Search Results for: budget

5 Steps I’m Taking to Lower My Grocery Budget in 2024

January 15, 2024 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

Grocery prices soared last year, and my budget took a hit. However, I paid more for groceries not just because of inflation but also because I got lax with my spending. When I added up how much our family of four spent on groceries in 2023, I was shocked. My laziness and lack of awareness had cost our family thousands of extra dollars! I decided to lower my grocery budget by 20 percent this year. Here are the steps I’m taking to do that:

5 Steps I’m Taking to Lower My Grocery Budget in 2024

Meal Prep

I used to meal prep, but in the last few years, I thought I was too busy to do it. Wow, was that a mistake! Starting on January 1, 2024, I began meal prepping again. This time, I invested in cute lunch containers. On Sundays, I make three meals that serve 4 to 6 people. I separate those meals into the containers, and for the next five days, my daughters and I reheat the meals when we’re ready to eat.

By meal prepping, I only have to buy ingredients for three meals, so we’re buying less. Plus, we only eat the same meal twice a week, so the food doesn’t get boring.

Shopping Different Stores

We have food intolerances and can’t eat gluten or dairy, so I shop weekly at Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods for groceries. This year, I’m going to those stores once a month to buy the foods I can’t find anywhere else. The rest of the time, I shop at Walmart or Aldi for our produce.

Joining a CSA

I spent $750 this month to join a CSA. Beginning in early summer and running through 20 weeks, I will get my vegetables from the CSA each week. Most CSAs give you a certain amount of produce and choose what you get. However, this CSA lets you pick which veggies you want, and you can take as much as you and your family can use in a week, so I won’t have to supplement.

Expanding Our Garden

Last year, we had a small garden that gave us fresh lettuce, tomatoes, and beets. This year, we plan to expand it to store some for the winter to reduce our produce costs when the CSA ends.

Ordering ½ Side of Beef

Finally, we ordered a half side of beef at a discount. We will get the meat sent to us every three months, so we don’t need to have room to store the entire ½ side. Instead, we get a quarter of it every three months. This will be our primary meat supply, but we’ll still buy chicken and fish.

Final Thoughts

I’m hoping these steps will help to lower my grocery bill significantly. I plan to keep you updated as the months go on. If I’m successful, our family could save hundreds of dollars to allocate to other needs, such as our college fund for our children.

The Benefits of Buying Only Necessary Groceries Each Week

3 Benefits of Budgeting One Month Ahead

July 10, 2023 By MelissaB Leave a Comment

For years, I’ve tried to get one month ahead of my budget. This is based on the You Need a Budget rule number four: age your money. The idea is that you spend the money you earned last month this month. Finally, this past January, my husband and I were able to do this, and in the last few months, we’ve realized several benefits of budgeting one month ahead.

However, I want to recognize that putting together enough money to budget one month ahead is tough! We needed years to do this because our money was always so tight. However, we feel relieved now that we’ve finally reached this step.

3 Benefits of Budgeting One Month Ahead

Here are three times budgeting one month ahead protects your finances:

When Pay Day Falls Later in the Month

My husband is the primary breadwinner; his check comes every other week. That means that some months, his check will come at the end of the month, which makes paying bills at the beginning of the following month easy. However, sometimes, his check won’t come until the 8^th or 9^th of the month. If we’re not ahead in our budget, we’re short money to pay bills at the beginning of the month.

However, budgeting one month in advance took care of this problem. Now, I can pay our bills on time, in full, because when we start the month of July, for instance, all the money I need is in the budget. After all, I used June’s paychecks to fund July. This is freeing!

When Paychecks Are Delayed

I work as a freelancer and make about 20 percent of our household income. However, my money is allocated to pay for groceries and a few other budget categories. Recently, not one but two of my employers were delayed in paying me. Had we not been one month ahead in the budget, we would have had to shuffle some money around to have money for groceries.

However, I didn’t have to worry because I had budgeted ahead. I got both paychecks about two weeks late, but it wasn’t a big deal. I simply took the money when I received it and budgeted it for the upcoming month.

Defacto Emergency Fund

When you budget one month ahead, that money counts as part of your emergency fund. If anything happens, such as job loss, a reduction in hours, or, as in my case, delayed payments, you have next month covered so you have a financial cushion.

In addition, if you’re tempted by money sitting in an emergency fund, budgeting it one month ahead tends to reduce the temptation because you’ve already allocated how the money can be used next month.

Final Thoughts

We’ve realized several benefits of budgeting one month ahead in the few months since we’ve been able to do it. Who knows? Now we may try to work our way up to budgeting two months ahead. Then, we’ll be one step closer to a six-month emergency fund.

Why You Need a Budget If You’re Broke

Yes, Incremental Budgeting Is A Thing

Small Business Marketing Magic: Creative Strategies on a Budget

June 5, 2023 By Susan Paige Leave a Comment

In today’s competitive business landscape, effective marketing is essential for the success and growth of small businesses. However, limited budgets can pose a challenge. The good news is that with some creativity and strategic thinking, spinning vegas businesses can still achieve remarkable marketing results without breaking the bank. This article delves into innovative strategies that small businesses can leverage to optimize their marketing initiatives, even with limited financial resources.

Define Your Target Audience and Brand Identity

To make the most of your marketing budget, it’s crucial to have a clear understanding of your target audience and establish a strong brand identity. This will enable you to tailor your marketing messages and initiatives to resonate with your ideal customers. Consider the following steps:

Conduct Market Research

Gain insights into the demographics, interests, and challenges of your target audience. Utilizing this information will serve as a compass to direct your marketing strategies effectively.

Craft a Compelling Brand Identity

Develop a unique brand identity that reflects your business values, personality, and what sets you apart from competitors. This will help you build brand loyalty and attract the right customers.

Leverage the Power of Content Marketing

Content marketing is a cost-effective strategy that can generate long-term results and establish your business as an authority in your industry. Consider the following approaches:

Start a Blog

Create a blog on your website and regularly publish high-quality, informative, and engaging content related to your industry. This will attract organic traffic and build credibility.

Guest Blogging

Write guest posts for industry-relevant websites or collaborate with complementary best casino games online businesses to expand your reach and gain exposure to new audiences.

Create Visual Content

Utilize visual content such as infographics, videos, and images to make your content more shareable and appealing to your target audience.

Harness the Power of Social Media

Social media platforms offer a cost-effective way to engage with your audience, increase brand visibility, and drive traffic to your website. Consider the following strategies:

Choose the Right Platforms

Determine the social media platforms where your target audience is highly engaged and concentrate your efforts on those specific platforms. It is more effective to establish a robust presence on one or two platforms than to spread yourself thin across multiple platforms with limited impact.

Create Engaging Content

Develop compelling and shareable social media content, including images, videos, and engaging captions. Encourage audience interaction and respond to comments and messages promptly.

Utilize Influencer Marketing

Engage with social media influencers or micro-influencers who share your brand values and have a substantial following. By collaborating with them, you can expand your business reach as their endorsement introduces your brand to a wider audience.

Conclusion

Marketing on a limited budget doesn’t mean sacrificing the effectiveness of your efforts. By implementing these creative strategies, small businesses can maximize their marketing impact and reach their target audience without breaking the bank.