Let’s cut to the chase: grocery shopping used to EAT my budget before I figured out how to hack this whole process.

Before enlightenment, this is what a typical grocery shopping day looks like….

Check refrigerator 5 times until you’re finally convinced you’re are out of food.

Spend 2 long, torturous minutes putting your kid in the car seat. 

Drive to the store.

. . .

Scold yourself for not writing a list or meal planning… again. 

Spend 5 minutes debating with yourself about every. single. object. you. buy. 

Give up and start throwing random objects into your cart like you’re on supermarket sweep.

. . . 

Get to the cashier who tells you your total is $400 for the week. 

Feel incompetent because you went in saying you would only spend $100. 

Eat all the “good food” in 2 days and spend the next 5 days wondering what you’re going to eat.

Repeat over and over again for eternity.

. . . 

I’ve finally found a way to grocery shop that makes me feel and look amazing… without spending a fortune!

. . .

How to:

Don’t use coupons

Besides being a terrible investment of your time, 99% of food that comes with a coupon is not good for you. #realtalk

. . .

Don’t use weekly shopper ads

Again, 99% of foods in shopper ads are not good for you. Trust me.

. . .

Only buy fresh, organic/grass-fed meat, fish, eggs, vegetables, fruit, nuts, seeds, oils, select grains, and spring water.

I buy organic/grass-fed meat, fish, eggs, and vegetables. I also buy some fruit and consider it God’s natural desert. Last but not least, I buy nuts, seeds, healthy oils, select grains, and spring water. That’s literally it. I try not to buy anything that comes in a box. If you want to see my master grocery list, I’ll share it with you here.

. . .

Spend $45 – $68 per person per week on groceries

According to the USDA the average low-cost meal plan for a family of 4 in the US is $731.20 a month and a liberal food plan for a family is 4 is $1,093 a month. So basically that means the average grocery budget is $45.70 – $68.31 per person per week. Of course some people spend way less, but most of the time it’s because they’re buying a lot of cheap, processed foods. If you’re wondering how to create your family budget, I show you how here.

. . .

Meal plan once a week 

Plan your healthy meals for the entire week before you buy anything! Basically, you’ll want to see what leftovers you have, create your week’s menu, and write down all the ingredients you need. If you want to see exactly how I do it, I’ll show you how here.

. . .

Use my grocery shopping hack

This will change your life. No more impulse buys. No more being surprised at your total when you check-out. No more wasting time. Use the Instacart app and have a personal shopper shop and deliver your groceries,
even if you’re on a budget. I pay $100 for the year and it’s totally worth it because I can see how much I am spending before I check out. No more going over budget. Period. Even if you don’t want to drop the $100, you can still download the app and fill your grocery cart and not check-out. This way, you can go to the grocery store knowing exactly what you’re going to buy and how much it’s going to cost. If you want to know my best tips for using instacart while sticking to a budget, then go here.

. . .

Meal prep once a week

Once you get your groceries, you’ll want to meal prep. Some people cook their meals for the entire week in advance, but my husband thinks that is disgusting. So, when I meal prep I just pre-cut fruits and veggies. I’ll also make any special fruit or nut snacks for the week.

. . .

Keep a clean and organized refrigerator 

Eating healthy is more fun when your refrigerator looks beautiful! Take some time to clean and organize your refrigerator each week. You can check out my refrigerator tips here.

. . .

Repeat over and over for eternity

Think of this as a lifestyle change. Empower yourself by saying things like, “I don’t eat cereal.” instead of, “I can’t eat cereal.” Trust me, by eating fresh and healthy foods your energy, skin, appearance, and relationships will all improve. Your health is the foundation of wealth… so take care of yourself!

. . .

Do this and I promise you’ll feel happier and healthier than ever.

Cheering you on always!

Cristina Neal