Now that I am all about using cash. I set a monthly grocery budget of $520 for a family of 3. Food money will include all grocery trips and eating out. Now with 11 days left in July and I have only about $105 to spend. Suddenly, I know that I can only get the essentials - fresh produce. No more snacks aka junk food. Look through the pantry and find a recipe to work with what I have. Not only I am saving money, I am also losing weight!
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very good idea. Too easy to go over your budget with debit cards and checks.
BETH_STIKA7/21/2011 10:18:00 PM
I have a monthly food budget of $200 a month because I get food assistance from the state (been unemployed since Aug 2008). It's very difficult to feed two people on that...especially since one of them is a 16 year old young man! We end up using the food pantries in town toward the end of the month, but GOD is GOOD! He provides...
Related Secrets
budget budget budget
For my family, I make out a monthly budget of all monthly bills (such as mtg, groceries, credit card, utilities, etc). Start by making a monthly template and each month it is easy to stick to what needs to be paid (mtg, child care, car pymts, food, etc) I have found by doing this I have paid down or paid off bills quicker and still have money left over at the end of the week and month. Also make sure you list money placed in savings as a monthly "expense" so you build up your fund.
Put only your budgeted amount of CASH money for things such as eating out or seeing movies in an envelope. Make an envelop for each category such as groceries, gas, etc. When the cash is gone, you are done. Paying with cash shifts our emotions and makes it harder to over spend.
MORE INFORMATION:
envelop idea from Dave Ramsey Financial peace University
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