My friend told me my grocery list was a mess and it saved me like $40 a week

We were just hanging out and I was complaining about my food budget. I showed her my list for the week and she straight up said 'Dude, you're just writing down what you want, not what you need.' She pointed out I had three different kinds of pasta and two jars of sauce, plus random snacks. Her advice was to pick one recipe for each meal type, buy only those ingredients, and stick to it. I started planning five simple dinners, like a big pot of chili and a stir fry, and only buying stuff for those. It cut my impulse buys way down. I also switched to a cheaper store across town. Now my cart looks boring, but my wallet is happier. Anyone else have a simple rule that keeps their shopping on track?

2 comments

2 Comments

elliotadams2d ago

Ever try writing your list in the exact order of the store aisles?

the_drew2d ago

Ever try the basket trick? I only take a hand basket now, so if it doesn't fit, I don't get it. It forces me to stick to the list and skip the random junk.