Grocery budgeting is a science. You should consider income, preference, life situations and more. Here is some money-saving advice for implementing a grocery budget – and sticking to it.

 

Track what you actually spend for a week or month. Before you can make a realistic grocery budget, you need to have an idea of what you usually spend. This is typically a reflection of how many people live in your home. Start tracking what you spend for a month by keeping your receipts. Whether you use a spreadsheet or just paper and pencil, it can be helpful to divide your food expenses into itemized lists: drinks, fresh produce, frozen meals, meat, etc. The key is to track everything that you consume, and decide how much you should allocate to each category.

 

 

 

Keep a refrigerator list. Keep a running list on your fridge and write down items that you need as soon as you run out of them. This is a basic tip but it can make a big difference between grocery runs that result in impulse purchases or incomplete shopping! It is important that your family is on board, so instruct everyone to add items to the list as needed.

 

 

 

Only use coupons for items you would normally buy. Coupons are great if they are for items that you need. Too often, coupons trick people into buying unnecessary things for the sake of a good deal. If you find a coupon for an item that you usually buy, make the purchase.

With a Benefits Plus^® checking account at SeaComm, you will have access to a free Grocery Coupon Club, with printable coupons that will help you save up to $1,000 annually! Your Benefits Plus^® membership will also provide you with retail and restaurant discounts, as well as prescription savings, three-bureau credit monitoring, and much more. Call (800) 764-0566 to schedule an appointment at your nearest SeaComm branch, and enroll in Benefits Plus^®!

For complete information, terms, conditions and exclusions please visit www.benefits-plus.org or call 866-329-7587.