Do you feel like you are constantly running to the grocery store? Do you feel like you never have enough food in your house? Do you feel like you are wasting time and money by going to the store so often? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then I have great news for you! You can change all of this by grocery shopping once a month.
MEAL PLANNING
The key to making this work is meal planning. You need to sit down and plan out all the meals you are going to eat for the month. This may sound like a lot of work, but it will save you so much time and money in the long run. Trust me!
Once you have your meals planned out, you can make a list of all the ingredients you need. This list will be your grocery list for the month. Now, you may be thinking that you won’t be able to get everything you need for the month in one trip to the store. But I promise you, it is possible!
WATCH EXPIRATION DATES
The key to successfully grocery shopping once a month is to WATCH EXPIRATION DATES. This may seem like a no brainer, but you would be surprised how many people do not pay attention to expiration dates. By paying attention to expiration dates, you will ensure that you are always eating fresh food and that you are not wasting any food.
UTILIZE A FREEZER
This is key, my friends. If you want to be successful at grocery shopping once a month, you need to have a good freezer. This is where you will be storing all of your food so it stays fresh for the month. Meal prepping and batch cooking are also great ways to make sure you have enough food to last the month.
FILL YOUR PANTRY
One of the best ways to save time and money is to fill your pantry. This means stocking up on non-perishable items that have a long shelf life. When you have a full pantry, you won’t need to run to the store every time you need an ingredient for a recipe. You will also be less likely to eat out because you will have everything you need to make a meal at home.
Some of the items that you should keep in your pantry are: canned goods, dry goods, pastas, sauces, spices, and oils. These are just a few examples, but you get the idea. By filling your pantry with these items, you will be able to make a variety of meals without having to go to the store.
STOCKPILE
I know what you are thinking, how can I possibly STOCKPILE enough food to last me an entire month? Well, let me tell you, it is easier than you think. There are a few things that you need to do in order to make this work.
First, you need to take inventory of what you currently have in your pantry, fridge and freezer. Make a list of all the non-perishable items that you have on hand. This will be your starting point for what you need to STOCKPILE.
Next, you need to make a menu for the month. Plan out all the meals that you are going to make and write down all the ingredients that you will need. This may seem like a lot of work, but it will save you so much time and money in the long run.
Finally, you need to STOCKPILE your food. This can be done a few different ways. You can either buy everything at once or you can slowly build up your STOCKPILE over time. I prefer to do a little bit of both. I like to have a good STOCKPILE on hand, but I also like to buy things as I need them.
STICK TO THE PLAN
I know it may seem daunting to only go to the store once a month, but I promise you, it is totally doable and your life will be so much better for it. The key is to STICK TO THE PLAN.
Now, I know what you are thinking. You are thinking that there is no way you can plan out all your meals for the month. But trust me, it is not as hard as it seems. And even if you don’t want to plan out every single meal, you can still make a general list of the types of meals you want to eat. For example, if you know you want to eat Mexican food one night, make a list of all the ingredients you will need for that meal.
The key is to STICK TO THE PLAN. If you do that, I promise your life will change for the better. You will save time, money and sanity by grocery shopping once a month.
If you follow these simple steps, you will be well on your way to grocery shopping once a month and changing your life for the better! Give it a try and see for yourself how amazing it is! You will be so glad that you did.
