Week seven here I come! This week’s Budget Boot Camp challenge didn’t take a lot of pre-planning, scouring the sale fliers {although I find myself doing that anyway now} or comparing sales and coupons. This week’s challenge was more about the future. Tracking the best sale prices over a period of time.
Why on earth would I want to do that? Simply because it gives me an idea of what the lowest prices are for the products that I regularly purchase, so I know if there is a good sale going on. And when the price is good, it’s the time to stock pile.
Beth provided such a good description of this weeks challenge, that I’m just going to borrow her words:
“…there is something called the 6-Week Cycle, which says that every 6-12 weeks most items we buy will go on sale for a rock bottom price. If you track prices on items you purchase most often for 12 weeks, you can find out what the rock bottom price is and then you’ll know when to stock up. ”
Now, I admitted last week that I have mixed feelings about stock piling. It always seems to push me over my budget. Or I feel like I’m taking money away from this we need that week, just for items that we’ll use in the future.
But Beth, suggests using 80% of the weekly budget on things that you need to get through the week, and the remaining 20% for stock up.
Yea, that makes sense. I can do that! And so my stock piling began this week, when Pick n Save had pork fillets on sale, buy one get one FREE! I’m a sucker for free. So, I snatched up two of them, even though they weren’t on our menu plan this week, and tossed them in the freezer for another week.
And I’m proud to say that my Grocery Price Book is in the works. And since there are even sales and specials at Aldi, I can use it to compare sale prices at the grocery store to everyday and sale prices at Aldi, just to make sure I’m getting the best deal.
Beth also sent along some very helpful links for beginning a Grocery Price Book, which I wanted to pass along.
- The Sale Cycle
- Grocery Price Book Example
- Grocery Price Book Spreadsheet (Download)
- Putting It Into Practice
- Freezer Series (How to Freeze Everything)
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Do you stock pile food staples when they are on sale? Or do you just buy what you need each week, regardless of the price? Or do you plan your meals around what is on sale?
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Grocery Budget Update: I spent only $42 this week, and that included my stock up item. Woot, woot!
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I cook out of my freezer! When things are on sale they’re purchased. In time it doesn’t feel like using tomorrow’s money today but rather savvy shopping!
Alli, if you stick with the 80/20 Principal, one day you’ll have enough stockpiled you realize that 80% of your budget is too much. Everyone I’ve talked with about this and who has stuck with it, has really seen a difference in their budget and made some dramatic cuts after awhile. Good job, by the way!
I’m making a HUGE effort to shop sales, use coupons and stock up this week. I’m so excited! I’ve decided that I’m in love with stocking up.
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