How to Slash Your Summer Grocery Budget
Summer has always had a special place in my heart.
From the balmy temperatures to my flip-flopped feet, I love it all, and try to enjoy every ounce of my summer that I can before it’s gone.
Yet I’ve noticed over the years, my grocery budget tends to sky-rocket from May through August, but my need to be a frugal mom stays the same.
This year I am being proactive and taking drastic measures to guard my allotted food money during the summer months, and am implementing these painless ways to slash your summer grocery budget.
Cook lighter meals with less side dishes
In our family, cook outs usually mean more food than we can eat in a few days, let alone one meal. I’m cutting the menu to save money {and my waistline} this summer. After all, do we really need six side dishes, a main course, and dessert? Ahhh….. no.
Plan ahead for when you need to eat on the run
Those lazy, hazy days of summer often include life on the run and lots of festivities. But instead of eating out all the time, plan ahead and pack a picnic. The kids will have a blast stopping at a local park to eat and then have some after dinner fun!
Perfect a budget-friendly side dish to take to cook outs
Our friends love to host pot luck cookouts, but the extra expense on top of usual groceries can add up fast. Over the years, I’ve learned to make one or two tasty side dishes that are not only delicious, but are frugal for a crowd.
I usually steer away from the expensive sides, such as a fruit bowl or something made with meat, and have a favorite go-to-dish that won’t break the bank, especially if I have to make it many times over the course of the summer.
Add fresh ingredients to meals to bulk them up and cut down on meat costs
Another reason I love summer so much, is the abundance of fresh produce at discounted prices. It’s easy and frugal to throw together a delicious salad as a side dish or add vegetables to the main course. Plus, I love that my children are getting their veggie allotment in the process.
My friends at Grounded & Surrounded have compiled their favorite salad recipes into one delicious eBook.
You can sign up to receive their salad recipes in this post so you can enjoy them all summer long!
Keep an inventory
Confession time. Over the years, I’ve let many food items go to waste or simply unused simply because I had no idea what I had.
That stops now.
Laura Sue, from Laura Sue Shaw, has created a simple and easy way to keep inventory of your pantry and freezer. Planning meals around what you have on hand saves money and time at the store from shopping for ingredients.
The best part is, the printable is FREE, so print, it laminate it, and hang it in a place of prominence to use over and over again. Grab the printable here.
Plan at least one budget friendly meal per week
My husband is a carnivore. Seriously, he could eat large portions of meat at each meal and be in heaven. However, all that meat wrecks havoc on our budget!
At least once a week I plan a meal where the meat is either cut and mixed with another protein source, or not the star of the show.
I try to plan a meal that’s less than $2.00 a person, and while it can be a challenge, some of those meals have become favorites.
They include: breakfast for dinner, taco salad {with homemade refried beans}, sloppy joes, and southwest shredded chicken {with black beans, corn, rice, and salsa}.
Although the weather is warmer and the days are longer, doesn’t mean that your grocery budget has to suffer. Find creative ways to save where you can and enjoy the challenge to cut food costs as possible.
How do you save money on food? What’s your favorite way to keep food costs low during the summer months?
Want a FREE Summer Survival Guide for busy mom? It’s packed with ways to help a mom thrive and make memories over the summer! Learn more here!
