Food Budget Freedom with Lauren Greutman
What we chat about in the episode
- Budgeting for food.
- Lauren shares how managing her food budget opened many doors for an amazing life.
- They talk meal planning, food shopping, cooking in advance.
- Some amazing strategies for saving money and spending smartly.
Doable Changes
Create a Weekly Meal Plan: Sit down as a family and plan out meals for the week ahead. Take inventory of what ingredients you already have at home and plan meals around those items to minimize waste. Choose recipes that are budget-friendly and can be made with affordable, versatile ingredients. Consider incorporating leftovers into your meal plan to stretch your food budget further.
Shop with a Grocery List: Before heading to the grocery store, create a detailed shopping list based on your meal plan and stick to it while shopping. This helps prevent impulse purchases and ensures you only buy what you need. Look for sales, discounts, and coupons to save money on staple items and ingredients. Consider shopping at budget-friendly stores or buying generic brands to lower overall food costs without sacrificing quality.
Cook in Batch and Freeze: Dedicate a day or two each week to batch cooking and preparing meals in advance. Cook large batches of staple foods such as grains, beans, and proteins, then portion them out and store them in the fridge or freezer for easy meal assembly throughout the week. Invest in quality storage containers or freezer bags to store prepped meals safely and efficiently. Batch cooking not only saves time during busy weekdays but also helps reduce food waste and saves money by allowing you to buy ingredients in bulk.
About Lauren
Lauren Greutman is the best-selling author of the book The Recovering Spender. She helps women create financial freedom for their families by sharing simple, easy ways to take back control of their money, live within their means, and create the simpler, happier life they’ve always dreamed of.
She teaches others how to get out of debt, budget, and meal plan to save money on groceries. Lauren is a TODAY show contributor and frequently appears on Dr. Oz, Fox News, and much more.
