My boyfriend and I never go without
Thank you sooooo much!
I wish it came with a shopping list of things they bought in California. With balanced meals at those prices and they aren’t saying they used coupons. I spend 600 on 4 using coupons in lb ca. I also work full time so I don’t coupon as much as I would like but still they should have higher number for so cal. U rock Josie I use your site everyday!