As Americans, many of our big expenditures are set. Most of us have established monthly payments on our cars, our houses, and in many cases, our utility bills. The grocery bill is one of the few big bills we have that is flexible. It goes up and down, often just depending on our mood. If we are in the mood for steak, we usually have a higher bill than if we are satisfied with hotdogs. With a little work and planning, we can reduce the grocery bill, make it a more stable item in our budget, reduce our waste, and improve the quality of the food we are eating.

Step 1: Identify Your Spending Habits

For the first month, buy like you typically buy groceries. Just keep the receipts. At the end of the month total up the receipts to see how much you spent. ( Make sure you include all those little stops to convenience stores for milk, bread, and diapers.)

Step 2: Keep A Shopping Journal

Now, you are ready to begin a shopping journal. It doesn’t have to be fancy. You can do it on the computer or in a spiral bound notebook; it really doesn’t matter. The first thing you want to include in your journal is the name of the first month you began, the amount of money you spent, and the basic items you bought. For example, if you bought toilet paper and paper towels and you think you will do that about every month, write it down. If you bought 4 cases of soft drinks and think that is typical for your household, write that down. Also, make note of what gets thrown away. Did a package of hamburger go bad in the back of the fridge. Did the beans rot ? Was half of the tuna casserole thrown away?

Step 3: Get Prepared to Shop for the Month

Monthly grocery shopping makes sense for several reasons.

1. It takes less time.
2. It takes less gas. (You will be going to more stores, but only one time a month and you won’t have to spend money running to the convenience store or grocery store for added ingredients.)
3. It allows you to buy in volume.
4. You no longer have to worry about what is for dinner or am I going to have enough money to feed my family until the end of the month
5. It decreases waste. You know what you have and when you will use it.

Step 4: Make a Monthly Menu

Get the entire family to sit down at the table and come up with ideas for meals. Also, explain that they can have a choice of snacks for the month, but they have to put in their request, now. (For example, you may want to tell the children they have 1 snack choice for each week.)

Step 5: Make a Computerized List

The first list will take a few minutes to generate, but you can save that list and add and subtract to it easily each month. Make sure your list comes directly from your menu for the month and the snack list your family gave you.

Step 6: Cut Coupons

Now and only now, cut coupons. The reason you wait to cut the coupons is to avoid getting sidetracked and buying things you really don’t need or want. If you find a coupon of a new product that you are just dying to try, substitute this new product for an old product that was on your list. Don’t add to the list.

Step 7: Grocery Clubs

If you are a member of a grocery club, now is the time to go. Before you leave the house, eat a filling meal. Save the salad for days you don’t grocery shop. If you go to the grocery store hungry, you are likely to spend much more. Also, if you think you will give into your kids' demands, leave them at home, or explain to them that any wishes they have will be put on the list for next month's possibliliteis. You can often get considerable savings at these clubs by buying in bulk. Since you are buying for the month, you will actually need to buy in bulk. However, stick to your list. If you can’t find an item, skip it. As you find your items, mark them off your list. Again, don’t add items. If there is something you are dying to have, make a note in your journal to include it in next month’s purchases. Also, you may want to wait to buy chemicals, veggies, and bread until later. You often can get better bargains at other places on this list.

Step 8: Dollar Stores

Now, look at your list. If you have any snacks, canned goods, chemicals, or drinks left on the list, go to your local dollar store. There are some dollar stores where everything is actually a dollar; these are the best. Chemicals for your home are especially good buys at the dollar store. You can buy many name brand chemicals for a dollar--at least half what you will pay in a grocery store. Snacks also can be a real bargain. Chips are usually about .20 cents cheaper and cookies can be as much as half off. Think about off brand soft drinks. The taste has really improved and they are only $1.00 per 12 pack! Even if you mix them with name brands, they will make the soft drinks go much farther on hot summer days.

Step 9: Farmer’s Market

If you have a local farmer’s market, take advantage of it, especially during the summer and early fall months. Before you get out of the car, put $20 in your pocket. You will come back with tomatoes, peas, beans, squash, and watermelon. You may even have a couple of pennies left over. Most of the produce is very fresh and delicious. During the summer months, visit the farmer’s market once a week for your veggies and fruit.

Step 10: Day Old Bread Store

Now, is the time to go to the day old bread store. Even most small towns have these. You can get bread for sometimes less than half of what you will pay in the store. True, the bread may not be as fresh, but I doubt you or anyone in your family will notice. Along with bread, they also have chips and sweets. Compare these prices with the dollar store and grocery club to see which has the best prices.

Step 11: Regular Grocery Store

Finally, it is time to go the regular grocery store. If you don’t have one you prefer, check the ads and look for the one that offers double coupons or has fantastic bargains for the week. Go with your list and coupons in hand. For the last time, don’t vary from your list.

As you go from store to store, remember your list and to keep your receipts. When you total up the receipts for the month, your grocery bill should be lower. You may notice that you are having more fun shopping. Not only is it fun to find great bargains, but the variety offered in the different types of stores makes shopping more fun. The waste should also be considerbly less since every meal and snack is planned. Now, before you go shopping for the next month, try to eat any leftover meals--those meals you planned, but for some reason never got to eat. Again, you will be avoiding waste and be making way for fresh foods.