Meal Planning - how do you do it?

VfM4meplse

Definitely not the cheapest way of doing things. You're welcome to join this thread - read the first couple of pages, assess what you already have in stock and then join the posters if you'd like to. Whoopsies and bulk-cooking are the way forward!

crickett1234

Thank you for your replies! Good strategies, and good thread suggestion!!

I have a freezer which is packed to capacity and I have lots of stuff in my cupboards though I am not entirely sure what is where.... if that makes sense? I think I can feel a cupboard and freezer audit coming on!!

(And yes, I am a list nerd!! )

RedLass

crickett1234 wrote: »

I think I can feel a cupboard and freezer audit coming on!!

(And yes, I am a list nerd!! )

Ok then this is definitely step 1! I confess to being a list nerd too. And proud of it :beer:

BitterAndTwisted

I'd do a bit of both: have a menu-plan and shopping-list to hand but take advantage of any reduced items and then plan an alternative meal around those. I'd only do that once I'd done a complete freezer and cupboard inventory as it doesn't seem wise to have a load of money tied up in things in the freezer if you have no concrete plans to use them up any time soon.

flutterbyuk25

I don't meal plan as I live on my own and never really know if I'm going to be in for a meal. But I do keep a list of what is in my freezers and cupboards, they are quite well stocked so I know I won't starve! The lists help me to decide what to eat, or tell me what needs using up. For example, due to going on hols last month I had lots of veg that was past its best so I made some soups and froze, turned out I then had 10 portions of various soups in freezer! So I have made an effort to eat some up to free up space, I've had 4 portions over this long weekend.

I keep a running shopping list on my fridge which I only add to when stuff is run out or down to one portion left. I do a monthly shop around pay day to buy tins/cleaning stuff etc, and then do weekly top ups for eggs/fruit/veg etc. I shop in Tesco for main bits, but anything I know is cheaper elsewhere then I go buy there e.g. stirfry sauces in Home bargains, fruit/veg in Aldi/Lidl.

If I see a whoopsie bargain I buy it there and then, especially if it can be frozen. I do this with bread and cheese mainly. But also things like onion bahjees, veggie sausages etc.

It works for me!

x

TheCatCameBack

I shop then meal plan. But this works for us as we eat the same sort of stuff all the time, plus I only shop once a month (online - no whoopsies) - this means we eat down everything that's in the fridge/freezer/cupboards before shopping again, saves forgetting about things.

Try meal plan then shopping for one week or month, then vice versa, compare receipts and see which saves you money.

Linda32

crickett1234 wrote: »

I have a freezer which is packed to capacity and I have lots of stuff in my cupboards though I am not entirely sure what is where.... if that makes sense? I think I can feel a cupboard and freezer audit coming on!!

Can you do a menu using what you already have, rather than buying more. Thats how I save money. I always look first to see what I've got and don't buy anymore regardless of offers or whoopsies

samanthaneww2d

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

I'd do a bit of both: have a menu-plan and shopping-list to hand but take advantage of any reduced items and then plan an alternative meal around those. I'd only do that once I'd done a complete freezer and cupboard inventory as it doesn't seem wise to have a load of money tied up in things in the freezer if you have no concrete plans to use them up any time soon.

I have just done a list of what I have too and I am amazed at forgotten things especially in the freezer a complete joint and two steaks buried under the bread rolls and a chilli for about 8 I had forgotten about so thats a meal for later on in the week I don't have to cook now. I have two freezers and quite often forget things I have put in the freezer in the shed so have to check every few months as for the cupboards I have four bags of self raising flour so me thinks I got a mite confused there.

crickett1234

Thank you very much for all of your posts.

I have a job for tomorrow - freezer, fridge and cupboard audit! That will keep me occupied for a while!!

crickett1234

I did the food audit last night.

Blimey. We have a lot of food. Have the list, and am going to do a menu for next week from it. I think I will only be shopping for fresh fruit and veg this week!

Thanks for the suggestions!