If you're trying to stick to a grocery budget, planning is crucial. Whether you're mapping out your needs for a special event or a week's worth of meals, menu planning can save you time and money at the store. According to the website SimpleMom.net, planning your meals ensures that you have more variety and healthy, fresh items in your diet because you can plot out when you'll eat specific items ahead of time. You're also less likely to waste food because everything you purchase has a purpose.
Step 1
Figure out exactly how much you can spend at the store. Dawn and Curt Simmons, authors of the book "Cooking for Crowds for Dummies," say that setting a firm budget is crucial to menu planning because you can then select foods that fit nicely into your goal.
Step 2
Count the number of people you'll be feeding. You need to know how many people will eat each meal so that you can buy enough ingredients to make the appropriate number of servings. Take age into account, as well. Teens and adults may eat more than one portion, while small children will likely eat less than one serving of each dish.
Step 3
Look through sale ads and your coupons. This can be particularly helpful when shopping for expensive foods, such as meat and dairy products. Choose proteins that are on sale to get the most bang for your buck.
Step 4
Check in your refrigerator, freezer and pantry to look for anything that needs to be eaten soon. Foods that are close to their expiration date should get priority.
Step 5
Research recipes and plan out exactly what you'll serve. Take the items that you selected from your kitchen, coupons and sale ads into account when plotting out your menu. Buy in-season fruits and vegetables directly from farmers, which can drastically reduce your grocery bill.
Step 6
Calculate costs, especially when you're planning a full week's worth of meals. For example, if you're serving two meals that feature meat, balance that out on other days with less expensive main dishes made with pasta, rice or beans.
Step 7
Make separate lists to reflect where you'll purchase all the items you need. Although meat may be less expensive at the mainstream grocery store, you might get the best deals on produce at your local farmers market.
Step 8
Follow the list when you're shopping. Don't throw extra things in the cart, and don't stray from the products you originally intended to purchase. If the store is out of something crucial, such as meat that's on sale, find a price-comparable item to substitute.
Step 9
Bring a calculator to the store. Add up your bill as you put things in the cart to make sure you're on budget. Before you head to the store, identify several products that you could put back on the shelves before you check out if you go over your goal, which will save you from embarrassing or harried decisions in the check-out lane.
Step 10
Stick to your plan. Throwing away spoiled food is akin to wasting money, and last-minute grocery purchases can blow your menu budget. Cooking the dishes you chose on the days that you scheduled ensures you don't waste anything. If you often have leftovers, plan to eat them for lunch or stretch them to the following dinner.
Things You'll Need
- Sale ads
- Coupons
- Recipes
- Paper
- Pen
- Calculator
References
- SimpleMom.net: A Basic Guide to Menu Planning
- "Cooking for Crowds for Dummies"; Dawn Simmons and Curt Simmons; 2005
- "The Good Housekeeping Illustrated Cookbook"; "Good Housekeeping"; 2001
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