My 2025 Grocery Budget Plan

 

Last year my monthly grocery budget was extreme.  Especially when you consider the astronomical rise in prices we’ve seen lately it wouldn’t seem like reducing one’s grocery budget would be prudent or even possible, but I did it!  And I’m so pleased with how well I did it and that I was able to be successful in achieving that goal.  So what do I have planned for this year?  Well, let me tell you.

 

After much thought I’ve decided to go back to my regular grocery budget of $100 a month for food and $20 a month for the nonfood household items like soaps, paper products, laundry and cleaning supplies, as well as items for food storage like Ziploc bags and wraps.  I know this probably seems pretty extreme once again, however this is the budget I’ve had and been working with for many, many, many years while I was raising my family and it worked.

 

Because of the way I shop and how I take advantage of sales cycles, coupons, rewards offers and points, markdowns and clearance items I know that this is all I really need right now to continue to feed myself and keep my pantry, freezer and even the long term food storage shelves well stocked.  It also helps a lot that I typically don’t purchase pre-made or pre-prepared items.

 

Homemade Taco Soup & Quesadillas

Now I’m a household of one, but I also enjoy having people over to eat and I like to share food with others so I don’t want to budget those options away.  Additionally, I want to up my game a bit and improve the quality of the things I’m buying as well as treat myself to things I wouldn’t usually buy because of the cost of those items, like better cuts of meat, better produce or occasionally a premade dessert.  Sometimes I just want to buy something simply because I want it.  After a lifetime of hard work, scrimping and saving, and taking good care of my family for all of those years, I feel I’ve earned it.

 

I set my nonfood budget too low last year so that was a bit of a fail.  However, I didn’t miss it by too much so I’m really not disappointed in myself at all.  I feel it was a valiant attempt.  The $20 per month budget seems to be much better for me and while it too may seem a bit extreme, again it is a budget I’ve worked with for as long as my $100 a month grocery budget so I’m quite comfortable with that.

 

Interestingly enough the SNAP benefit for one person is nearly triple my
monthly budget.  I honestly do not think I can eat that much food. 👩

As I did last year I do plan to roll over any unspent budget amounts onto the next month because I do feel that it is important that I spend this money.  I don’t want to cut my budget to the point that it becomes unsustainable.  Having a well stocked home is very important to me as well as to my peace of mind so my goal moving forward is to maintain that as well as feeding myself good nutritious foods on a daily basis.  I’m feeling really good about this plan.