How a Family of Four Can Keep Their Shopping Budget Under $100 a Month

You may be thinking that this is an impossible task to accomplish, but it really can be done. It will however take very careful planning, prior to your hitting the supermarket. This is what I spend every month for my family of four and we eat very well. What is the secret? I can sum that up in two simple words “Bulk Shopping”. Many people do not sign up to be a member of any of the wholesale clubs because they do not like paying the fee.

But consider this. You only have to pay the fee once a year. For Costco the fee is about $40- $50, and for BJ’s I believe it is about $35. In some area’s there is also Sam’s club. These types of places sell all their items in bulk, for very reasonable prices. Take cereal for example. At the supermarket the brand that your children like or want usually costs about $4-$5 a box. Well for the same price at one of the wholesale clubs you can get double the cereal. The same goes for most of their products including baby diapers.

Another great thing about the wholesale club is the coupons. BJ’s allows you to use your own coupons, and Costco gives out their coupons once every two or three months. They usually give you a booklet of coupons that is good for these several months. I save all of the coupons that I receive and use them throughout these months. Another good idea is to make sure that you write out your shopping list prior to going to the store.

First write down what you need, as far as your necessities are concerned. Then add what you or the rest of the family may want. There is nothing wrong with treating yourself, as long as you do not go overboard. Try and stay away from the frozen foods. Not only are these items a lot less healthy, but you end up spending a lot more money. Try getting fresh meat and vegetable’s instead. What about saving money on beverages. Well instead of spending money on the pre-maid drinks, it is a lot cheaper to get the powder mixes, such as lemonade.

You will save at least five dollars doing this. Of course this will mean more work for you, but it is worth it if you want to keep yourself on a budget. There is nothing wrong with putting in a little extra effort to keep your families pocket book light. My final budget tip is to avoid giving in to temptation. Most people will see a snack or sweet treat that looks delicious. But if they get it they will be over budget. You have to be able to walk away from some of those extra items.