Saving Money With Meal Planning!

You can easily save money on your grocery bill just by planning out your meals.

I use the app Out of Milk to keep track of what I have on hand, keep track of prices and know what I'm going to spend before I get to the store and also has a handy to do list in it.

Start by taking note of your current stock. Now, list out your meals that you make, put them in groups by things like meat, no meat, crock pot etc. Look at those meals and think about which ones share ingredients or you always end up with leftovers that you remake into something else. You can make weekly meal plans, but I like to plan them for 2 weeks and have 2 options every day.

Next, start pricing out the items you buy if you have your receipts or write the prices down when you go to the store. Take note of the size and you'll calculate the cost per unit for future purchases, that way you know when a price is a good deal. I made a simple excel spreadsheet that I check when looking through sales. Once you have your prices, you'll be able to create your grocery list and know what you are going to spend, before you go to the store.

Now, I know it may seem hard to make a grocery budget and when I first started, it did seem impossible, but now it's like second nature. My budget for the whole month is just $240 for 2 adults and a 4 year old. That's like $8.57 a day or $2.85 a person per day. Now, if you have teenagers or a baby, your budget is going to be higher. But watching prices and using coupons and buying things that are on sale that you are going to USE or are FREE, not just because! I don't buy what we don't use, that is low quality and you use more or something that is going to go to waste. If your family is always dumping milk, maybe you should buy a lower size. It might cost less per unit if you buy bigger, but you'll save money buying only what you are going to use.

If you have a friend or family member and live close to a bulk store, split the membership and the food with them. You can save lots of money buying in bulk if you can split it with someone or freeze it and you live pretty close. I like to calculate my gas cost to drive to a store that's further away with there is maybe only one or two things they have on sale that I need. If gas is going to cost you $3.51 to get there and back, but you're only saving $2.42...it's not worth it. Plan to go there if you are going to be in the area for another reason.

Stick with your meal planning, switch up the meals and orders and any money you don't use, save it for a night out or maybe a cold treat.

Happy Savings!