Comments on: How I plan my menu. http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/08/how-i-plan-my-menu/ cheerfully living on less Wed, 08 Feb 2012 07:57:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Libby Wilson http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/08/how-i-plan-my-menu/#comment-165902 Libby Wilson Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:15:17 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-165902 I have recently started menu planning for my family of 5 and find it a huge help, not only financially, but saves me the headache of thinking if something to make everyday. I have certainly noticed a difference in my food bill and also my food wastage is so much smaller. We love eating leftovers the next day for lunch or tea, sometimes it tastes better the next day as all the flavours have had time to develop. I am trying hard to use my slow cooker more and have been enlightened by a few books that tell you a slow cooker isn't just for stews! In the UK though, I don't think we have such good food offers as in the US and we certainly don't have access to the coupons that the US has but I am still trying hard to be more frugal. Thanks for your tips!!! I have recently started menu planning for my family of 5 and find it a huge help, not only financially, but saves me the headache of thinking if something to make everyday. I have certainly noticed a difference in my food bill and also my food wastage is so much smaller. We love eating leftovers the next day for lunch or tea, sometimes it tastes better the next day as all the flavours have had time to develop. I am trying hard to use my slow cooker more and have been enlightened by a few books that tell you a slow cooker isn’t just for stews! In the UK though, I don’t think we have such good food offers as in the US and we certainly don’t have access to the coupons that the US has but I am still trying hard to be more frugal. Thanks for your tips!!!

]]> By: Kristin http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/08/how-i-plan-my-menu/#comment-83546 Kristin Wed, 06 Apr 2011 20:15:32 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-83546 I menu plan by month. This works for me as I have been shopping sales for a while and stockpiled my freezer with chicken, pork, we butcher or own beef, so I menu plan my main courses way ahead then fill in the sides with fresh produce/fruit based on the sales flyers. I menu plan by month. This works for me as I have been shopping sales for a while and stockpiled my freezer with chicken, pork, we butcher or own beef, so I menu plan my main courses way ahead then fill in the sides with fresh produce/fruit based on the sales flyers.

]]> By: Mel http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/08/how-i-plan-my-menu/#comment-27637 Mel Tue, 23 Feb 2010 16:02:12 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-27637 I always here about people saving money by coupon clipping and watching for sales... What about people like myself who shops mainly at Aldi's (discount grocery store). Prices are always the same here (with occasional increases) but no sales on items. They do not allow coupons because their prices are already pretty cheap. How can we cut costs further? We do not have too much waste food because a lot of what we buy is frozen or boxed goods with a long shelf life. But we are still trying to cut costs with our grocery spending. Perhaps I am being a little unrealistic that we could even be saving any more in our grocery spending as we currently are. We probably spend around $75/week for a family of 4 (one is a baby though, and her food is mostly free for us). I definitely want to start menu planning, though for me it's not for the money factor. I absolutely hate cooking. My husband is the cook of our house, but he shouldnt have to cook all our meals. I have a hard time coming up with new things to make, even when looking up recipes online. So for me, menu planning is something that my husband and I could do together, and then I would be much more willing to get dinner started when I'm not having to also plan it at the same time. (Also allows for me to start thawing any meat we need for the meal the day before). I always here about people saving money by coupon clipping and watching for sales… What about people like myself who shops mainly at Aldi’s (discount grocery store). Prices are always the same here (with occasional increases) but no sales on items. They do not allow coupons because their prices are already pretty cheap. How can we cut costs further?

We do not have too much waste food because a lot of what we buy is frozen or boxed goods with a long shelf life. But we are still trying to cut costs with our grocery spending. Perhaps I am being a little unrealistic that we could even be saving any more in our grocery spending as we currently are. We probably spend around $75/week for a family of 4 (one is a baby though, and her food is mostly free for us).

I definitely want to start menu planning, though for me it’s not for the money factor. I absolutely hate cooking. My husband is the cook of our house, but he shouldnt have to cook all our meals. I have a hard time coming up with new things to make, even when looking up recipes online. So for me, menu planning is something that my husband and I could do together, and then I would be much more willing to get dinner started when I’m not having to also plan it at the same time. (Also allows for me to start thawing any meat we need for the meal the day before).

]]> By: Theresa http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/08/how-i-plan-my-menu/#comment-24752 Theresa Mon, 25 Jan 2010 22:44:55 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-24752 I save time grocery shopping by making a aisle by aisle list of frequent used items at my favorite grocery store. I printed out the list and put it on my refigerator and when I was out of an item or needed it for my menu planinng I just checked it off. Now when I go to the grocery store I don’t have to search for the items I can just go down the aisles and easily pick up items off my grocery lists. I save time grocery shopping by making a aisle by aisle list of frequent used items at my favorite grocery store. I printed out the list and put it on my refigerator and when I was out of an item or needed it for my menu planinng I just checked it off. Now when I go to the grocery store I don’t have to search for the items I can just go down the aisles and easily pick up items off my grocery lists.

]]> By: The Frugal Girl » …and Menu Plan. http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/08/how-i-plan-my-menu/#comment-19607 The Frugal Girl » …and Menu Plan. Sat, 31 Oct 2009 11:25:06 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-19607 [...] times like these, I’m really glad that I usually plan my menu more than a week ahead of time. Even though I’m now four days late with planning my menu (I usually do it on Wednesdays, and [...] [...] times like these, I’m really glad that I usually plan my menu more than a week ahead of time. Even though I’m now four days late with planning my menu (I usually do it on Wednesdays, and [...]

]]> By: The Frugal Girl » Monday Q&A-Menu Planning, Learning to Read, and Gobs of Money! http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/08/how-i-plan-my-menu/#comment-14344 The Frugal Girl » Monday Q&A-Menu Planning, Learning to Read, and Gobs of Money! Mon, 20 Jul 2009 14:29:05 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-14344 [...] for advice on planning a menu. I wrote a post on this topic a while back and you can find that post right here. [...] [...] for advice on planning a menu. I wrote a post on this topic a while back and you can find that post right here. [...]

]]> By: The Frugal Girl » Monday Q&A-Flour Storage and Single-Person-Produce http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/08/how-i-plan-my-menu/#comment-13715 The Frugal Girl » Monday Q&A-Flour Storage and Single-Person-Produce Mon, 13 Jul 2009 18:40:44 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-13715 [...] help you avoid buying too much produce, I would recommend planning out your meals, including your side dishes, like salads, steamed veggies, or fruit salad. I’ve found that [...] [...] help you avoid buying too much produce, I would recommend planning out your meals, including your side dishes, like salads, steamed veggies, or fruit salad. I’ve found that [...]

]]> By: Kristen http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/08/how-i-plan-my-menu/#comment-130 Kristen Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:05:43 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-130 Yeah...when I don't plan and prepare, eating out is so, so tempting. I'm scared to think how much money our family of 6 would spend if we ate out regularly, though. Even a trip to a fast food restaurant can easily cost $20. Yeah…when I don’t plan and prepare, eating out is so, so tempting. I’m scared to think how much money our family of 6 would spend if we ate out regularly, though. Even a trip to a fast food restaurant can easily cost $20.

]]> By: Writer Dad http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/08/how-i-plan-my-menu/#comment-134 Writer Dad Thu, 14 Aug 2008 16:00:26 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-134 It's so worth it. It's way too easy to simply eat out. But as a country, we're getting fat and broke by thinking this way. It’s so worth it. It’s way too easy to simply eat out. But as a country, we’re getting fat and broke by thinking this way.

]]> By: Kristen http://www.thefrugalgirl.com/2008/08/how-i-plan-my-menu/#comment-133 Kristen Wed, 13 Aug 2008 21:04:25 +0000 http://thefrugalgirl.wordpress.com/?p=270#comment-133 Joe, that is a good idea for older kids. I think as mine get older, I'll try to involve them more. For now, I get to dictate the meals around here.(mwahahahah!) lol Jill-that's awesome! I hope you find menu planning as helpful as I do. The quesadilla recipe is from the Cook's Illustrated site...but basically it's just your normal quesadilla filled with bacon, grilled chicken, and shredded cheddar cheese(and I cook them in butter). The bacon and chicken wraps are very easy...just cooked bacon, chicken, lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese and your choice of dressing all wrapped up in a tortilla. They're good though(is anything with bacon bad???). :p Joe, that is a good idea for older kids. I think as mine get older, I’ll try to involve them more. For now, I get to dictate the meals around here.(mwahahahah!) lol

Jill-that’s awesome! I hope you find menu planning as helpful as I do. The quesadilla recipe is from the Cook’s Illustrated site…but basically it’s just your normal quesadilla filled with bacon, grilled chicken, and shredded cheddar cheese(and I cook them in butter). The bacon and chicken wraps are very easy…just cooked bacon, chicken, lettuce, tomato, shredded cheese and your choice of dressing all wrapped up in a tortilla. They’re good though(is anything with bacon bad???). :p

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