Maybe it’s just me, but I’m noticing the older I get, the more I dislike grocery shopping. When you live in a major city like NYC, the whole process becomes a major production. There are tons of people, long lines, usually an abnormally slow cashier, items not being in stock, trying to figure out what to buy without going over budget, loading and unloading, and then losing circulation in your hand because you’re trying to make it up five flights of stairs in one trip.
Even though I have a love/hate relationship with grocery shopping because I hate the process of obtaining groceries; I love what it does for my pockets and body (I’m able to know exactly what’s going into my body and can eat healthier). unidiomatically I usually budget around $440 for groceries a month, this number also takes into consideration that I am a gluten free vegetarian. I break that down into two categories: breakfast/lunch & dinner. I try my best to meal prep weekly for breakfast/lunch, which I allocate $100 every two weeks.
To be clear, me and my fiancé have not combined our finances yet, so the $100 every two weeks for breakfast/lunch is just for myself and not my fiancé who eats on the go. For dinner, generally, we rotate on making dinner and since our finances aren’t combined, for now, I allocate $120 for dinner every two weeks.
The $100 breaks down to roughly $10 total, per day, for breakfast and lunch for myself. The $120 for dinner equates to roughly $32 for each dinner I cook (usually about three times a week; my fiancé cooks and covers the rest of the week). The $120 also factors in roughly one meal for ordering out IF we don’t feel like cooking. That may sound like a lot to anyone not living in a big city, but trust me that it’s relatively cheap for living in NYC when the average carton of a dozen organic eggs is seven bucks. I also know there are plenty of families out there that could make $440 for food last 2 months, you guys are the real MVPs but I digress.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports, the average house spends an average of $3,000 on eating out per year. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics also found that in 2016, the average American family spent $4,000 per year on groceries/food at home which equates to roughly $330 each month. Combine the two together (eating out and groceries) and you’re looking at roughly $583 a month or a total of $7,000 in food alone for an average household a year!
For the purposes of this post, let’s dive a little deeper into the numbers by looking at an example of how much buying your lunch vs brining it is really costing you. According to Google, there are 261 working days in 2018. For example purposes, let’s say you currently spend $12 a day on lunch (a salad + a drink). Multiply $12 by 261 days and that brings you to $3,132 for lunch at work over the course of a year. Let’s also say you stop to buy breakfast on your way into the office, which cost you $5.50 (egg sandwich and coffee). Multiply $5.50 by 261days and you arrive at $1,435.50 over the course of a year.
If you combine the two, you will have spent $4,567.00 for breakfast and lunch during the week over the course of a year.
Whereas my budgeted $10 a day for breakfast and lunch at 261 days will only cost me $2,610 for the year. http://ramblingfisherman.com/truck-3/ I save roughly $1957 a year by bringing my breakfast and lunch with me to work instead of eating on the go.
Here are some reasons why you should grocery shop and bring your lunch:
1.) You Save Money by Meal Prepping
When you have a game plan (a budget, a shopping list, meals for the week, clipped coupons, and have looked for deals ahead of time) prior to getting to the store, you’re already winning because you’ll be less susceptible to impulsive buying. Prior to leaving the house and while you are planning your meals out for the week, make sure you check your cabinets for the items you already have. This will save you time and money in the long run and will also help eliminate unnecessary spending on things you already have at home.
Meal preparing is so much more than cooking food in bulk and throwing it in the fridge. By planning your meals out and buying in bulk, you’re cutting your cost down and can ensure in advance you won’t get bored with what you’re eating for the week.
2.) You Eat Healthier
Just the act of grocery shopping alone allows you to make better choices about the food you are putting into your body; which in the long run, can help cut health care costs. Even though we don’t always feel like it or do it, I have to admit that grocery shopping single handily helps me eat better than not shopping for the week. In the long run, you’re going to be healthier because you are in control of your portion sizes and know exactly what you are consuming. This is has great impacts on your long term health. Not to mention- it helps your pockets and your waste line.
Which leads me to point number 3.
3.) You Proactively Choose Your Snacks Instead of Hunger Choosing For You
I am notorious for snacking especially when I don’t “brown bag” it. Which always leads me to eating crap I end up regretting like chips. If you plan ahead of time and shop for snacks, the meal prep possibilities are endless. For example – hummus and carrots for $4 will last you a week instead of a hummus and carrot snack pack that is over processed and retails at $2.75 at Duane Reade (it’s like a CVS in the city for any of you non-New Yorkers).
4.) You Can Save Time
Shopping for groceries and meal prepping ensures that you will have something to eat. Have you ever had a super busy day and by the time you look up at the clock it’s 3:00pm and realize you haven’t eaten? By having snacks nearby that you hand selected and a meal you can easily pop in the microwave cuts down on decision making, makes you more susceptible to eat and not just skip lunch, and will ensure you’re fueling your body with healthy food to give you energy to make it through the day.
5.) You Can Challenge & Push Yourself
To conquer the grocery store and stay motivated about going, I always challenege myself to develop a well-thought out diverse meal plan that also needs to stay under a pretty tight budget. I always geek out at the register when I meet my goal and probably annoy my fiancé by showing her the receipt every 5 seconds. It’s a fun way to stay engaged with shopping becuase it keeps you focused and doesn’t allow for you to throw random items in your cart.
You can also take some pretty cool meal prep photos and impress all of your friends. Not only are your saving money, but you’re motivating your peers to eat healthier and save money too! You can save even more money by using coupons and taking advantage of “Buy One Get One (BOGO)” deals.
Last month I challenged myself to meal prep every week for four weeks. Not only did I stay within my budget, but I also shed a few pounds for my upcoming wedding. I was able to eat extremely healthy and always had plenty left over.
This upcoming weekend I challenge you to develop a personal challenge. Create a plan about what you will meal prep for the week and the budget you will stay within. You can even set a timer in the store like you’re on Supermarket Sweepstakes (just don’t knock anyone over in the process)! The point is to have fun with it! Be prepared. Make sure that you’re consciously selecting your food and that your hunger is not the one in charge.
So, what is your plan?
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Erica @ ModMoney says
I remember HATING grocery shopping when I lived in NYC! Now that I live in Austin, it’s a lot easier and more enjoyable. Plus, as you pointed out, it’s the best way to stick to a healthy diet and save money while you’re at it! Great post!