As the cost of *everything* skyrockets, it’s easy to get caught up in the “that’s just what it is” mentality.

You know, the one where you accept that grocery and food prices are just going to be high, and there's nothing you can do about it. 

I’m here to tell you today that that’s dangerous thinking. 

For many Americans, they are like a frog in boiling water. They don’t realize just how expensive everything is (boiling temps) because they’ve been hearing nothing but negative news about our economy for months (rising temps). 

So what do they do?

They try to cut back on costs in all the wrong places. Far too often leaning towards fast food instead of eating healthy at home (for example). 

A good way to see just how pricey our food budgets have become is to look at what we were paying for grocery hauls one year ago versus today.

Then take a look at the *quantities* we were bringing home.

Shrinkflation is very real, and it’s a big part of our out-of-whack food costs. So grab a pen and paper, and do some digging. Be honest!

Now I challenge you to think outside of the box.

And think about your weeks and months in the macro instead of day to day. Conveniences can be the killer of a bank account, as those $5.11 snack runs and $14.57 McDonald snags add up if you’re not careful about how often you’re doing them. Note: It’s important to be stronger than your impulse cravings.

Document what you get hungry for and when, then plan ahead by equipping your pantry/office desk with all that you need to fight those urges *while* sticking to that healthy diet. You will tackle 2 goals at once with this foresight.

For me, I load up my workspace with protein bars that can be bought in bulk at Trader Joes for $1 a piece, and keep a stash of G-Fuel in my drawer for when I need the caffeine.

With Good Ranchers, I can get my monthly supply of meat at the inflation proof fixed price of $179 per month. Thus eliminating another variable from my 30-day food budget which is key.

All three of those are (more often than not) enough to get me through the day...

+ they pay for themselves when I look back on all the money I saved by just not going through a drive through...

... why...?

Because I know how often I fall victim to corporate upselling marketing.

This is how I see it: Almost every time I go into a restaurant/drive through, I’m tempted to buy something *extra* that I was not planning on.

After I added these temptations to "my book," saw the patterns... I could then prepare meals/snacks/caffeine ahead of time to kill those cravings in the cradle.

(!) Most of which can be defeated w/ water, trail mix, and/or a short 5-min walk.

The purpose of today’s email is to get YOU to a point where convenience is squashed in advance by understanding what your body wants and when.

THEN using that data to stock your fridge with ways to combat those wallet sucking desires instead of getting in your car and going out into the wild where manipulative marketing will lure you into a $20 credit card swipe that will vaguely be remembered by the end of the month when you go to pay bills.

Your bank account will thank you in the future for being proactive.

Some other tips:

• Eat the same meals for breakfast/lunch. Instead of following whatever your cravings are for any given day, stay disciplined in eating what you already have. This will save you a lot of time too.

• Eating healthier / avoiding sugar will also steer your temptations away from sugary foods that won't keep you full for long.

• Don't eat sugar first thing in the morning or you will crave sweets and goodies more than normal. Eggs / meat first thing will help you make better choices as the day goes on. Don't forget water.

• Drink the same amount of caffeine at the same times per day. Don't drink it when you're bored as that method will deplete your tolerance quickly. Then you will need more and more just to feel *normal.*

• Meal prep in advance so you don't fall victim to lazy takeout after a long day at work. It's crazy how much time + energy we waste when we're too busy trying to make a decision. Pro tip for life: minimize the # of decisions you have to make on a day to day basis (there's a reason Mark Zuck wears the same outfit every single day of his life.)

Hope you enjoyed! If you found value in this email, reply back with your favorites and/or any suggestions you might have.

For more like this from us, go here.

-Beavs