Unless you’ve been living under a rock, I’m sure you’ve noticed that prices have gone up. I don’t know about you, but I’ve had to make some adjustments to the way I grocery shop. If you’re feeling the pinch when you go to the store, try these tips!

• Budget. To some this may seem obvious, but others are still learning! If you are not budgeting, it’s absolutely essential that you do so! Sometimes you don’t really realize how much you’re spending until you have it detailed out. A budget gives you the freedom to spend money without the stress of accidentally spending more than you have.
• Break your budget down. I have a grocery budget for every month, but sometimes it can be hard to stay within budget when you have a large chunk of money at hand. It’s helpful to break it down into weekly increments. So if your goal is to spend $400 a month, give yourself a weekly grocery budget of $100. And stick to it!
• Go to the store no more than once a week. Every time you go to the store, you’ll see something that you forgot, or that new candy bar you’ve wanted to try and you’ll end up spending more than you meant to. Tell yourself that you can only go once a week, and you’ll get creative with missing ingredients and be better at actually using what you have. This is an area that Cook'n really helps me with. When I go to the store with my Cook'n shopping list, it helps me to get all the things that I need for the week so I don't have to go back for that one thing that I forgot.
• Use what you have. Another one that seems obvious, but really is important! How often do you have a meal plan that gets interrupted, and you end up with extra ingredients on hand? Make sure you use the things you have! Before grocery shopping, make sure you know what you have so you don’t spend money to buy something you already have in your pantry or fridge! This is another area where Cook'n really shines. When I have leftovers or extra items in the fridge, I just type that into Cook'n and viola! Instant great meal ideas!
• Meal plan. After you’ve seen what you have, use Cook'n to make a meal plan based on those items. If you have lots of lettuce leftover from the previous week, make a salad! Lots of milk, make a creamy soup or homemade milkshakes! Don’t let anything go to waste.
• Use your freezer! So many things freeze well. If you notice that you have some bread or produce or leftovers that are going to go bad before you can use them, stick them in the freezer! Then be sure to check your freezer when you’re taking inventory of what you have!
• Adjust your meals as needed. Don’t be afraid to do weekly spaghetti or baked potato nights (or whatever is cheap that your family will eat). Use more rice and potatoes. Make meat an addition to the meal rather than the star of the meal. Think cheap!

What do you do to help keep your grocery bill in check? Share your wisdom in the comments below so we can learn from each other!