Menu planner / Shopping list generator

downunderandout

Hi all

One of the things we've always been really bad at in our household is proper menu planning. With that in mind I've had the idea for a long time to create some sort of database of recipes that would automatically generate a shopping list (the idea being that we just get what's on the list and avoid random purchases).

Having recently started using this website (we've finally decided to start *really* sorting out our finances) I've gotten the urge again to do some sort of website that everyone could use - you'd select what you wanted to eat that week from a list of affordable recipes and get your shopping list written out for you.

Now I have two questions:

1 - There some similar websites out there already - are there any that are currently full featured enough, and suitably geared to the budget conscious, that I'd be wasting my time?

2 - If I was to proceed with this project what sort of features would people like to see included? I've got a few ideas already, but it's always helpful to see what other people come up with.

cheers for now!

StressedSteph

I love this idea. I have never seen anything like it before so hopefully it is an original idea.
I have subscribed to this thread as I would love to use this is once it was created.
I would love lots of family based meals also with the odd exotic meal done on a budget, (like curries etc) and then once the list was created, an option to be able to add your other items such as toilet rolls etc, so you could then print off your complete shopping list in one go.
Wonderful idea.
xxx

MrsTinks

Try cookingbynumbers for starters

downunderandout

MrsTine wrote: »

Try cookingbynumbers for starters

That's a brilliant site - certainly something we'll be using in the future. However, it's a slightly different concept to what I'm planning. Thanks for the invaluable link nonetheless.

angelnikki

Try looking at this thread... Meal planner with an ingredients/recipe list?

It contains a link to a downloadable excel file that automatically creates a shopping list for you once you have done the meal plan. And you can add your own recipes to it too HTH

Nikki x

downunderandout

Thanks Angelnikki - that looks pretty impressive - the main disadvantage I can see is that once you've downloaded it you wouldn't be able to benefit from any recipes other people add.

I was originally going to do something offline like that for me and my wife to use - but then I thought wouldn't it be neat if I could design something that everyone on this forum could add to and take advantage of.

Thanks again for the link.

Magentasue

This one's pretty good.

http://www.shoppingplanner.co.uk/

There are others but this is more UKish. To really get the benefit, you have to input the recipes you use (or at least the ingredients) and edit the shopping list for non-recipe items.

Welshwoofs

recipezaar.com is brilliant for that sort of thing. There's a large number of budget/bulk cooking recipes and you can save them to a recipe book or click a button which generates a shopping list for you.

downunderandout

Actually both of those sites (recipebazaar and shoppingplanner) look as if they do exactly what I'm planning to set up - and probably a lot more. Is there anyway I could improve on those two at all? Anything that would particularly help the budget conscious?

thanks for the links!

Bunny200

Magentasue wrote: »

This one's pretty good.

http://www.shoppingplanner.co.uk/

There are others but this is more UKish. To really get the benefit, you have to input the recipes you use (or at least the ingredients) and edit the shopping list for non-recipe items.

Wow, I've registered with this site and will have a good bash at it later on, as most things it might take a bit of time to get all your recipes set up but I think it would be perfect for me. I've also toyed with the idea of creating a database to store all my recipes, compile a menu plan and shopping list and this has saved the trouble. I have to menu plan all the time as I've found it the most effective way to control grocery spending and we now eat much more healthy and varied meals than the 'stare into the fridge until inspiration strikes' method I used to use which usually resulted in spag bol! One thing I'm also interested after spending a lot time on Weezls 50p a day thread is the costings for a meal and I'm sure this information can be stored on this site so I shall be utilizing this site quite a lot. :j