When I first started tracking my expenses, I had no idea how much money I was wasting. Like many people, I thought budgeting meant cutting all the fun out of life. But that changed when I focused on just one thing: grocery spending.
To my surprise, the simple act of creating a grocery budget helped me save over $300 every month—and that’s money I now use for investments and emergency savings.
Here’s how I did it—and how you can do it too.
The Wake-Up Call
At the start of the year, I decided to review my monthly expenses. I logged into my bank account and added up every grocery trip and food delivery. The total? Over $900 a month on food for a family of two.
That shocked me. I wasn’t buying anything fancy, but without a plan, I was making multiple trips per week, grabbing things I didn’t need, and ordering takeout more than I realized.
Setting a Realistic Budget
I didn’t want to be extreme, so I decided to cut my grocery spending by just 30% to start. I set a goal of $600 per month and broke it down by week: around $150 per week for everything—groceries, snacks, and household items.
Having a clear, weekly target made it feel manageable.
The Strategy That Worked
Instead of guessing each week, I began:
- Meal planning on Sundays: I wrote down simple meals we liked and reused ingredients to reduce waste.
- Shopping with a list: No list = no entry into the store.
- Avoiding mid-week trips: This reduced impulsive spending.
- Switching to local markets: They were cheaper and fresher than big-name stores.
- Cutting processed snacks: Both healthier and cheaper.
Small changes like these helped me stay on track and avoid buying what we didn’t actually need.
Unexpected Wins
The savings were obvious: within the first month, we spent just $580. By month two, we hit $540. On average, we saved $300/month just by being intentional.
But more than the money, I noticed:
- Less food waste
- Healthier meals
- Less stress around last-minute shopping or takeout
Why It Worked
The secret wasn’t some magic app—it was consistency. Budgeting doesn’t mean saying “no” to everything; it means being in control of where your money goes.
In fact, the extra $300/month now goes into our emergency fund and a little bit toward index fund investing—which we covered in our post about growing your money.
Final Thoughts
If you’re looking to start budgeting but feel overwhelmed, start with just one area—like groceries. It’s often the easiest to adjust and can bring immediate results.
Track what you spend, set a weekly goal, and stick to a list. It’s simple, practical, and you might be surprised how much you can save—just like I was.