I have a sort of "master list" of meals- ones that are tried and true, as well as a listing of those recipes I want to try or our once in a blue moon meals(like pad thai or curry- I love it, but DH will only eat it 1-2 times a year!)

Then I get all the sale ads Tuesday evening and figure out what is on sale and what I have coupons for or can order. Then I plan around the sales and write it on my calendar so I can keep track of what we had when.

This is how I save the most money on groceries. No more wandering around the store and grabbing what looks good and then getting home and realizing I spent a ton of money on nothing!!

I have a pre-printed grocery list that follows my particular store floor plan. I also have a handy list of my regular dinners that I usually cook (about 20-25). I usually see what I have at home and then I handwrite 7-10 meals on the back of my grocery list. I go through each of the meals checking off the ingredients that I will need on the reverse grocery list side of the paper. Also, I go through my coupons at this point. It's not as organized as some, but it works great for me!

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I am my son's mom & my husband's wife.

My husband gets paid once a month and so at the end of each month before he gets paid, I sit down with a blank calendar that I printed off and try to make a menu for the whole month. I try to rotate items and eat things that we haven't recently and also take stock of ingredients that we already have. I do the majority of my grocery shopping once a month and so I try to buy as much for the month as I can.

On the calendar (which I post in the kitchen on a corkboard), I put an x through the meal if we ate it, circle it if something changes and we didn't eat that meal, and a star for a meal that I wasn't able to get all the ingredients for. That way I can look each morning and know what I am fixing and if I have to run to the grocery store for anything to finish the meal off. It has worked pretty well for us and has cut down on our eating out.

I generally only do this for supper because lunch is a get whatever you can find to eat since dh only has a half hour to eat. HTH

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I have a master list of meals that are ranked 1,2 &3. They are ranked by the amount of time it takes to make them. I also have a list of where kids eat free on that list. I sit down with their ball schedules & make a menu a month at a time. Each child gets to pick one meal a week & I fill in the rest.

I shop by the list using a preprinted grocery list that I made in excel by grocery dept. I list the meals on a blank calendar & post it above the regular calendar. So far, this is what works best for me.

***disclaimer...the works best for me part is subject to change at a moment's notice!

I want to make meal plans, but I just can't get going on it... one thing I've been working on that should help when I manage to figure out what way is right for me is I have two binders - one for recipes I want to try and one with recipes that are tried & true that I'll make again (I'm an allrecipes addict).

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:love:

I have a method for planning my meals. I have a stock pile of food. Every 2 weeks (before payday)- I will go through and reorganize all the items and jot done ideas for suppers (breakfast and lunch is easy ones that I usually always have stuff on hand). I will sit done and organize it on a dry erase board (a small one I got at Target on clearance). I go through my calendar and see what things are going on and then I do my menu.

My method has many steps but it is easier for me what I need to get at the store and it is a great way to save money!

I plan week by week because of dh schedule. I usually ask him what he would like & then I see what all I have in my pantry. I fix spaghetti a lot because it's quick & easy. I just sit down w/pen & paper & coupons.

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Mommy to Ariana 8/11/01 & Davis 4/11/05
I love my kiddos!

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I have a master list on pen and paper that lists main dishes, side dishes, and desserts. I have a basic plan each month but change it according to sale ads. I also try to pick out 4-5 new recipes each month so we don't get bored.

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i also use a piece of paper and pen i write down 9 meals for the week gives us the option of something different on the spur of the moment.. i even list lunches and breakfasts that way i know exactly what i need from the store and i only buy whats on the list.

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'The will of God will never take you where the
Grace of God will not protect you.'

all fantastic feedback, and it's so interesting to see what you all have for systems. It sounds like pen & paper is a clear winner, but I will be checking out the meals4moms website too.

Now I just have to figure out how to print a blank calendar in Word. should be a good intelligence test

Thanks for all the input!!!

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~ mama abroad

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