Trying to get by in New York is not easy, seeing as I’m in between jobs, I’m pretty darn broke right not. When money is tight, you are forced to take a good, hard look at your bank statements and evaluate where you need to make some cuts. For me, I already know that my theatregoing is going to take the biggest hit as well as those “I’m-ten-minutes-early-for-work-so-I’ll-buy-a-coffee” trips will also have to be non-existent. But, one thing that I can’t cut out is food since I need that to live and don’t think it’s necessary to fall into the “starving artist” stereotype. Grocery shopping is always a daunting excursion in this city but, ever since I found Trader Joe’s, there was no turning back and we’ve been going steady ever since. The prices on their items are quite reasonable due to the fact that the majority of their products are private label but it’s pretty easy to get carried away and picking up items you probably don’t actually need and instantly regret when you see the numbers roll up on your bill at check-out.

Recently, I started playing this game on my Instagram stories that I call “Did Jacqui Stay In Her Grocery Budget?!”. It’s a Price Is Right style game where I take a picture of my grocery basket at my feet (because, obviously, I’m kicking it through the winding cash-out line at TJ’s) and, using the poll feature, ask my followers if they think it’s under my projected budget.

Initially, it was an attempt at a funny post to show how terrible I am at staying on budget when it comes to groceries and I had quite a bit of interaction with it. After my third week posting it, I received a hand-full of messages from folks telling me that not only were enjoying my grocery saga but also sharing that they too struggle with staying budget at the grocery store. Now, I’m by no means perfect but this tactic has, for the most part, actually helped me stay under budget. Some weeks are better than others so it’s an on-going challenge but, I’ve learned a few things along the way.

Here are a few things I’ve learned while playing “Did Jacqui Stay In Her Grocery Budget?!”

1. Plan Ahead

This can take as much or as little time as you want it to. If you already have a couple go-to recipes that you like, that makes it easy to know what you’ll need to make them. If you’re looking to spice things up a little bit, you may need to do some research to figure out what you have a taste for and what your budget allows. Cooking for one is annoying since you tend to be eating the same thing all week and by night three, you’re sick of it. It will take some time to figure which meals you like night after night and the quantities the recipes make. Also, don’t just plan your dinners, but plan breakfast, lunches and even your snacks since it defeats the purpose of buying groceries if you’re buying extra meals a couple times a week. The more you plan, the better prepared you are for the week! The website budgetbytes.com has become a go-to for me and is a good place to start when it comes to economical meal planning.

2. Make A List, Check It Twice

Ok, I know that’s some Santa Claus nonsense, but he’s onto something. When I plan ahead, I know exactly what meals I’m going to be eating for the week, which ingredients I need to get and how much. If I have everything written down (either on paper or using the lists app on my phone), not only do I not have to remember everything but it keeps me on track when I’m tempted to stray from my plan. I do allow myself 2 or 3 treats (depending on price) like a pint of ice cream or a bag of fancy popcorn, because I’m only human! But, putting a limit on treats is a good way to stay on within your food allowance (and I’m sure my waistline thanks me too).

3. Have a Well-Stocked Pantry

It might take some time to build up a solid pantry of necessities but, once you do, you will feel ready for anything. Check out this page to get an idea as to what you should have readily available to make cheap and delicious meals: https://www.budgetbytes.com/stock-kitchen-pantry-staples/

4. Only Buy What You Need

If you made a list, stick to it. It’s so easy to see all kinds of fun new products or treats that sound delicious but, practice that self-restraint and buy what you need. Also, by only getting what you need, you reduce food waste. Also, cooking for one is tricky and most recipes make 4-6 servings, so be ready to freeze some of it to have on a busy night or eat a lot of it. A life-hack that’s helped me stick to what I need is skipping the grocery cart and only using a basket. This way, I’m forced to carry everything and when it gets heavy, I’ve either bought too much and re-evaluate and/or it’s time to get in the check-out line.

5. Bake Something

Anyone who knows me, knows that I love baking. I do have a sweet tooth but, those chocolate covered almonds are not cheap. Making some cookies satisfies that craving and last me the week. Better yet, if you have fruit that’s turning bad and not looking like something you would wanna snack on, bake with it! There are so many recipes that use overripe fruit as an ingredient. I have a large ziplock of overripe bananas in my freezer that I use for banana breads (or you can use in smoothies as well). Crisps are also a quick and yummy dessert and you can use all kinds of fruit like apples, peaches, berries, plums or pears in those! Both of those use simple baking ingredients that most people have in their homes anyway or are relatively inexpensive to buy (If you’re not really an avid baker and don’t want to buy a huge thing of an ingredient for one recipe, buy it in bulk so you just have the amount you need.)

6. Buy Local

There is nothing more delicious than fresh produce and what’s amazing about the East Coast is you get such a variety of fruits and vegetables based on the season. There is nothing more tasty than a delicious sweet strawberry from a farm a couple hours outside of the city and, right now, the plums are so juicy and delicious! If you know of a local farmer’s market, it’s worth paying them a visit. Not only are you supporting local agriculture but can also save significant money on produce. Also, usually locally grown products can be cheaper since they are not being transported from very far, which makes it more environmentally friendly!

Every week is a new challenge and I’m continuing to figure this out since it’s a never ending battle. Something that I have to keep telling myself is not to beat myself up too much if I go over budget. Obviously, it’s a shitty feeling because I feel like I’ve let myself down but, it just gives me room to improve the next week. Personally, I have too much pride to actually leave things at the register, which may be my downfall. If you may have strayed from your list and gotten carried away, take a moment before you get in line, look at your basket and tell yourself to put 3 things back. It’s not the end of the world and if something can wait a week, than maybe pick it up another day.

Finally, it was reassuring to know that I wasn’t alone. I know young people struggle with balancing finances but I have learned that so many people I know are also going through similar challenges. Our society has shifted so much since that time our parents were our age so the expectations for our generation moving into adulthood are shifting as well. With student-debt at its highest ever, money is a daunting beast to tackle so healthy eating habits can easily take a back seat. This doesn’t have to be the case and the grocery store doesn’t have to be scary, but can be a fun game.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram to play my weekly Grocery Poll!