These days, it feels like every trip to the grocery store chips away at our peace of mind. You walk in with a list, but walk out wondering how the total got so high — and what you might need to give up next week just to make it work. As I’ve gone through the grocery store, I just shake my head and have to walk away from some of the prices. The truth is, many of us are quietly struggling to keep up. And if you’re feeling the weight of it all, you’re not alone.

There’s a weight that comes with worrying about money — one that seeps into your mood, your sleep, and even your confidence. You can love your family deeply, work hard every day, and still feel like you’re falling behind. But let me say this clearly: you are not failing. You’re doing what you can with what you have, in one of the most difficult financial times in decades.

And while we can’t change the economy, we can take small, steady steps to protect our finances.

1. Start by Noticing, Not Judging

If money feels tight, it can be tempting to avoid watching where you are spending. Tracking where your money goes — even for a week — can be eye-opening. This isn’t about guilt or eliminating all the fun from life. It’s simply about clarity.

When you see your spending written down, you regain a sense of control over your finances. You can make decisions with intention rather than react.

2. Reimagine Grocery Shopping

Groceries have become one of the most challenging aspects of the budget, but there are small ways to mitigate the impact.

Plan flexible meals. Plan your week’s menu around what’s on sale that week.
Shop store brands. Most are made by the same companies as the name brands anyway. I learned this secret a long time ago from a Costco staffer. An example, their Kirkland shampoo is the exact same shampoo as Pantene, just in a different bottle.
Try smaller local grocers or markets. Prices can surprise you — and they support your community.
Use online pickup. It helps you stick to a budget, skip impulse items, and saves you from walking around a grocery store when time is tight.

Reimagine your grocery shopping

Sometimes local grocers will have sales - keep a lookout for lower prices in a local market

And remember, simple meals count. A pot of soup, breakfast for dinner, or a big batch of chili can fill stomachs without draining the wallet.

3. Trim the Little Things — In Small Ways

You don’t have to overhaul everything. Start small.

Turn off the lights when you leave a room.
Unplug appliances when not in use.
Contact your phone or internet provider and inquire about available lower plans. Sometimes, when you tell them you are going to change providers for a lower price, they become more willing to work with you to give you a better price.
Cancel subscriptions you barely use — even just for a month. I’ve recently gone through my streaming services and cancelled a number of channels we hardly watch.

Every little change gives you some breathing room, and, over time, those small wins add up faster than you’d think.

4. Create a “Bare Bones” Plan — Just in Case

Sometimes peace of mind comes from simply being prepared.
List your essential expenses — rent or mortgage, groceries, transportation, and necessary bills — then identify what could be cut or paused if things got tighter.

Knowing and being prepared with what you have to spend and what you can take away helps quiet the anxiety.

5. Remember Community Still Matters

Unfortunately, we’ve grown so used to handling everything on our own. Remember the saying, “it takes a village”. We don’t seem to use our village anymore, but this is a time to reach out and connect. Community gardens, buy-nothing groups (local groups can usually be found on Facebook), and family or neighborhood swaps are wonderful places to share and receive — without judgment.

We’re all trying to make it through, and there’s real comfort in realizing you’re not the only one making changes.

6. Offer Yourself Grace

When life feels hard, self-blame can sneak in quietly. But you deserve kindness — especially from yourself. You’re not just budgeting; you’re finding ways to keep your family fed and your lights on.

That’s a strength.

So take a breath. Brew a cup of tea. Remind yourself that better days will come, even if they take a while. In the meantime, these small steps — these small acts of care — are how we move forward, one grocery trip, one bill, one hopeful moment at a time.

This is how my husband and I raised four children on a single income. One expense and one moment at a time.

Final Thought

If you’re reading this and wondering how you’ll make it to the next payday, please know this: you are not alone, and you are not doing it wrong. You are living through a hard moment in history with courage and quiet determination.

It takes not just strength, but commitment — the kind that shows up week after week — to keep tending to your money, tracking your spending, and facing your expenses head-on. It isn’t easy, but every small effort matters.

Keep going. Keep believing in small steps. Continue to trust that the simple, steady choices you make today are helping to build a better financial future.

AND DON’T FORGET, in the Freebies page located on the Home page of House of Six, I have a Reverse Grocery List and a Subscription Audit that can help you save some money. The Reverse Grocery List allows you to see what you already have in your home, so you don’t buy repeat groceries. The Subscription Audit allows you to track money that is going out to subscriptions that you don’t use or rarely use anymore.

The Cost of Living: When Everything Feels Too Expensive