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ENLARGE
Hatfield
Do you prepare to go to the grocery store or do you just find yourself wandering the aisles? Preparing for your trip to the grocery store is one of the best ways to shop on a budget. By checking to see if you have all your staples on hand, taking inventory of your pantry, looking over the sale items advertised and writing a list of items to purchase, you can stay on your budget. But what is your budget? Have you ever stopped to think about how much you spend on food in a month? With a few tips to think about, you will find that it is easier to stretch you food dollars.
First, let's discuss how to calculate a monthly budget. Start by going to the grocery store next week and buying only what you need to feed your family for a week. Multiply that dollar amount by four to determine your need for the month. Now that you know your monthly budget, write down all of the staples that you keep stocked at your house — flour, sugar, pasta, rice, canned items, peanut butter and spices. Then from your monthly budget you need to subtract the dollar amount that you spend on staples in a month. With the remaining monthly budget you can divide by four to find out what you should spend on perishable foods in a week. These items are ones that do not last much more than a week, such as milk, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables. Now that you know what your budget is for the week you can start planning your trip to the grocery store. Remember, you won't need to do this every month.
Now you are prepared to write a grocery list. Check your pantry for staples you will need to replenish for the week. Then check the advertisements for the different grocery stores where you shop to find items on sale. Check the advertisement also for other good offers. These discounted items would be a good start to writing your menu for the week, which is an important part of shopping on a budget. Menus help to ensure against unexpected stops, which might entice you to buy extra items, and helps keep meals balanced and healthy. A grocery list is like having a plan for the grocery store. Sticking to your plan assures no extra items will make it into your cart; therefore, you stay within your budget.
With these few tips you can go to the grocery store and feel confident you are being cost effective. At the beginning, these tips do add extra time to a grocery store trip. But you will be happy when your plan allows for healthy, good-tasting food through the whole month without breaking the bank. Even trying a few of these tips will decrease the amount of money and time you spend at the grocery store. For more budget tips: go to http://extension.oregonstate.edu/fcd/nutrition/ewfl.
Mandy Hatfield is the Nutrition Education Program instructor for OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at mandy.hatfield@oregonstate.edu or by phone at 672-4461.
First, let's discuss how to calculate a monthly budget. Start by going to the grocery store next week and buying only what you need to feed your family for a week. Multiply that dollar amount by four to determine your need for the month. Now that you know your monthly budget, write down all of the staples that you keep stocked at your house — flour, sugar, pasta, rice, canned items, peanut butter and spices. Then from your monthly budget you need to subtract the dollar amount that you spend on staples in a month. With the remaining monthly budget you can divide by four to find out what you should spend on perishable foods in a week. These items are ones that do not last much more than a week, such as milk, meat, fresh fruits and vegetables. Now that you know what your budget is for the week you can start planning your trip to the grocery store. Remember, you won't need to do this every month.
Now you are prepared to write a grocery list. Check your pantry for staples you will need to replenish for the week. Then check the advertisements for the different grocery stores where you shop to find items on sale. Check the advertisement also for other good offers. These discounted items would be a good start to writing your menu for the week, which is an important part of shopping on a budget. Menus help to ensure against unexpected stops, which might entice you to buy extra items, and helps keep meals balanced and healthy. A grocery list is like having a plan for the grocery store. Sticking to your plan assures no extra items will make it into your cart; therefore, you stay within your budget.
With these few tips you can go to the grocery store and feel confident you are being cost effective. At the beginning, these tips do add extra time to a grocery store trip. But you will be happy when your plan allows for healthy, good-tasting food through the whole month without breaking the bank. Even trying a few of these tips will decrease the amount of money and time you spend at the grocery store. For more budget tips: go to http://extension.oregonstate.edu/fcd/nutrition/ewfl.
Mandy Hatfield is the Nutrition Education Program instructor for OSU Extension Service of Douglas County. She can be reached by e-mail at mandy.hatfield@oregonstate.edu or by phone at 672-4461.
