Budgeting 101: Meal Planning Saves Money

Want to read about the rest of the Budgeting 101 Series? Find it: HERE.

Budgeting 101: Class 4
 Meal Planning is what makes my budget work.  
Because I plan what we eat I know what groceries I will need each month.  
And It makes it so I can watch for deals on items I will need.

MY MONTHLY MEAL PLAN:

Each of these Meals are a Category.  Meaning, if it says "Chicken & Potatoes" that means I am cooking Chicken & Potatoes...but it could be grilled chicken, baked chicken, crock pot, etc. It also varies in marinade or flavoring.  This way I can change up the variety within the category.

I don't like it to feel like we eat the same thing again and again.

Example: one week it will be BBQ chicken and Baked Potatoes, then the next will be Garlic Baked Chicken with Herb Potatoes. 

AND each category is made TWICE a MONTH.

1. Chicken & Potatoes x2

2. Chicken & Rice x2

3. Meatloaf & Potatoes x2

4. Lasagna & Italian x2
 5. Enchiladas/Tacos/Burritos x2

6. Beans & Rice x2

7. Salsa Chicken Meals x2

8. Stir Fry x2

9. Spaghetti x2

10. Fried Rice x2

11. Soup x2

12. Salad x2

Each of these meals doubled = 24 MEALS

Giving about 3 Nights for Left Overs & 3 Night for Eating Out/Entertaining 

MEALS: 
(with Recipes linked)

Choose 2 from each category...OR choose one and make double to freeze.
This will save you time later in the month.

Chicken & Potatoes: 

Parmesan Ranch Baked Chicken, BBQ Chicken, Italian Baked Chicken, Herb Seasoned Baked Chicken, Honey Lime Chicken, Chicken & Potato Veggie Bake, Lemon Garlic Chicken & Potato Bake, Slow Cooker Chicken & Potatoes, Parmesan Crusted Chicken, Sweet and Spicy Chicken, and Marinade Chicken (Use Your Favorite Marinades)
*ADD a vegetable side dish: Corn, Broccoli, Green Beans, Salad, etc.

Chicken & Rice: 

Fast Herb Chicken & Wild Rice, Creamy Chicken & Rice Bake, Sweet & Sour Chicken, Hawaiian BBQ Chicken, Hawaiian Haystacks, Chicken Bacon Broccoli & Rice, Chicken & Black Bean Casserole, Lemon Chicken & Rice, Orange Chicken, Cilantro Thai Grilled Chicken, Crock Pot Honey Sesame Chicken, Honey Sauced Chicken, Cashew Chicken, Coconut Chicken & Apricot Sauce, Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken, Teriyaki Chicken, Marinade Chicken & Rice, 

*ADD a vegetable side dish: Corn, Broccoli, Green Beans, Salad, etc.

Meatloaf & Potatoes: 

 Meatloaf, Salsa Mini Meatloaves
*ADD a vegetable side dish: Corn, Broccoli, Green Beans, Salad, etc.

Lasagna & Italian: 

Easy Lasagna, Beef Lasagna, Sausage Lasagna, Lasagna Casserole, Slow Cooker Lasagna, Lasagna Skillet, Chicken Parmesan Casserole, Crock Pot Manicotti, Italian Zucchini Skillet
*ADD a vegetable side dish: Corn, Broccoli, Green Beans, Salad, etc.
*Optional add Bread, Rolls, Garlic Bread, Etc.

Enchiladas/Tacos/Burritos: 

Chicken Enchiladas, Creamy Chicken Enchiladas, Honey Lime Enchiladas, Mexican Beef Enchiladas, Cafe Rio Smoothered Burritos, Basic Bean Burritos, Soft Tacos, Crunchy Tacos, Oven Tacos, Fajitas, Burrito Skillet, Enchilada Casserole, Bean & Rice Enchiladas, Enchilada Bake, Slow Cooker Enchiladas, Stuffed Quesedillas, Cilantro Lime Chicken Burritos, Chicken Enchilada Pasta
*ADD a Rice Side Dish & vegetable side dish: Corn, Broccoli, Green Beans, Salad, etc.

Beans & Rice: 

Lime Cilantro Beans & Rice, Cilantro Beans & Rice, Red Beans Kielbasa & Rice, Three Beans & Rice
*ADD a vegetable side dish: Corn, Broccoli, Green Beans, Salad, etc.

Salsa Chicken Meal: 

 Salsa Chicken Meal/Chicken Taco Chili with Rice, Salsa Chicken Burritos,
*ADD a vegetable side dish: Corn, Broccoli, Green Beans, Salad, etc.

Stir Fry: 

Crock Pot Beef & Broccoli, Beef & Broccoli Stir Fry, Chicken Stir Fry, Stir Fry, Citrus Glazed Chicken Stir Fry
*ADD a vegetable side dish: Corn, Broccoli, Green Beans, Salad, etc.

Spaghetti: 

Spaghetti, Easy Ziti, Spaghetti & Meatballs, Chicken Penne

*ADD a vegetable side dish: Corn, Broccoli, Green Beans, Salad, etc.
*Optional add Bread, Rolls, Garlic Bread, Etc.

Fried Rice:  

Chicken Fried Rice, Ham Fried Rice

Soup: 

Taco Soup, Potato Soup, Bean Tortilla Soup, Bean Chile Soup, Stew, Chicken Tortilla Soup, White Chicken Chile, Black Bean Soup
*Add Bread, Rolls, Garlic Bread, Tortilla Chips, Etc.

Salad: 

Seasoned Chicken Salad, Taco Salad, BBQ Chicken Salad, Cranberry Chicken Spinach Salad, Cobb Salad, Salad Bar DIY, Cafe Rio Salad, More Salad Ideas

MORE TIPS FOR MEAL PLANNING:

WITH MEAL PLANNING helps me know what to make and
 what to buy, but I also use it to make dinner easier.

 I also, use the meals above for:
 Freezer Meals, "Dump" Meals,  slow cooker, 30 minute meals, "cook once eat twice," etc.  

I plan the type of meal with the time I will have each day.  
For example, on the days I am out of the house, I plan a slow cooker meal, days I have a little extra time I will make a "cook once eat twice" meal and freeze the second half.  

To learn more about how schedule these and more on the basics of "MEAL PLANING" check: HERE.

And for more on the Budgeting 101 Series? Find it: HERE.

Budgeting 101: Cooking for Less

Want to read about the rest of the Budgeting 101 Series? Find it: HERE.

Budgeting 101: Class 3

Want to Cook For LESS? Grocery bills can add up very quickly and the way we cook along with convenience foods can really break a budget. So how do you cook for less?

I wish I was an expert, but I'm not...most of my knowledge comes from learning the hard way and asking around.  After plenty of research and trying things out I have a few basic rules that DRAMATICALLY CUT MY GROCERY BILLS.

Now, this doesn't mean you can cook a fun fancy (expensive) meal or make nice food to entertain, but by sticking to these rules you wont break the budget on those special occasions.

Rules for Cooking For Less:

1. Make From Scratch
2. Buy Store Brand

3. Price Match

4. Meal Plan

5. Buy Bulk

6. Freeze your extras

7. Substitute dried for Fresh Herbs, Less expensive cheeses, etc.

**Be Educated and Aware...sometimes items in bulk don't save money, so double check your prices...and once in a while I can find something on sale cheaper than I can make it...but overall these Rules tend to be true.

ANOTHER WAY TO SAVE ON FOOD: 
Is understanding what foods are less expensive and what foods are filling.

Food that cost less & are Filling:

- Potatoes

- Beans

- Rice

- Noodles
- Soups

Inexpensive Recipes:

Meat gets expensive quickly.  So Recipes without meat are often much less expensive. 
And they can still be filling and satisfying. Try and rotate in MEATLESS meals 
to cut down on your monthly food costs.

Beans & Rice

Bean Tortilla Soup

Taco Soup (use can of chile to substitute for the ground beef)

Spaghetti (meatless)

Easy Ziti Pasta

Bean Burritos

Bean & Rice Enchiladas

3 Bean Chile

Breakfast for Dinner

Potato Soup

Italian Zuccini Skillet

**UPDATED: Recipes can be found: HERE

Less Expensive Recipes with Meat:
Chicken Tortilla Soup

Lasagna
Spaghetti & Meat Sauce

Chicken Penne

Stew

Hawaiian Hay Stacks

Stir Fry

Chicken & Potatoes

Chicken & Herb Potatoes
Enchilada Casserole

7 Layer Casserole

Wild Rice, Chicken & Veggies

Creamy Chicken & Rice Casserole

Enchiladas- Chicken & Rice

Red beans Kielbasa & Rice

Sausage Spinach Pasta Toss

**UPDATED: Recipes can be found: HERE

Lunch:
Buying/Eating out for lunch is very expensive.
So I pack my husband a lunch each day. The night before after we have finished dinner, I serve him up left overs for his lunch the next day.  It cuts on my time preparing a lunch and saves us lots of money.

For kids and Sack Lunches we keep it simple. 
A sandwich, a hot dog, burrito, wrap, etc.  The treats and snack foods can get costly, so we buy large bags not individual, store brand and sale items. Cookies and treats are often homemade and stored in the freezer, taking one out for lunch each day. Cut up fruit and veggies, instead of the prepackaged kind and reusable water bottle also cut on costs.


Breakfast:

Cereal, Poptarts, Frozen Breakfasts, etc are usually more expensive food items. When they are on killer deals, stock up, but to save money and for a healthier alternative here are a list of great Inexpensive Breakfast Ideas.
AND ALL OF THESE IDEAS CAN BE HOMEMADE...with increases the health value and decreases the cost!

        Oatmeal- (not individual packaged)
         My kids eat this every morning.  But if you love the store bought flavored kind Here and Here
         are great ideas to make your own individual packages in a variety of flavors.

        Toast-
         Homemade is obviously the best and you can make cinnamon bread, or all kinds of tasty
         varieties. Or just try jazzing up regular bread with a little Peanut Butter, Cinnamon &
         Sugar, Jam, Nutella, Etc.  Be creative.

        Granola- 
         Winco has great prices on the bulk granola, which we regularly buy.  But homemade granola
          is always better here are some good recipes:
                  Golden Granola Cranberry Almond Granola  Your Own Granola

        Pancakes-
         Make the plain original, or try a new recipe and flavor. Make ahead and freeze, for a fast
         breakfast.

        Muffins-
         Make ahead and freeze, for a fast breakfast.

        Waffles-
          Make ahead and freeze. Pop in the toaster for a fast breakfast.


Now I am not perfect at all of these and we do have times I need something for convenience...or I love to entertain and I spend extra to do so...but living by these on a regular basis makes a world of difference in my budget.

DO NOTE: I am primarily a stay at home mom.  This means I have extra time than those that work all day, so somethings aren't reasonable for everyone.  Look for realistic areas you can make changes and money saving ideas that fit your family's needs/lifestyle.

In the next few posts I will add the recipes mentioned above and more for Meal Planning.

 Keep Checking back for more Budgeting 101 posts with more tips and ideas to save money!

Click: HERE for the rest of the Budgeting 101 Series. 

(It will be continually updated)

Budgeting 101: Monthly Grocery Shopping

Want to read about the rest of the Budgeting 101 Series? Find it: HERE.

Budgeting 101: Class 2

Are you still WONDERING HOW I SPEND $300 TOTAL on GROCERIES AND HOUSEHOLD ITEMS?

Here is a break down of what I spend and on what each month:

{via}

Because I "MEAL PLAN" & plan my months meals in advance I know the basics I will need each month. These do not use up my entire budget, so I use the remaining money on any other needs and wants.

My Monthly Grocery List:

Monthly Groceries:

Chicken (15lb) = $26

Ground Turkey/Beef (6lb) = $10

Milk (2 gallons)= $5

Cheese (3lb) = $6

Yogurt (4 large containers)= $12

Cottage Cheese (2) = $2

Eggs (2 doz.) = $3

Bread (4 loafs) = $6

Tortillas (3) = $3

Broccoli (4 crowns)= $3.50

Spinach (2 bags)= $3.50

Apples (10) = $4

Bananas (4 bunches)= $10

Tomatoes (6)= $2

Potatoes (10lb)= $2

Frozen Vegetables (5 bags)= $4.50

Subtotal: $ 102.50

Food Storage Items (used every month)

Rice (6lb) = $3

Oats (2.5-3lb)= $3

Noodles (2.5lb)= $2

Beans (10 cans)= $5

Spaghetti Sauce (4 lg. cans)= $3

Subtotal: $16

Monthly House/Hygiene Needs:

Diapers (extra large box) =$20

Wipes (350 wipes) =$6

Subtotal: $26

GRAND TOTAL: $144.50

*Now, these PRICES are STANDARD SALE AND/OR STORE PRICES, but I OFTEN FIND THESE ITEMS FOR LESS...which gives even more money for other things.  

So this list doesn’t included everything I purchase each month.  This is the basic list of needs for the month.  
The items I know I use because I have my meals planned.

Now, looking back at my budget:

Budget: $300

Groceries and Household = $200

Food Storage = $100

I still have  $155.50 left 

(Groceries and Household: $71.50 & Food Storage: $84)

So with this money, I buy other items that don't need to be restocked EVERY month and additional items we may need/want.  

I buy bulk paper products like: Toilet Paper, Paper Plates, etc. These last about 3-6 months, so these get purchases with this spare money as needed.

Also...

Snacks, condiments, extra ingredients, items for special meals, hygiene products, cleaning products, paper products, and staples like flour, sugar, etc. These items are not needed every month so, I buy them as needed, but USUALLY I wait for a great sale to buy them and stock up.

In the next few posts I will explain how I use the groceries above to make my MONTH OF MEALS and how I MEAl PLAN.

 Keep Checking back for more Budgeting 101 posts with more tips and ideas to save money!
Click: HERE for the rest of the Budgeting 101 Series. 
(It will be continually updated)

Budgeting 101

Want to Learn how to Spend Less Each Month?

Want some budgeting tips or ideas to save less and get better deals?

I always do and hopefully all the work I have done to get my budget down,

will help you in some way.

So through a series of posts I will walk you through our family budget and the little tips and tricks we use to save us money.

Introduction: Basic Money Saving TIPS

(How We Spend $300 on Food & Household Items)

Class 1: My Envelope System

Class 2: Monthly Grocery Shopping

Class 3: Cooking for Less

Class 4: Meal Planning Saves Money

Class 5: Price Matching

Class 6: Our Full Budget System

COMING SOON...

Class 7: Coupons

Class 7: Food Budget Trouble Zones

Class 9: How We Save Money

Class 10: You Can Do More

Free Printable Household Organization Binder

I love to be organized and all the fun organization printables available, but I found I wanted things changed here and there to fit my needs.  So I created my own Household Organizational Binder and I have included the Free Printables.

Click on the following for all of the Free Household Organization Binder Printables:

Set 1 (portrait)   Set 2 (landscape) 

Spring Clean List       Weekly Cleaning A     Weekly Cleaning B

(***The weekly cleaning downloads, have no preview.  The preview image had an error, so just click the download button that appears to get the Weekly Cleaning Printables***)

My Household Organization Binder includes 10 sections:

1. Schedule

2. Cleaning

3. Meal Plan

4. Food Storage

5. Budget

6. Projects

7. Blog

8. My Goals

9. Family Goals

10. Contacts & Resources

The Schedule section includes: Daily, Weekly & Monthly Agendas and Calendars. A Year @ A Glance, list of Holidays *I also include our families work, sports, & school schedules.

The Cleaning section includes: Cleaning Chore Cards and Sheet, 5 minute Clean Up List, Spring Clean Out and Problem Zones Sheet, House Hold Job Calendar, & Thorough Entire Home Spring Cleaning List

The Meal Plan section includes: Weekly and Monthly Meal Planning Sheets, Entertaining Planning, Shopping Lists, Family Menus, Seasonal Menus, Freezer Meal Lists, & Frozen Meal Preparation List.

The Food Storage section includes: Freezer Inventory, Pantry/Food Storage Inventory, & 3 Month Supply Plans. 

The Budget Section Includes: Coming in Future Blog Post of it's own.

The Projects section includes: Project Lists, Ideas and Resources, Short/Long Term, Small/Big Lists.

The Blog section includes: An Idea and Resource List & Calendar. 

The My Goals section includes: Personal Weekly, Monthly, and Long Term Goal Lists. *A Weekly Goal Check Off Chart not included & notes for my thoughts.

The Family Goals section includes: Family Weekly, Monthly, & Long Term Goal Lists,  A Funny Moments List, *And in mine I add A Weekly Goal Check Off Chart, & Ideas/Resources to help us reach the goals.

The Contacts section includes: Lists of contacts (address, email, phone, etc), Resource List, Babysitting Information Sheet, *And here I include all of our contact lists, directories etc.

This little binder is "my life".  It keeps me organized and on track.  And it gives me a place to put the important papers, notes, etc. Some pages I put in sheet protectors and write on with a white board marker, others I print out and write directly on.  

Many of the lists I created have multiple versions, so look around and find what works for you!  Enjoy.

Thanksgiving Leftovers

So there are always left overs and initially I love making the traditional Turkey Sandwich with cream cheese, cranberry sauce, and gravy on homemade rolls.  But after that, left overs get a little old.  So here are a few of my favorite recipes that use Thanksgiving Left Overs.

Here are tons of recipes from Rachel Ray.
Recipes found: here
And another by Rachel Ray found: here


I like that their is more than just Turkey Casserole, where you still feel like it's the same thing.  There's Turkey and Rice recipes, Soups, Enchiladas, etc.

And when I just need something on the fresh side I like,
Turkey Salad with Cranberries found: here



*I also freeze left overs and I like to make stock and freeze it in ice cube trays.  9 ice cubes equals 1 cup.

Key words: Turkey leftovers, Thanksgiving leftovers, Turkey leftovers recipes, Thanksgiving leftovers recipes.

White Board Calendar

I am all about calendars, planners...anything to keep me organized. But if it is going to be out or seen, I want one that looks cute. And, I like it to be reusable. (Less cost and effort).

So, I took an old picture from a garage sale. Removed the picture, painted the plain oak frame black. 

Used some Scrapbook paper for the background. 

Then glued on this Calendar, this Grocery List Square & Reminder Square.

And there you have it...a Calendar, Grocery List, Reminders, Meal Planning, etc...all in one place.

For more information on how I use this calendar for Weekly and Monthly Meal planning click: here

More on Meal Planning

Previously in my Meal Planning Post (found here: Meal Planning)

I explained the way I plan meals and shop for them...well I have since made some changes, for the better. 

Meal Planning:

My new meal planning goal is to simplify.

Although I love cooking, dinner time is the craziest time in my house. It is when the kids are the fussiest and we are usually trying to rush out the door. And where ever I am my children want to be too. This makes it hard to cook anything complicated.

In addition, I also like to challenge myself to make my money stretch further. I hate wasting extra ingredients or even buying random expensive ingredients...

So I came up with a new plan.

1.First I start with my Monthly Calendar.

Downloadable here: Calendar with Meal Plan

Each week I plan 5 meals.
        (Assuming there will be at least 2 days where we will go out, have left overs, etc.)

For these 5 days, 2 out of the week will be “2x Meals”.
    This means the meal will make 2 meals. One we will eat and the other I will freeze. So if you do the math, really you make one 2x meal
      a week and you pull out a frozen one from a previous week.


Then for the other 3 meals:
      One is a “Crock Pot Meal”. Always fast and easy. 
      One is a “30 Min. Meal”. Meals that average 30 minutes in the kitchen.
      And the 5th is an “Other”. This is where I put in a meal that is fun, complicated, or just something I'm in the mood for.


Then looking at the calendar I figure which days need which kind of meal.
 
2. Next, I take my Meal Idea list. 
 

Download new list here: Meal Ideas

     (which has now been added to and categorizes the meals into the categories above: 2x Meal, Crock Pot, 30 Min., & Other. And taken even a step further...those categories are also separated by food type, ie: mexican, italian, etc).

   I hope I am not losing you.

 
For the 5 meals in the week I try to choose each from a different food type.
 
    So this week:
       2x Meal: Chicken Different  American Comfort
       2x Meal: Enchiladas  Mexican
       Crock Pot: St. Patrick's Day Meal (Cornbeef, Cabbage & Potatoes) Specialty
         30 min meal: Lasagna Toss Italian
       Other: Grilled Reuben Sandwhiches Sandwich/Other
 
 

 
 
So that is the basic Idea. But here are a few additional tips I consider:
 
-Ingredients.  When picking my meals I think: which perishable items are needed? Then pick multiple meals that use them.  If I am using sour cream in my enchiladas, then I might pick a meal with baked potatoes or something else that requires sour cream, etc.
 
-Any chance I get I "multi task".  So if I am cooking noodles, I make double and freeze the rest in a ziplock bag.  Then the next meal needing noodles I only have to heat them in the microwave and they are ready in minutes.  If a recipe calls for cooked chicken, I cook double and freeze the rest...saving time for the next time a recipe needs cooked chicken.
 
-What is on sale: Looking at the adds, if something is on a great sale that week, I choose a recipe to accomidate.
 
-Flexibility: Often something comes up, something is on sale, I have extra ingredients I need to use up, etc.  Well, I just shift the meals around.  That is what is so convenient with a weekly and monthly plan.  Non perishable ingredients can be saved and only buy the perishable the week needed.
 
And Finally:
 
Here are some other meal planning sheets to try:
 
Meal Planning Sheet A
Meal Planning Sheet B

Meal Planning Sheet C

 

link: here

Lowering Your Grocery Bill with the help of Money Saving Mom

Money Saving Mom found here, is currently doing 31 days to a Better Budget.  In her posts she explains great ways to use a budget, meal planning (with easy downloads to use), couponing, stocking your supply, not over purchasing, and more to come...

I love this series because she explains things well and give lots of resources to use.  And although I did give a simple explanation of how I meal plan, grocery shop, and price match...hers is another great perspective and she explains things better than I ever could.  So go here to read all of the posts in the series!

Meal Planning download found here.