How to budget and shop within your means

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There’s no hard-and-fast rule for how much you should be spending on food; it can vary because of a number of factors: household size, income, location, taste, grocery store access

Knowing what is in your pantry can keep costs down by curbing the temptation for ordering out.

PHOTO: ST FILE

Shrinking products, rising prices at the market and beyond: Shoppers have been feeling the pinch at the register for some time now. And whether it is a new feeling or a long-lasting one, creating a grocery budget can help you feel more in control of your finances.

Budgeting “takes away the anxiety of worrying about money”, said Ms Dasha Kennedy of the Broke Black Girl financial education platform. “Even if the income may not be where I want it to be, if there’s ever a situation, at least I know what is going on, and I know what I can do next.”

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