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