Lower your grocery bill before even setting a foot in the store
Before going shopping a quick look at what is already in pantry, fridge, and freezer can provide inspiration for next week’s meal ideas. Make a list of items you are still missing, and stick to the list when you are in the store!
Without some kind of a meal plan, grocery shopping can turn into a game of chance. A shopping list prevents accidentally buying ingredients already on hand. Having a few specific meals in mind makes it less tempting to buy random items ‘just in case’.
‘Shopping the kitchen first’ and buying mainly items to be used in the short term lowers the next grocery bill. It also decreases the inventory in pantry, fridge, and freezer and reduces the chance that items go bad or expire, which would be a waste of money.
Meal plans don’t need to go into great detail. Having the ingredients for a few favorites on hand can already be a great help. If a lot of those ingredients have a long shelf life, even better! Then it’s easy to switch things around as the week unfolds.
The plan does not need to be perfect. A rough one is much better than none. Even planning just a few dinners will make a difference.
