I saw a post on Facebook this week about a family who was only going to spend $100 a week on groceries. This was apparently their attempt at being better with money.
My first thought was, “that’s not the first place I’d look for savings”. There are several areas I would look at first. Next week I plan to share a post about all the areas to cut back in first before stripping your grocery budget. There is probably a little savings there, but not THE place or the FIRST place I would start “being better with money.”
In my opinion, the best way to save money on food is to be prepared so that you’re eating out less. Meal planning is the key to being successful in saving money.
The average meal cost of eating out is $13. The average meal cost at home is $4. This ultimately is a $9 savings for each meal. Now this may not be exact and true for every home, city, or state. But, what if you use the idea as potentially you could save $9 a meal and start limiting your eating out. If you regularly eat out 5 times a week, if you reduce this to even 2 times a week, this is $27 savings, per person, per week. For one person, this is $100 a month. The total amount of savings can add up quickly.
Now you’ve probably read all about meal planning and sometimes those posts are very elaborate. The point of meal planning should only be about being prepared. Keep it simple so you can stick with it.
5 Ways to Make Meal Planning Easy
First, choose a day/time that you will devote to planning your meals for the week. I usually do it the day before grocery shopping, but whatever day is easiest for you so it gets done. Some weeks I find I struggle with even enough ideas for meals that one week, but other weeks I am flowing with all the ideas. If this happens, I end meal planning for sometimes up to 6 weeks.
Second, choose how you are going to plan the structure of your meals. For a little inspiration, I’m going to share how I meal plan. My ultimate strategy is using leftovers to my advantage so I don’t have to cook as often. When I was working M-F, 8-5, I would cook Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. These became leftovers for Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday was breakfast night. This was my standard rotation. Now that I work from home, I still employ this structure, but have changed the days to Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and leftovers Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, and Saturday is breakfast night.
I know some families do not enjoy leftovers or they don’t typically have leftovers. I suggest that your meal plan is still trying to have at least one or two portions from each meal and then follow up with a weekly leftover night, i.e. clean out the fridge night.
Another easy way to help with meal planning is to use theme nights. This adds variety to your weeks as well as helps you think of something to eat that night. Instead of thinking of what to eat, you get to think of what Italian dish should I make.
Third, use the mantra cook once, eat twice. If I make a meal such as chili or stew, I may have more than one night of leftovers, so I freeze these leftovers for a future day. This day is typically when we are arriving back home from vacation or a quick weekend trip and we can pull this out of the freezer instead of 1) having to cook or 2) having to eat out again.
Four, make sure you have in your cooking arsenal some quick and easy throw together meals. These are handy when you forgot to set out meat or discover you don’t have a certain ingredient to make that meal that evening. These quick and easy meals are also helpful for those nights that you get home later than expected. These meal ideas can vary from breakfast such as eggs and toast, or if you have some veggies that can turn the eggs into omeletes. What are some other quick meals you could throw together, maybe a meatless spaghetti, a baked potato in the microwave, or quesadillas. Whatever it is, make sure you have those ideas in your head or on a list for quick reference. Also remember the cook once, eat twice meals in the freezer. Very handy on days like today!
Meal planning can also help us to use up what we have. Before making your plan for the week, look in the fridge, pantry, and cupboards for items that need to be used up. These items may also spark ideas for specific meals making this week’s meal planning simple. This also delays the cost from our grocery budget.
Five, make a list of all meals you’ve ever made. I had my family help me brainstorm this list of meals and when I was stumped in my meal planning process, I would just read through this list for inspiration. How many times do we get in a slump of cooking the same thing over and over? This is typically because we’ve forgotten other meals that we have made in the past. This tool was priceless for me in my meal planning efforts.
Use meal planning as a tool to help you eat out less. The strides you make with being prepared for each meal will ultimately help you save money. Cutting back on your grocery budget alone, will not help you “be better with money”. Watch for a blog post in the future with ideas and ways on how to be better with money to ultimate savings and stay within budget.
Join my Facebook group “All Things Personal Finance” for weekly live trainings, free resources, inspiration and a place to ask all your questions.
 - AMAZONA.de)