My $18 grocery list app finally beat my spending problem

I kept blowing my food budget every single month, so last week I tried one of those meal planning apps that you pay for. It cost about $18 for the first three months, and honestly I thought it was dumb at first. But the app gives me a list built around what I already have in my fridge, so I stopped buying the same spices and sauces twice. I used to wander the store and toss in stuff that looked good, my total would hit $160 easy. Now I'm at like $95 for the week and I still have leftovers for lunch. The only catch is I have to actually stick to the list, which is way harder than it sounds. Has anyone else tried paying for a planning app instead of just using free notes? What worked for you when the app got boring after a few weeks?

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nora5351mo ago

Doesn't that app just become another thing you have to manage, though? I tried one for a month and spent more time fighting the list than actually saving money, plus the $18 would've bought me a decent steak dinner. Honestly, if you don't have the willpower to stick to your own handwritten list, paying for an app just gives you a prettier way to ignore the same problem...