Cashmonkies Frugal Blog

Planning your meals in advanced is something I have learned to love. I sit down at the computer, on Wednesday, with 3 pieces of paper and my coupon book. I pull up all the sales ads on my computer and begin by glancing at them all. One piece of paper I write Items needed at the top. One piece of paper I write down Shopping list. The last piece of paper, I make a menu for the week. I shop every week on Thursday. So I make my menu according to this. I split the paper in 7 sections. I first start writing down the things we are out of, or my normal weekly things that you have to buy each week onto my Items paper. Once I have that down, I then find all the meats on sale. I typically go to two stores. So I look at the meats, and then I plan my menu, with the meats first. I then go to my items needed list and write down all the ingredients I need to make each meat if any. I then pick all my side dishes and write them down in the menu, so that my meals are completely planned out. Then write down all my sides that I don’t have on hand onto my items needed list. I then go through the sales ads, and write down the things that are on my items need list, crossing off the items as I transfer them to my shopping list. After I have all that done, I go through my coupon book and pull out all my coupons that I can match up with sales. Which I know what coupons I have, so I can easily pick sale items that I have a coupon for. Put the coupons and my list in the front pocket of the coupon holder. And I always keep my coupon holder in my purse. So the next day when I go shopping, I have my list along with my pen. And I shop. I do not buy anything that is not on my list, unless its something on sale that wasn’t advertised in the paper, and we need it. That’s why I always carry my coupon book with me. I typically do not buy anything off my list though.

I have found by doing this, I know what I am spending before I even leave my house, and I never go over my budget. I always stay near the budget, typically being under. When I didn’t plan my menu, I would end up at the store every other day, because I forgot this and that and need it to fix dinner. We all know them fast extra stops at the store, always mean extra money spent. Because you always grab something else that isn’t really needed.

Plan your shopping day out in your head before you even leave the house. I always try and create a big circle, so I can save on gas. Same thing, with only shopping one day a week. I use Thursday’s as my running day. I get everything I need to while I am out, planning my trip, so I am not back tracking. This really helps on gas. Since I am a stay at home mom, I don’t need to fill up my mini van to often. A full tank, will last me around 3 weeks. Of course we do things on the weekend, but We never go far, and we try and walk or ride our bikes if possible.