The Game Plan

Last time, I talked about playing the game—the game of saving money at the grocery store, that is. Afterward, Bridget, a funny friend of mine, said, “I would save a lot of time and money if you would just forward your menus and grocery lists on to me!”. HA! I’ve been known to do a lot of different things for money--not everything, but just about. :)

Any athlete or coach will tell you there are several things they have to do in order to prepare for meeting their opponent. Consider treating this grocery shopping "game" like it’s a real, physical game and you need to be prepared for it.

Step one: Develop a GAME PLAN. I know lots of coaches, but I’ve never met a successful coach who doesn’t have a plan of action, in order to defeat the opposing team. Just like in sports, surely you can’t expect to be successful with money and not have a game plan. In the game of saving money, the game plan involves a budget. I am constantly amazed at people who say they never have enough money at the end of the month (or have too much month at the end of the money) and seem to spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars every month, with no idea of where it went.

To be brutally honest, the word ‘budget’ and I haven’t always been great friends. For the longest time, when Financial Guy would say we needed to have a Budget Committee meeting, I’d (literally) ask if I could send the dog in my place. As a working adult, the word ‘budget’ used to make me feel like a 9-year-old kid on an allowance and I didn’t want to be told how to spend my hard earned money. The interesting thing is, I actually do get told how to spend the majority of it by (as my mom would say) my 'Uncle Bill’ who writes me every month—get it? Bills? J I just needed to put what we were spending (or anticipated spending) on paper. A sports coach puts his/her game plan down on paper in order to win. What makes money any different? Set up that game plan (budget) and stick to it!

Not only would a coach not send the players into the field of play without a plan, they also wouldn’t send them out without the right equipment. I’m not saying you need to wear a helmet and shoulder pads to the grocery (well, I don’t know, maybe you do…). Next time, we’ll talk about having and using the right equipment! :)