There are several ways in which meal planning can save money.
Whether you purchase groceries on sale or at a warehouse, always buy in bulk. Buy those items that you can prepare in one meal which you can then make last several means.
For example, whole chickens are reasonably priced. You can purchase two and make a pot of chicken stew, a pot pie, a roast chicken, a stir fry, a chicken salad, and so on. Vegetables on sale or from the local farmers market can be added to the meal as well as well. Whatever you don’t eat, freeze.
(And if you have ANY spare room in your house, I suggest you invest in a small to medium sized chest freezer for the same reason, to save money.)
Any type of home-made soup or stew can be easily frozen for lunches or dinners, and helps meat stretch much further.
There are a myriad of recipes online that offer tips and suggestions on how to prepare meals for up to a month in advance. Do your research based on a main ingredient, book up the dishes, and then eat or freeze into meal sized portions for the family.
With the current recession, more and more families are utilizing coupons, Sunday circulars, and store circulars to purchase items on sale. This is a great idea that can help you save bit, especially if you get double coupons.
In addition, stock up on store brand items. They are often just as good as brand-name items, and are sometimes manufactured by the very same company that makes the premium brands.
If you budget accordingly, you can prepare meals that are affordable and easy to prepare.
Here’s another example on how you can save money. Instead of ordering a pizza (the price and delivery are quite expensive), buy English muffins on sale, or a large loaf of French bread, a jar of pasta sauce (or use your own homemade sauce), and a small mozzarella cheese package (low fat is best to save money and calories too).
With the muffins, or bread slices, you can make mini pizzas for your family! They are even more delicious than regular pizza and cost half the price.
Utilizing the items in your home can assist you in preparing creative meals. One-pot stew is always a favorite, for which you can purchase inexpensive pieces of meat. Just add vegetables from your garden or farmer’s market. You can also freeze this, so why not make enough for several servings.
It even makes a great pet food; all you have to do is run it in the blender to desired consistency, and you can get very high quality but inexpensive dog vitamins as chewables or ones you can throw into the food before you blend it, for a cheap, nutritious meal that will save a ton on pet food bills.
Meal planning done well in advance, in conjunction with whatever is on sale, is an affordable way to save money over the long term
