| > | | | | planning no more than 2 weeks out at a time |
| Provided in this article are guidelines to dramatically | | | | because daily and weekly schedules can change |
| reduce your food expenditure; help you plan your | | | | so rapidly. Also, when your weekly schedule |
| meals more efficiently; and simultaneously save | | | | changes you can switch meals around on your |
| you daily stress and time! | | | | calendar as needed. You can allow further room |
| Most people who are on some kind of grocery | | | | for flexibility by including "eat out" days on your |
| budget hate the idea of feeling like their paying | | | | calendar. I usually plan a couple of meals out each |
| too much at the store. It seems food prices keep | | | | week, usually on nights when I know I am going |
| climbing every time we go the grocery store to | | | | to be extra busy or tired. Once the meals from |
| do our shopping, especially on basics such as milk, | | | | your list are gone, fill the blank days with new |
| cheese, bread, fruits and vegetables. This fact | | | | meals that include ingredients you need to shop |
| probably won't change. However, the way we | | | | for. On your calendar you can choose to plan and |
| shop for groceries and how we plan our daily | | | | schedule all three daily meals and even snacks, or |
| meals can change. Here are some guidelines to | | | | stay a little simpler and just plan dinner meals for |
| dramatically reduce your food costs; help you plan | | | | each night. Again, the important thing is that your |
| your meals more efficiently; and just as important | | | | meal plan fits your schedule and lifestyle so it can |
| as saving money, save you daily stress and time! | | | | most effectively reduce your grocery budget and |
| First, create a monthly calendar system in your | | | | stress level. |
| kitchen. This can be a white board calendar, a | | | | Fourth, and this is where you will really see the |
| printed or hand made calendar hung up on the wall | | | | savings, is to go shopping! Take your grocery list |
| or tack board, or a small calendar you keep in a | | | | comprised of ingredients you need to complete all |
| daily planner. I keep a white board calendar hung | | | | the meals that you've planned and go to your |
| up on the wall of my kitchen because I can easily | | | | favorite grocery store to buy them. And, if you |
| erase each month, create a new one, and never | | | | have a few extra minutes and want even more |
| buy a new calendar for each year. However, any | | | | savings, look through your coupons and see if any |
| kind of monthly calendar works. What's important | | | | apply to the ingredients on your list. Also, many |
| is that it fits your lifestyle and taste. | | | | stores, like Wal-Mart and other large chains, price |
| Second, once you have your calendar in place | | | | match any competitor advertisements. So that |
| look through your food pantry and refrigerator. | | | | means you can take your grocery |
| Using a piece of paper, write down all the | | | | advertisements from your Sunday newspaper |
| different kinds of meals you can make with what | | | | and go to only one store and get all the great |
| you currently have. They can be quick and easy | | | | deals from all the other stores without the running |
| meals, more involved, or a combination of the | | | | around! |
| two as long as they make up an overall healthy | | | | By using the meal planning method explained |
| diet. If you also think of meals that might require | | | | above you should see a dramatic decrease in |
| one or two extra ingredients from the store then | | | | your spending at the grocery store. By shopping |
| just write down the ingredients you need on a | | | | for only the ingredients needed to complete meals |
| separate grocery list. Later on, you should | | | | that you've already planned you will have a |
| discover that you and your family will naturally eat | | | | definite plan of attack when entering the grocery |
| healthier when meals are already planned out. In | | | | store and therefore you will not be so inclined to |
| addition, planned out meals dramatically cut down | | | | buy more food and snacks than you really need. |
| on the stress you feel in having to think up and | | | | However, it is always good to stock up on |
| create multiple meals in a given day. This is | | | | regularly used items, especially when you can use |
| incredibly helpful for today's busy woman, no | | | | coupons or price match. Use this method for a |
| matter her circumstance. | | | | month and you will see the dramatic savings! You |
| Third, take out your monthly calendar and start | | | | will also love not having to stress over what |
| placing the meals from your list onto different | | | | you're going to cook night after night and worry |
| days on your calendar. I would recommend | | | | about what you have in the fridge or pantry. |