It’s time again this year to reflect and make some
plans! I’m ready to make my 2019 vision
board. Technically, I make a vision
book. I like getting artistic and crafty
with my planning. I usually take an old discarded book and alter it to make it
my vision book for the new year.
The idea of vision boards or books is not new. A vision board project allows you to take
some time to sit down and look at your life.
Family, Finance,
Employment, Religion, Health, or any other focus you may have for
yourself. You then visualize where you
want to be with each in the coming year.
My vision book is impacted by my choices at the grocery
store in two categories! Financial
goals, how I budget the household, and health and wellness. If I
wanted to push it, my family time generally revolves around gatherings and
food, so maybe three! It seems like
every year, as I start look at vision for the next year, I always start with those
financial things I can cut, or keep low, in order to budget for additional
things I want. Most people look at their
disposable income in this way. It’s the
expenses that you have control over that lead you to having money for the
things you want.
Other disposable income items other than groceries include,
memberships, dining, entertainment, gasoline, utilities, and donations. Many of these categories can go up or down
depending on how closely you follow your actuals through the year. I admit, every summer my spending goes up
without planning. I just spend more doing
things with the kids than I ever plan.
Maybe a last-minute trip or buying sports items or supplies for my daughter’s
art projects. Whatever the case, I now
plan to overspend in the summer months.
Groceries in general, are the category that people try to
immediately cut. In my experience, I can
take more weekend trips, and big vacations in the summer if I plan to spend
MORE at the grocery store, and less dining out.
My biggest budget enemy is lunches while working, and convenience stops
when the kids are with me in the car. It’s
a lot! I can spend $35 buying fast food
for our family, or I can buy groceries and put them in convenience packages for
an entire week for $35. Take a look at
your grocery budget, then honestly look at what you are paying for work
lunches, or dinners out, and even what you are paying for “Being late and
tired.” That amount far exceeds what
picking up an extra $20 in premade chicken salad for quick sandwiches, or a box
of crackers and cheese slices would run for these lunches or snacks.
Health and Wellness is my next category. Yes, like everyone else I’d like to lose
weight. I realize I don’t want to exercise,
so it probably won’t happen. I can however
make myself and family a bit healthier.
Junk food is our nemesis. I love
salty snacks and I cannot lie! So, for
me, it’s finding substitutions at the grocery store. I have found that I enjoy Nabisco’s rice
based Good Thins over crackers. Less wheat
and gluten, and I love having a bean-based dip or even a taco type dip instead
of chips. This is the type of thing I
look to add to my grocery buys and sub out the less healthy items. We do not
run to the doctor’s office a lot. As a
matter of fact, no one in our family went last year. Healthy eating is a big part of overall
health. Stress reduction is also something
that will keep the family healthy. Not stressing
over money, helps.
Once you take a look at your true grocery budget (with some
funds shifted away from restaurants, and high dollar convenience foods). It’s
time to get serious with your 52-week shopping list. It’s okay to put on the list “Go Foods” So that
you remember to pick them up when you’re in the store. Easy things like, Chicken breast fillets that
can be grilled and tossed in the freezer make up quick salads, or sandwiches
without having to run in the door and fix a full meal. Sting cheese, applesauce cups, Jell-O cups,
baggies for crackers or cuts of meat are great things to have on hand before
you leave home.
Next, gather coupons.
Get the My County Market phone app on your phone. Print coupons from all the major online sites
and set a monthly alarm on either your phone or computer. Use other coupon apps to earn gift cards off
everything you buy by scanning receipts.
If you have never sat down and made a vision for your future
year, this may take longer than a day. That’s
okay! Review and revise your vision as
you go. There is not a wrong way to do
this. Just thinking it through will get
you to your goals. To have ongoing help,
follow us on Facebook at County Market Coupon News, we are all savers who look
to save money, and allow our families to have more health and comfort all year
long.
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All internet coupon print limits are subjective. At the time of this email coupons were available for print. If the daily or weekly print limit has been reached, the coupon will be automatically pulled from the websites. You can try to print again tomorrow. All coupons listed are not available in our stores. We list them so you can order or find them to save you money. Check with clipping services, trade boards, or ebay to find coupons not in your store. It is our intent to help you find as many savings opportunities as possible. Enjoy!
