Rachel Cruze: Avoid These 5 Mistakes at the Grocery Store

You’re probably reminded how much inflation stinks every time you visit the grocery store. While there’s not much you can do about the prices, you can control how much you spend .

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In a recent YouTube video , personal finance expert Rachel Cruze talked with her Ramsey Solutions colleague Jade Warshaw, a budgeting expert in her own right, about the things consumers do wrong when they grocery shop.

Here are some common mistakes to avoid next time you shop for groceries.

Shopping Without a Budget

According to Warshaw, “You can’t go shopping until you know how much you can spend.” She suggests having a monthly budget and then breaking that down for your shopping trips.

While creating a budget and knowing your limit may not sound fun, it can free you up to bring out your creativity to find new ways to spend your allotted amount.

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Shopping Without a List

Shopping without a list makes you more likely to buy things you don’t need. One way to get into the habit of making a grocery list is to plan your meals for each day of the week, and write down what you need for each one.

If you’re not convinced a shopping list is worth the effort, here’s something else to consider — Checking things off that list can bring a sense of accomplishment and boost your mood.

Shopping at the Last Minute

Just about everyone knows the feeling of being in that frantic state and just searching for anything quick and easy for dinner.

One of the problems with being in a hurry at the grocery store is that you’re much less likely to have an organized list and an idea of what you really need. And that can quickly add up to a much higher bill.

Not Bringing Cash

You may want to consider going to the ATM and taking out cash for your next shopping trip.

If you come with cash, you know that’s the amount you have to spend. Do this often enough and you’ll have a pretty good idea of the amount of groceries you can buy with the money you have on hand.

Ringing Up Your Own Order

Going to a human cashier can help you stay accountable for spending only the amount you planned. You can tell the cashier to please let you know when you’re at that amount and that there’s no going over.

This article originally appeared on GOBankingRates.com : Rachel Cruze: Avoid These 5 Mistakes at the Grocery Store