Keys to Saving; Planning Your Month

Believe it or not, planning ahead can save you a lot of money.  From the kitchen to the school room, you can save a lot by having a plan and sticking to it.  Ah, that is where most of us have the biggest problem, isn’t it – sticking to the plans that we make for ourselves.  It is an obstacle that we have to overcome, but it will save you a lot of money.

Here are some areas where planning out really helps, as well as some things that my family has learned along the way.

Planning Menus

At the beginning of each month, sit down and plan what you are going to eat every day for the next month.  Go to the store and buy all the canned goods and other non-perishables that you will need for the meals.  All you will need to do then is to buy produce and other perishable items once a week or so.  This will not only cut down on buying things you don’t need or already have, but it also takes fewer trips to the store and uses less gas.  The less gas you use, the less gas you have to buy, and the less gas you have to buy, the more money you save.

Another benefit of planning your menus in advance is that no one has ask you what the next meal is going to be; they can look on the chart and see for themselves.  This leads to less frustration between children and parents, which leads to a happier home.

Planning School

Look ahead at what you will be doing for the next year, during those back to school sales.  If you are going to do a lot of crafts, buy a lot of stick glue, paper, and scissors.  If you are going to do a lot of reports, stock up on notebook paper.  Looking ahead and getting what you need while things are on sale helps save money in the long run.

There are so many things that will save you money if you plan ahead.  Here are a few to think about.

Vacations

Parties

Gift buying