You could also read fliers and check out your area for smaller grocery stores. Food items go on sale regularly once know the cycle try to buy them then. Around here peanutbutter goes on sale every couple of months so I try to buy enough to get me to the next sale. Toilet paper always seems to be on sale but if it is a loss leader (store losses money on it but gets you in the door) if you have the money buy the limit. If you have storage issues it can be stored under a bed it's not like it will go bad. Also some stores will match other store sales so you don't have to chase sales around town. You will be surprised on how well you can eat on even when most of your food was on sale. Also if you are cooking something like spaghetti sauce cook extra and freeze it. Most things freeze well and there are very cheap reusable containers that make it easy. If it's something you like and your already dirtying a pot makes no never mind to clean up if it is 1 batch or more.

If you have time issues then a slow cooker can help. Home cooked tastes way better than ready made and is cheaper. Oh and as a bounce cheap cuts of meat taste better if they are cooked slowly with liquid. Lots of recipes on line now.

Most everyone starts out feeling like they are always behind. You just have to change how you look at things. Budgeting isn't hard it just takes a bit of thought. And your budget will never look like anyone else's cause you budget for what is important to you. I always have books in my budget and coffee but that is me. Everything else is subject to change.