I’d love to do a post about how I use my meal planner without fail every week, always sticking to it, always following the meals, but I’d be lying. I probably stick to it about 60% of the time.
When I do stick to it, it definitely saves me money, when I don’t it sometimes saves money, sometimes costs money. Take last night, I went shopping only buying things on offer and have then done a quick menu plan for next week to fit around them.
My meal plan folder contains the following:
- 12 weeks of meals on a 4 week rotation
- Recipes, cut from magazines, MSE, anywhere really
- Weekly shopping list for every weekly plan
- A monthly shopping list for basics
I also do the following:
- Stock up on BOGOF items (if I use them only)
- Shop at all supermarkets (Aldi for tins, eggs etc)
- Use coupons (which I keep in my handbag)
- Adapt the menu’s for food on offer
- Use a price book
My menu plan took about 3-4 hours to set up, however was time very well spent. If only I could stick to it 100% 
Further Reading:
Living frugally – saving money on grocery
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{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
Hi!
Very good idea of yours. I used to try a similar planning but, as you highlighted in your post, the same happened to me, it was really difficult to stick to it. Sometimes we get bored of the same food so I have to keep changing the menus. Other times our tastes and sudden wishes mess the whole planing, one feels like lasagna, the other wants pizza, etc. Most times we plan and do agreements but others I have to cook 2 or 3 different things. I´d like to save on meals but with a family like mine is very difficult. I have to admit that food is our “eccentricity”, Lol.
Thanks for sharing your management ideas, I´ve been enjoying your posts and I think they´re very useful.
Cheers!
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