Cut Your Grocery Bill Challenge (week 5)

We’re kicking off the year with an 8-week Cut Your Grocery Bill Challenge. I’ll be sharing a weekly post here every Thursday with a task or challenge for you to complete/focus on to help you tweak, improve, or overhaul your grocery budget.

My hope is that we can all work together to crowd-source new ideas and fresh inspiration to be more thoughtful and intentional in our grocery budgets + hopefully save some money and instill some practices and principles and habits that will continue to save us money throughout the rest of the year.

It’s February and that means we’re starting week 5 of the Cut Your Grocery Bill Challenge. How is it going for you? Here’s what we’ve covered in this challenge so far…

In week #1, we talked about setting up a grocery budget. That’s the most important first step in cutting your grocery bill.

In week #2, we discussed why you need to recognize potential roadblocks. Be sure to read through the comments here to hear about others’ roadblocks. I think it will encourage you to know you’re not alone.

In week #3, I challenged you to commit to change one thing for three weeks. You can see the comments on the post for ideas of what others picked.

Last week, I encouraged you to check in on your progress to see how you are doing, what you are learning, what’s working, and what’s not working.

Week #5: Evaluate Your Options

It can be easy to look around (and online!) and see deals that other people are getting at their stores and feel like you are really missing out. This week, instead of looking at what other people might have as options, I want you to really consider what your options are.

Make a list of the stores in your area that sell grocery items — and I’m not just talking about grocery stores. Of course, start with grocery stores, but then think of stores like Walmart and Target. What about Sam’s Club and Costco? Drug stores? Are there any discount grocery stores or dollar stores? Does your area have any ethnic markets or farmer’s markets? What about local food co-ops or farms that sell to the public?

Search online for discount groceries near you. Think outside the box. And then start visiting each of these places you listed over the course of the next month to see what kinds of deals they offer. Who knows? You might end up stumbling upon a goldmine of deals.

And if not, you can be encouraged that you’ve left no stone unturned in your quest to be intentional with your finances!

I stocked up on meat, dishwashing tabs, and tortillas this week! I was excited about the chicken breasts for $1.99/lb. (Kroger weekly digital deal) and the apples for $0.99/lb (Kroger weekly digital deal).

We’re planning spaghetti, southwest rollups, Chicken Satay over rice, meatballs and twice-baked potatoes, lasagna, leftovers/fend for yourself, and takeout for dinners this week.

All totaled, I spent $106 for the groceries shown above. We also bought two dozen eggs this past week from some friends who have chickens (they sell them for $5/dozen). So I spent $116 total on groceries. Since I’d been under budget the past few weeks, I used the surplus to cover the $16 over our $100 weekly grocery budget.

Week #5 Project: Evaluate Your Options

Are joining us for the Cut Your Grocery Bill Challenge? If so, I’d love for you to leave a comment and let me the list that you came up with of places you could buy groceries in your area and which ones you feel are the best and why. Your list might give others some ideas and inspiration of creative places to look for deals on food and other groceries.

Need some practical ideas for ways to cut your grocery bill? Be sure to sign up for my free cheatsheet with 10 Ways to Cut Your Grocery Bill by $50 This Week!