"When my kids were little, I couponed, planned meals around the weekly specials, and tried to keep a tight rein on our grocery budget. But as they grew, I began working more. We all got busier, and I let some of those habits go. Slowly, without really realizing it, our grocery costs inched up. A few months ago, I tracked every grocery expenditure for the entire month and discovered our bill totaled $2,300. I about had a heart attack."
"Some of this spending happened because those previously little kids had become teenagers. And while having teen drivers makes me nervous for their safety, I have to admit there's a huge perk: They can run errands for me. After years of having to load toddlers and babies into the car for a quick trip to the grocery store, they were finally able to repay the favor."
"I could text them as they got out of after-school practice, and they could grab the few small things I needed for dinner that night. Except it never ended up being just a few small things. I'd get a text back, asking if they could treat themselves to a drink or a snack ... usually both. Of course they could! They'd been working hard at school and practice all day. They were probably starving, and they deserved it."
Household previously used coupons and meal planning to control grocery spending but relaxed those habits as schedules grew busier and work increased. Teenagers began running errands and frequently added drinks and snacks to purchases. A family birthday party further increased spending with grilling, snacks, cocktails, and fancy sodas. A month of tracking revealed a $2,300 grocery bill. The family confronted the amount and collaborated to change shopping habits. Teens helped by following shopping rules and being more mindful. These adjustments reduced monthly grocery expenses by $750.
Read at Business Insider
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