Do you meal plan?

[GoodSteward]

I don't think small areas like food is worth spending too much efforts in the budget. It may be useful for someone with very little money, but for the majority the energy can be better spent on larger savings.

I see your point, but I disagree. I think we are in two different worlds. For most Americans food is within the top three biggest expenses. I can see how it may not be a big deal for someone who doesn't like to eat out and doesn't have a large family so they naturally just spend less, or for someone who has a high enough income to where they are not bothered by it. However, for anybody on a strict budget, without some form of meal planning or at least consistency to stay within the budget you will find yourself pulling from other accounts to keep the food out of the red. Especially when you are having to feed a large family 3 times a day. It doesn't really matter how much money you make, if you allot a certain amount for food and don't make sure you stay within that you are still messing up the budget. If you are allowing too much to go to food then that is wasting investment/savings money. That's how I view it anyway.

Don't get me wrong. We eat oatmeal, cereal, fruit, etc. I'm not saying we plan big meals every meal, and we also keep a decent amount of quick meals on the list for those nights we didn't get to supper in time and don't feel like cooking. We have ate cereal many o times for supper. I just think you need to plan it to be able to keep control of it. At least make sure you have enough food to cover all the meals until the next shopping day. We don't stick to the daily menu every day, but I use that as a guide to make sure I'm buying enough, but not too much. I have too many other things I need to be putting money into right now to waste 100$ or 200$ a month buying food that is thrown out or isn't eaten for weeks. Having planned food on hand is also how we avoid eating out. Even eating out cheap for us is 25$ since my kids are getting older. Just throw that in once a week and that is 100$ gone. 25$ can feed us 4 times easy from the store.

Having meals planned out already is a huge stress relief for us.

[disneysteve]

For most Americans food is within the top three biggest expenses.

Yep. Food is usually #3 on the list of biggest expenses. Keeping that under control can have a major effect on the overall budget.

[Like2Plan]

So, DH and I make a list. (If it isn't on the list, it doesn't exist.) Also, I shop for precise amounts that are in a recipe. So, instead of getting a bag of potatoes, I will get just 1 potato (if that is what the recipe calls for). Or, just 1 tomato. That way I don't have to worry about how I'm going to use up stuff (especially produce). I also try to buy stuff within a day or two of when I'm going to cook it.

We cook up a huge pot of veggie soup or chili or ratatouille, etc and we freeze individual servings.

[Jennsnoopy]

Yes, I meal plan and shop sales. I get a fixed amount every week for groceries. Whatever I don't spend goes into extra money for my Christmas fund. Since I am a stay at home mom this is how I get "paid". I really analyzed how our family "blows" budget on food and found out it was usually Tuesday-Thursday because the school and workweek get so hectic. We would eat out or get something expensive but quick to make from the store. By shopping sales, spending a few hours a weekend prepping meals for the middle of the week, we've Saved a lot. Now it's a game for me. Kids go back to school next week and after school activities start up so I have already prepped a bunch in my freezer and we are ready to go.

And I agree with those who say it can have big impacts on the budget. At least for us it does.

[GoodSteward]

I only have a shopping list

That is better than going without anything. I find even having a list and sticking to it saves money. If I go hungry just looking to buy food I always spend more. haha

[disneysteve]

That is better than going without anything. I find even having a list and sticking to it saves money. If I go hungry just looking to buy food I always spend more. haha

I agree with using a shopping list. We keep one on the fridge and throughout the week, we all add items to it as we use things up or think of things we want to have in the house. It keeps us from running out of things and it improves the odds that we'll have what we need on hand to make the meals we like to make.

[kork13]

I agree with using a shopping list. We keep one on the fridge and throughout the week, we all add items to it as we use things up or think of things we want to have in the house. It keeps us from running out of things and it improves the odds that we'll have what we need on hand to make the meals we like to make.

We do the same thing, except that we use an app on our phones (options abound). It synchs between both of us, and we can check it off as we go. It's most especially helpful for times when I'm not home & realize that I need something. We've even done it where both of us go separate directions in the store, checking items off as we can them, and meet back at the cashier with everything we need. Works really well for us.