From Supermarket Savings to Weekend Getaway

We work hard for our money. No matter what kind of income each of us has or how much money we have or don't have to spend on the food budget, there are ways to save some cash in the grocery store. Don't be afraid to be "stingy" when it comes to wanting to save your pennies that you worked so hard to obtain!   

To take it a step further, if you have a goal in mind and get the children involved, you may be surprised at how fast the pennies and dollars actually will add up. Everyone will want to get involved with your plan if it means a weekend in a mountain cabin or a trip to the amusement park that you may not have been able to take otherwise.  It is very important to have a goal that everyone in the family can work toward.

If you have plenty of extra money or think you don't need to or want to "bother with" doing these things to save a little money each grocery trip, put what you saved into a jar and donate it to the Red Cross or Salvation Army earmarking it for disaster relief. It will be a good feeling even if taking the time to do these steps seems like something you normally would not feel like doing. If you are still not interested, maybe the children in the family could take on the project and save for new sports equipment, books, videos, or computer games.


Once you have decided to set a goal and start saving for your getaway, here are some tips to help you get started:

Start with making a menu and list!

One of the best things that you can get into the habit of doing is to make sure you go to the grocery store with a list.  It will be difficult at first to stick to it if you aren't used to having a list, but it will get easier as time goes on. Write down items that you run out of or realize you need during the week and keep a running inventory. This is a good place where the children can help.