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Hey, do you ever go into the grocery
store for just a few things and

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walk out a hundred dollars later
wondering what just happened?

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If grocery trips derail your budget
today we're talking about the

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simple tool that gives you back
control the Mighty Grocery List.

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Hey there.

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Welcome back to Your Daily as Ralph.

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I'm Ralph and it's great
to be with you again today.

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We're deep into our series, the Joy
of Living Below your Means all with

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the goal of helping you break the
cycle of financial shame, and most

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importantly, do it with confidence.

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Now, yesterday we tackled meal
planning to beat that dinner stress.

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Today we take that plan right to the
store, so you've got your meal plan,

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and that's great, that's awesome.

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But the grocery store, that can be a
battleground for the budget, right?

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Maybe you go in with good intentions,
but those end cap displays, they

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lure you in the 'buy one, get one
free' deals scream your name for

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stuff you didn't even plan to buy.

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Or maybe your kids toss
extra things in the cart.

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I could still remember doing this
routinely to my mom, my sister and I.

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We were wrecking balls
in the grocery store.

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You end up spending way
more than you budgeted.

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You forget things you actually
needed meaning guess what?

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Another trip there to the store later.

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And you come home sometime with random
items that may even end up going to waste.

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Well, that feeling of losing control
in the grocery store aisles, the

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impulse buys, the budget overruns and
the frustration of multiple trips.

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That's the single pain
point we're tackling today.

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Head on on the show.

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Here's the thing, you gotta understand
this grocery stores are designed

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to make you spend more money.

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Their layout, the sales, the product
placement, it's all geared towards

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encouraging those impulse purchases.

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And here's a simple truth without
a firm plan and the discipline to

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stick to it, we are easy targets, and
this is where self-control comes in.

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A fruit of the spirit
becomes super practical.

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See, being a good steward involves
not just making a plan like our

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meal plan we talked about yesterday.

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But then faithfully executing
that plan, even when faced

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with significant temptations.

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Yes, even temptation in the
form of those cookies on sale.

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See, ask, how do we win
the grocery store battle?

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Ralph, how do we ensure our food
spending aligns with our meal plan

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and most importantly, with our budget?

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Well, lemme just tell you, the single
essential solution is really twofold.

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Here's what I'm gonna encourage you to do.

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Make a detailed grocery list based only on
your needs and that meal plan you built.

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And here's the big part, and commit
to sticking to it religiously.

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Stick to that list completely
because a detailed list born

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from your meal plan acts as a
map and your shield in the store.

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It ensures you get what
you want and what you need.

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Make sure you're not forgetting
those crucial ingredients for

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for Tuesday night's dinner.

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It also prevents those impulse
buys because if it's not on the

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list, it doesn't go in the car.

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And I'll say that generally, it also saves
you time because you know exactly what

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you need so you can shop more efficiently.

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That's another great part.

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It controls costs.

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It's the most effective way to
keep your grocery bill in check.

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Now sticking to that list is where
discipline comes in, and it might

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mean saying no to yourself or to
others, but it reinforces your

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commitment to your financial goals.

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So in the end, the solution is plan.

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Discipline.

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Here's my Big takeaway for today.

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List and stick.

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So, okay, here's your one action
step for today, specifically

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for your next grocery tip.

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Here's what I want you to do.

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First thing I want you to
do is grab your meal plan.

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Get that meal plan you made yesterday.

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Second thing I want you to do,
check that inventory again, you

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know, quickly scan your fridge.

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Look in your freezer, and look in
your pantry and see what you have.

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Third, write the list.

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Create that grocery list.

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Write down every single specific
ingredient needed for your planned

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meals that you don't already
have because you just checked.

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And then add any household
staples you're out of, maybe milk.

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Eggs, uh, toilet paper's.

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Kind of important.

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You get the idea.

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And here's a pro tip.

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While I'm here, try organizing your
list by store section for, in other

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words, produce or, or dairy or the
meat aisles, because that's gonna make

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shopping faster and avoid backtracking.

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The fourth thing I want
you to do is to commit.

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You gotta make a conscious
decision right now.

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When I go shopping next, I will
only buy what's on the list.

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You know, maybe allow yourself one
of those, what I'll call pre-planned

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exceptions, if it's absolutely
necessary, but aim for the list only.

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So now maybe you're asking Ralph, why
is this simple list action so important?

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Well, here's why.

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Because it directly fights the
pain of impulse spending and those

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budget blowups at the grocery store.

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It provides absolute
clarity on what to buy.

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It eliminates the decision
fatigue in the aisles.

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And requires the self-control needed
to stick to your financial plan.

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Because here's the big takeaway,
it puts you in charge, not

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the store's marketing tactics.

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Well, let's pray together.

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Father God, thank you for
the abundance you provide us.

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Lord, we confess that grocery stores
can be places of temptation for us

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leading to unplanned spending and waste.

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And as my friend prepares their grocery
list based on their plan, Lord, grant

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them diligence and thoroughness.

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And father, give them your
strength and, and self-control when

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they walk through those aisles.

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Help them to stick to that list and Lord
to, to resist those impulse buys and to

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be faithful stewards of the resources
you've given them for nourishment.

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And Lord, may this act of discipline
bring peace and order to their finances.

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And we ask this in Jesus' name.

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Amen.

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Alright, well I want you to make that list
before you shop next, and then channel

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your inner ninja focus in the store.

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Stick to that mission.

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You can absolutely do this.

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I know you can.

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You're building an amazing habit here.

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Now.

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We put several great foundational
pieces in place this week.

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How do we make sure you're
staying on track consistently?

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Well be sure to join me back
here tomorrow on Ask Ralph.

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We're gonna talk about the
crucial habit of implementing

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a quick regular money check-in.

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More on that tomorrow when we'll
cover action item number 10.

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And if this episode gave you a plan for
your next grocery run, I'm gonna encourage

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you to share it with somebody else and
you can find resources and links in the

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show notes or visit me@askralph.com.

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And I would really love it if you
would consider supporting the show.

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You can do that by going to  ask
ralph podcast.com/support.

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So until tomorrow, shop Smart, stick to
that list and keep seeking him first.

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Stay financially savvy.

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God bless you and have a great day today.