My sister said my grocery budget was 'just a list, not a plan' and it stung

She looked at my spreadsheet and pointed out I was just tracking what I spent, not setting a real limit before shopping. I started putting $150 cash in an envelope each Friday and only using that, and it actually worked. How do you guys stop yourself from going over when you see a good deal?

4 comments

4 Comments

adams.river3mo ago

Exactly. The rose is right, it's about what you use. My deal weakness was bulk meat. Would buy a huge pack because the price per pound was great. Then half would go bad in the fridge. Felt so stupid. Now if it's not on the list for a meal this week, I don't buy it. Even if it's a "good deal." Saved more money by wasting less food.

the_rose3mo ago

Only using that cash" sounds like a hassle though. Good deals are good deals, saving a few bucks is the whole point. Isn't the real problem just buying stuff you won't actually eat?

henderson.hayden3mo ago

What if the best deal is just not buying it at all?

juliaa6529d ago

Yeah, @the_rose kinda nailed it though - good deals are only good if you actually use the stuff. I feel you on the cash envelope thing, that's actually smart. The whole "just a list not a plan" comment would've stung me too but at least it got you thinking.