Meal Planning TIps

I have been working on my meal plan for the month. I take a calendar (one I make myself). I used my Microsoft Word and change the orientation to Landscape. From there I inserted a 6 x 7 table and re-sized it to the page. Along the top I just put the days of the week. I numbered the days according the the month (I do this every month when I start to work on my next months plan). I start working on it about a week to two weeks before the month.

I start out by adding our tried and trued favorite recipes that we have every month. There are some recipes that I make according to season, such as Chili in the winter time. I have some recipes that we love that I make but not every month. So I figure out what we want to make and add those. Then I work in some new recipes that we have never tried. This is what takes me a little time, trying to figure out what to make. I also like to switch up the recipes that I use, just to get different tastes. So sometimes I will add recipes that I have yet to make. I always make each recipe my own, I will take some things away and/or add some ingredients. I also try to post a picture when I remember it.

The meal plan is a great way to save money, by having it set out before the month. I get a check on the first of the month and I like to buy all the meats that I need at the beginning of the month, that way when my husband gets paid we are able to just get the essential small fresh stuff that we need. 

I also like to bulk buy, I am telling you, it really does save you money. 

I am in the process of finding a butcher and seeing if it will be cheaper to buy from a butcher vs. grocery or club store. So far I have found buying in a club store is cheaper than a grocery store. I thinking buying from a butcher (if it is cost effective for me) will help me to get fresher meats. I will get to see it outside of packaging so I can see that it is fresh. There is nothing I hate more than buying a meat that looks nice and red and take it home and out the package and the underside is brown. So when I find a butcher I will let you know my findings.

Now on to look up some new recipes.