COME ON!!
That is all I seem to think to myself at the check out line in every store I visit. I don’t care how many coupons I clipped and carefully calculated my cart – the total always trumps me. Every freaking time.
Not only is it getting old, it is extremely frustrating.
We eat healthy 80% of the time. So shopping for produce is a must –
20% of the time we may order in or swing through a drive thru.
The boys eat as if they were training to for a fitness competition. The shelves are emptied just as quickly as they were stocked. Just when I think I bought enough to last a week, I’m back at the store 4 days later.
This has to stop and I do not know how.
We need food. We need toiletries.
And we are not fancy. I mean, toothpaste, mouthwash, body soap, razors, tampons, clorox wipes, baby wipes etc. Our list does not consist of fancy face creams or makeup. You won’t find high end toiletries in our closet. So how the heck does my cart add up so fast and the money just seem to pour out of our pockets??
In 2015 something has to change. It is not easy to cut back when you feel like you cut back already. I often think, what could I do without? When my cart is full of everything we need.
We cannot be the only family who struggles with this? Anyone else have trouble sticking to a budget + still getting everything they need?
On average – between groceries, toiletries and grabbing a treat here and there I probably spend $600-$700 a month. As I am typing this Brody has his 3rd snow day in a row – they are dumping pounds of legos on the floors upstairs and as I am bummed about this ever-growing lack of budget I am overwhelmed with going in circles with kiddos they have their off days of not listening.
It is so easy to get discouraged on days like these. Went into target for dish soap, tampons, clorox wipes, waffles etc and walked out with a $106 tab. Kids are in sheer destroy mode, getting a little stir crazy from days in with the cold crummy weather.
Days like these where I am constantly racking my brain how I can do things better?
Make money for my family. Stay on top of this big house and the mess that comes along with it. It is only 11:30 and I just want today to be over with.
I know, geez Abby, you grumpy brat today.
But, some days, motherhood is tough. Parenting isn’t easy. And life is just messy.
So, I want to know your tips to make it a bit easier.
Am I out of line with our budget? What do you moms spend grocery shopping a month? Including the extras like toilet paper and paper towels. Keep in mind we are a house that has to do different milks for our allergy Owen so we do buy double of some items too.
Where do you tackle your shopping? Any tips to penny pinch?
Thanks in advance – I want to be able to get our spending down quite a bit …. just feel like I already cut back, so not sure how to cut back any more.
Here’s to hoping this Monday turns around – that I win the lottery – and my kids decide to clean up their messes.
Goodluck with that, right?
Amen sister! Even with one less child who still isn’t into solids, we spend about the same… and I walk out of the store scratching my head as well…like how did that happen!? We definitely need to do a better job of clipping coupons, but I’ve found the online apps to be helpful. We shop at Kroger for the most part, so before I go, I try to grab any coupons that might apply to what we’re buying. Sometimes time gets away from me and I don’t end up being able to, but we do our best! Amazon.com is a good way to get the necessities delivered at a regular pattern (toilet paper, paper towels, toothpaste, etc). I have a lot of co-workers that say it’s as affordable or cheaper than going to the store and saves time by not having to leave the house!
I’ll be working on trying to improve on the same things! Good luck Abs!
Love those tips Lauren! I will definitely look into ordering a few things from Amazon – since we are Amazon obsessed! Yes – it truly never fails how quickly things add up! I swear each item in the cart is at least $5 – so I round up that way! Eek!
Xoxo Abby
“You’ll know the strength of a woman by what it takes to make her quit” Literally that was the message yesterday at church. NEVER GIVE UP!! You are doing amazing and are a GREAT mom so keep going!!!
Also, do you have a target credit card? I think you get 5% off every time you use it or something like that. Also, there is an app called “Cartwheel” that gives different offers off various items at target each week. Some are good for longer than the week too. You can get anywhere from 5% – 50% off random items…and they usually have a lot of food and toiletry items on there as well.
I know you guys need certain items that maybe target only sells but Aldi’s is very cheap and good quality. I used to shop there all the time and it saved us a bunch!
Always remember you are AWESOME and doing GREAT!! Keep blogging pretty!
P.S. Look up the song “Things I would say” by Sidewalk Prophets…its another one of my favs! 🙂
Love that qoute Terri! I think Dan just wants me to quit shopping 🙂 I use the target red card + cartwheel and it helps a ton! Maybe our spending it average and it just seems like a lot to us as the kids get older? It just seems like our entire bank account reads target … heinens…target…heinens! It is nuts! I will look it up! Always looking for some good tunes!
Xoxo Abby
Girl, you need to get the Chase bank Freedom Card. I was not a fan of credit cards by any means until I got this one, and I only have this one. What I do is charge everything I buy on it, then I turn around and pay off the balance from my checking account ( which I may mention that I do not pull money from in the meantime ) at the end of the month. Today after only 14 months with this card, I was able to get $791.64 cash back! It can go directly into your checking account or you can use it for gift cards. It is absolutely well worth it and it doesn’t cost anything. It’s your money coming back to you!
WOW!! Totally looking into it!! Thanks so much lauren!