My Grocery Adventure!

I don't know how many of you know about GroceryGame.com but it is really something when you do it right. If you decide to join it, please tell them that terri@mtckc.com is the one that referred you. Thanks!

I had to do something to cut my grocery bill but also have food at home so I would not go out to eat out of convenience. That is where so much of our money goes. But my income has gone down and we still have to get our bills paid off so we can be free to go when God calls us to go. So I decided to try the Game again. I did it several years ago but there were some key things that I didn't do right. And I think I didn't stick with it long enough to see it work properly.

She has a book out now with all sorts of little hints and suggestions. It is called Shop Smart, Save More. It is great! I am about half way through it. But I have learned some important things. Like don't meal plan and then shop. Shop and then pick from what you have on hand to meal plan. It works great! With the stockpiling method you have such a variety of things to choose from especially when you have been doing it for awhile. I am STILL looking for an upright freezer! But maybe somehow I will get one. I need it badly!

I actually come away from the stores paying nothing for some items and very little for others. I got three bottles of BBQ sauce and two bottle of salad dressing for free today! I won't open any of them until what I already have is gone. I won't have to buy it later for full price because I have it on hand in my "store" at home. It is a 12 week cycle that at the end of that 12 weeks you should have a stockpile of all major things. I can't wait to see how it is working in another 9 weeks. This is the first week that I really felt like I saved a lot and got a lot for my money. It is getting easier to look for those deals and make wise choices as I do it more.

Another thing I will be doing is No Spend Months. We will take $500 a month and put it in envelopes for each week. I will use it for gas, groceries and any other expense like that. It will not count the bills that I have to pay. We will be on a cash basis for a while, maybe permanently. We are hoping to get the bills paid off quicker and really learn how to manage our money the right way. Then maybe we will be able to teach our younger children how to do the same as they grow up. That would be an awesome thing!

So this is our adventure with grocery shopping! If you have any money saving tips, share them! I would love to hear what you do to save money!