The Grocery Budget Hack that has saved us $400 a month! I know we want flashy answers to our money problems. I thought surely it couldn’t be this simple. But, I have used this for the past 3 months and was SHOCKED with how much this easy hack has helped us save.

We have followed a budget as a couple all 21 years of our marriage. And also, I know how easy it is to have the best of intentions at the beginning of the month. However, by the end of the month you have overspent the food budget (or whatever category)…again. It has happened to me more months than I’d care to admit. 

Regardless of what your food budget is, this is something you can apply THIS month. It can help you spend less. You will use up what you already have. And, it minimizes food waste. 

THE HACK: No Spend Days

The Goal of No Spend Days: Avoid the Store and Make do with What You’ve Got

The goal is to save money by using what you have and not buying new food the last week of the month (i.e. “No Spend Days”). See how far you can get on what you have! Can you avoid going to the store and make do with what you’ve got for the last week of the month?

I grocery shop every Saturday. So, generally 4x a month. With this hack, I am only grocery shopping 3x a month. Instead of grocery shopping for the last week of the month, I am trying to see if I can live off what we already have in our home instead!

NOTE: Awareness is the goal. Using up all the things your cupboards, fridge, and freezer are already full of is the goal. Perfection is not the goal.

You might realize you really need almond milk to use up those nuts when you make my Paleo Freezer Granola for breakfasts for the week. Or that you have lots of veggies to use up but literally no proteins to be found. We aren’t trying to be extreme here.

But, if you go to the store and ONLY buy almond milk and a tray of chicken breast instead of the normal cart full of groceries you would have gotten that week? That my friend, is a WIN. 

How it Works

First, Create a Freezer and Pantry Inventory

The 3rd week of the month, I create a freezer and pantry inventory. This doesn’t have to be fancy. I did mine as a checkmark list on a note in my phone (see below). This takes a few minutes but is helpful to know what you have to work with. 

Too often food goes to the back of the fridge or the bottom of the freezer and never gets eaten. The average American throws away 1/3 of their food in food waste. You’re going to use THAT as the basis of your meals for the last week of the month.

Second, Approach It with the Right Attitude

Now, I’ve learned a big part of being successful with budgeting is the right attitude. Approach it as a fun challenge and you will feel much more motivated. It can almost feel like a game. It’s your own personal Chopped Challenge – what can you make with the ingredients you have on hand? It’s really fun and rewarding once you get into it.

Also, the exciting part is saving money towards something you need or want. Keep that in mind and that these meals will just “get it done.” They may not be ones you would serve to guests or put on Instagram. But they can nourish your family and your financial goals. 

My kids also got into the spirit of things. My 10 year old helped me make the freezer inventory. He also got excited when we used something on the list and we got to check it off as used. It was like leveling up in a video game, lol.

Third, Start with What is Going Bad First

What fresh items do you have, like produce, that is going to go bad soon? And, if there is something that has some bad spots – can you cut around them and still use part of it? For example, potatoes that are starting to grow roots can have the roots cut out and still be used. 

3 Ways to Use up Produce that is Going Bad

• Roast your veggies – Here is a great article on how to roast almost any vegetable. Roast them and then put an egg on it. Or, cook up some ground meat and put it on top then drizzle it with ranch. 
• Make a soup! There are some great articles out there on how to make a soup out of any vegetable, such as this one and this one. 
• Make a Hash – Hashes make a great breakfast or dinner. Here’s a great guide to making a hash with what you’ve got!

Or, are there any leftovers that need to be eaten up? Prioritize eating those first, or make sure they get into the freezer before they spoil. My favorite ways to jazz up leftovers are to put an egg on it and eat it for breakfast, put a new delicious sauce on it, or recrispify it in my air fryer. More on loving your leftovers to come!

Feel the Shift Towards Intentional Spending

Doing this Grocery Budget Hack this year has shifted my budget and my mind set. I am more likely to ask if I really need something at the store, even mid month. I am more likely to be excited to use up leftovers, even in an unglamorous meal, because it gives me more savings. Also, I am FAR more aware of what I have on hand and likely to integrate it regularly into my meals, instead of buying a whole new batch of food every week.

I’m not just meeting our grocery budget goal for the first time in many months. I have been well under it by hundreds of dollars. I can’t tell you how much YOU would save – I don’t know your budget, family size, or how well stocked your pantry and freezer are. But, I dare say using up what you have an intentional spending are always a step in the right direction.

So, give it a try! Take inventory of what you have and commit with enthusiasm to using that up first. See how far that can get you and if you can have at least a handful of no spend days. One month I made it 10 days…which blew me away and felt so empowering to use up so fully what we had.

I’d love to hear if you try this! Drop a comment if you do and let me know how it goes for you. Have questions? Drop those below as well.