I have read several eBooks pertaining to saving money but I have never read one so thoroughly explained as The Grocery Budget Toolbox by Anne Simpson. I was genuinely impressed on how much ground she covered, the ideas she offered and the examples she gave.
As a family of six, I’m always looking for ways to cut our food (and other) expenses. The cost of groceries goes up, time is important and health is a concern. Anne covers all these and more throughout her book. She thoroughly explains each section, gives examples and ideas, shows you some of her own forms and shopping trips and gives little challenges throughout.
While going through The Grocery Budget Toolbox, I was motivated once again to start a price book. I got away from that a couple years ago when it just wasn’t working out. I was basing my price book off of the sales + a coupon prices and it was so much work. Anne encourages you to look/write down the reg. retail prices. That way, if you find a sale and a coupon, you’ll know for sure if that is genuinely a good sale price.
Anne offers several other ideas besides the price book idea. She talks about figuring out your budget, incorporating the healthy, natural and organic foods over a time, once a month shopping, coupons, recipes, etc. In the back she gives a list of resources with links and also includes some great printable forms to help you get started.
Overall, I enjoyed her book so much. There were a few parts that were nothing new having been into couponing for several years now, but she gave me a different perspective about our budget and meals. I started talking to my sister-in-law about it and we are going to work on a price book together. Since the holidays are coming up quickly, we’re going to take our time but at least we’ll be able to start. We chose to do a Google document that way we both can edit/add to it from our own homes.
If you are wanting a fresh perspective and help with getting your food budget under control or just lower, I would highly recommend reading The Grocery Budget Toolbox. Even if you already know some of the things Anne suggests, pairing it up with other ideas she gives might just be the help or nudge you need to cut that additional cost. If you are wanting to get away from the processed foods and incorporate more organic/natural foods into your diet, it can be done and Anne covers how she recommends slowly incorporating those into your food budget.
Buy it:
You can now find and purchase The Grocery Budget Toolbox eBook on Amazon by clicking here.
Win it:
Anne is offering one Practical Savings reader a copy of her eBook. Just enter on the form below. If you purchase the book but then are the winner, Anne will refund you the purchase price of the book in place of sending you another copy.
Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of The Grocery Budget Toolbox free of charge in order to facilitate this review. All opinions expressed are my own. I was in no other way compensated for this review. I was under no obligation to write a positive review.
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