Written Menu
By wromarketing
@wromarketing (3)
February 24, 2008 2:40pm CST
about three months ago I decided that I need to have a written budget. The typical bills were easy to figure out. My main issue was the food bill. How to determine the amount I should or could spend on food. I am a single mother of 8 and 14 year old boys. I commute to work my 8 - 4:30 job. I noticed that I would go to the store to buy meat that wasn't frozen. By some other non frozen meat. Freeze all but todays meal and be in the same situation as before. I decided to take a calendar from WORD and use it to make a menu. Once I got the hang of doing the menu, it has dramatically changed the amount I spend on food.
1 person likes this
3 responses
@Sillychick (3275)
• United States
24 Feb 08
I use a menu and it has drastically reduced my food bill and the amount of food we throw away. I plan the week's meals, then make a shopping list to be sure I get everything I need for those meals. I work hard to stick to the list. Since I started doing this I have noticed that I spend less on groceries. Plus I don't have to scramble around at the last minute and figure out what's for dinner since I have it planned. I often make extra and freeze the leftovers for a quick dinner on a busy night.
1 person likes this
@wromarketing (3)
•
24 Feb 08
I also freeze the leftovers. I work a lot of overtime and if I know in advance when I will be working I put LEFTOVERS as the meal that day. Then my 14 year old son can heat it up. Using the menu also enables me to use my crock pot more and I usually plan to grill on Saturday or Sunday. I not only grill that days food but grill anothers days food and either frig or freeze it. I have found this works especially good with chicken. Then I can bake it a bit more to heat it up. I used the leftover coals from the first meal and savaed time on the second meal.
Does anyone else have any iideas?
@happythoughts (4109)
• United States
27 Feb 08
I often think that if I could get a habit of keeping a menu I would love it. I just have not found the time to sit down and get it done. It would be nice to have it all planned out. Right now I shop once a month and I keep it fairly organized but I never know what we are going to eat when. This could realy simplify things for me to know a day in advance to get ready for it.
@Ldyjarhead (10233)
• United States
24 Feb 08
I wish I had the motivation to do that. I've always said I was going to plan my meals and buy groceries based on that, but I've never done it.
I tend to be very frugal, but I know I could do better. We're on a fixed income so the incentive should be there, but I just don't get off my butt to make it happen.
I don't usually know what I'm fixing for dinner until I'm actually fixing it ...
