Not meal planning, but cheaper...

Softstuff

Prior to the last couple of weeks I'd been meal planning. I'd do a fortnightly shop, then top it up with fresh items as needed. Then I started a new job, and it became a little harder for me to meal plan as I couldn't get to do that fortnightly shop, and was getting home a bit later so some of my menu steady items were impossible to do.

So, I stopped the meal planning. Now I look at what is in at home the evening before for the next days meals and pick up the odd bit I need to make a meal out of it before I come home (usually at a reduced price or on special).I'm pretty flexible with this though... so, if I need "something to eat with rice and salad", it could be some chicken, a piece of steak or mince to make meatballs.

It seems doing it this way I'm saving money. I'm using up what is in the cupboard and never throwing anything out. I've also forced myself not to impulse buy, by literally getting only what I need for that meal.

I didn't think I could save more on my groceries than with meal planning, but this seems to be working. Anyone else tried this?

miserly_mum

This would be ok if you live on your own or are a couple.

Wouldn't be very convenient if you had a family to shop for.

spaghetti_monster

Hi there!
I definitely do it this way round. Although I don't give myself an exact budget to follow I really try to keep my grocery bill down, use up what I've got and never throw anything away.
I'm also really into cooking, trying new recipes. When I first got into this a few years ago I found myself spending quite alot - I would select a recipe I fancied from a book, go out and buy all the exact ingredients (even try to get the fancy/posh/gourmet ones).
Now my thinking is more like this - for example: I have salmon in the freezer, lots of rice, garlic - lets have a look in the cook books. Then I get any extras I need. Now with experience I can tell if a recipe will work if something is missing or substituted and I don't sweat it if I don't have the absolute exact ingredients.
This way I find creativity is satisfied and nothing is thrown away!

Alex x

Penny-Pincher!!

My weekly meal plans are always based around what I have in and need using. I have a list of what I have in and build meals on this.

PP
xx

Little_Miss_Saver

I've found meal planning for the week works for me. I used to do a big monthly shop, then buy fresh stuff each week but I kept "impulse buying" and ended up spending more than I needed.
Now each week I look what I got in cupboards and meal plan round that, write a list of things I need. I try to resist the urge not to buy anything thats not on the list but some offers are too tempting!!.
I've found shopping online resists my "urges". I've been housebound the last few weeks and had to shop online and with the money off coupons etc from the discounts board I've saved money!!

I think its whatever suits the individual and if it saves you money even better!!

LMS xx

astonsmummy

I do a weekly shop every monday so basically get things what i need to make meals up and basics, such as bread, potatoes milk etc.
I'm really trying to rein myself in as i end up popping out in the week and sometimes spending an extra tenner on food!
This week i've not been to the shops and dont need to until i need my weekend bread.

liz545

I tried mealplanning, but it wasn't working for me as I'd get invited out or something and I got bored of pre-planning my meals. What I'm doing now,and it seems to be working, is I write the contents of the fridge/freezer/storecupboard on a whiteboard, and brainstorm possible meals I can make out of it beneath them. I can erase stuff as it gets used and add to it as necessary, and it stops me forgetting about stuff in the back of the cupboard/freezer. OH likes it because when he asks what's for dinner we can take a look at the board and work out what to combine - more fun than staring forlornly at the fridge! I also have a magnetic notepad on the fridge and as I finish something I add it to the list, so I can replace it when I'm shopping. This works out quite well for me, as I'm only feeding me and OH, but maybe not ideal for big families.

thriftmonster

I work on the "pantry principle" which is that once a month I top up all my basics to what I need for a month, including meat from the butchers (in the freezer). I can then choose each day to eat what we want based on what's in, what's leftover, if I've seen any yellow stickered bargains. I shop for fruit and veg 2-3 times a week at the greengrocers - and try to avoid the supermarket apart from the monthly top up.

It works for us better than meal planning and I am saving more this way for us.

belfastgirl23

I have to say for me mealplanning is that instead of starting with the question 'what do I want to eat' I start with the question 'what do I have in the house'. It does seem to make quite a difference in terms of not popping out to get anything

Softstuff

I tried thanking you guys for your posts, but then the little bar showing who thanked vanished, so I hope it worked!

I really was just curious. My previous approach was a bit like yours Penny-Pincher, but with working much longer sometimes I'd get home and not feel like it, or decide I wanted something else that I'd found reduced. The problem with this came when I'd defrosted something already!

Olliebeak

My son has just moved to a house directly opposite his local Morrisons. His first stop each evening is straight to the 'reduced items' before going home. The guy is learning at long last. He's also bought himself a slow cooker, hand-blender, food mixer and started to use a bread-maker.

He'll make somebody a lovely wife one day!!!!!