[FrugalWAHM]

Whether by the week, pay period, or month, meal planning can be one great frugal tool in your money-saving toolbox! I did pretty well in 2017, but neglected to plan 52/52 weeks so there's room for improvement.

What is your goal for this year? My goal is to plan dinners (not a new recipe or dish for every meal as I fully plan to incorporate leftover nights or "find whatever is in the fridge" nights) every single week in 2018. I'll post those meal lists here.

I'd love to hear your tips and tricks on meal planning! For me, I try to get as many meals out of one protein as possible. For example, pork loin in the slow cooker can be served with a starch and a veggie one night, leftover pork can be shredded and served as sandwiches the next night.

So let's do this and make 2018 the best yet!

 

[AmyBoz]

I am terrible at this, so my goal for this year is to remember to do meal planning for at least 10 weeks.
If I can remember 10 out of 52 weeks, I'll feel successful!

 

[FrugalWAHM]

For January 1-7, my menu includes:
1 - BBQ Chicken Sliders
2 - Lemon pork with mushrooms
3 - Sausage and pancakes
4 - Leftovers
5 - Dijon-crusted fish
6 - Pizza (frozen from a fundraiser for my son's scout den)
7 - Cheeseburger pasta

 

[Contrary Housewife]

I am terrible at this, so my goal for this year is to remember to do meal planning for at least 10 weeks.
If I can remember 10 out of 52 weeks, I'll feel successful!

I've read that it takes 2 months to successfully form a habit, so 10 weeks is about right. Good luck!

 

[Tine]

We need to get better at meal planning next year.

Monday: Pork cheek and fennel ragu.
Tuesday: Homemade pizza.
Wednesday: Thai curry with pork and veg.
Thursday: Spaghetti and meatballs.
Saturday: Pork roast.
Sunday: Vegtable and bean soup.

 

[ermadunk]

I am terrible at this, so my goal for this year is to remember to do meal planning for at least 10 weeks.
If I can remember 10 out of 52 weeks, I'll feel successful!

AmyBoz I am terrible at this also i start then i quit i read something some where about starting out only planning for 3 nights a week if you live alone i thought i can handle that but didn't keep up with that wish i could find where i read that at if anyone else seen it let me know please. Wishing you Good luck AmyBoz.

 

[AmyBoz]

Monday - Leftovers and whatever. Last day off before going back to school, so I'm not cooking, but we also aren't buying!
Tuesday - Progresso soup and biscuits in the crockpot
Wednesday - it's my birthday and we are going to my parents for dinner
Thursday - London Broil in the crockpot
Friday - I won't be home, but I will defrost burgers for DH to make for the kids
Saturday - baked mac and cheese

 

[Contrary Housewife]

DH got some bagged salad for this week. Shopped the freezer for the rest:

-- baked tilapia, fries, salad
--teriyaki chicken, dumplings, salad
--HM tomato soup, grilled cheese
--parmesan chicken, potatoes, salad
--tortelini vegetable soup

 

[dlrcpa]

I will start next week. I feel like everything I cook this week would be contaminated by cold germs so not fit for hubby to eat.

 

[RABBIT]

Since there is only 2 of us, I feel good if I can at least come up with five menu ideas because there is always leftovers.

Pineapple Ham casserole
Fish
Turkey Pot Pie
Stir Fry
Bean Burritos

 

[Contrary Housewife]

Shopped the freezer for:

- beef roll (has cheese or something inside a cube steak)
- bacon wrapped turkey
- beef stew
- lemon baked fish
- chicken tortilla soup

Pantry:
- ? HM pizza? Mac & Cheese? Dirty rice?

And I will be cleaning out the fridge bins to make vegetable/minestrone soup tonight.

 

[AmyBoz]

I flip flopped yesterday and today's meals, but I stuck with it and we ate every meal at home this week, because I had it planned ahead of time!

 

[dlrcpa]

I roasted 2 chickens Sunday and made baked beans in the crock pot, added some "salted caramel" ham that I didn't like. The bbq sauce on the beans hid the weird flavor of the ham. Hubby is cooking gumbo tonight to use tomatoes and okra from the freezer. He has bothered me twice to ask questions regarding preparation. It is almost easier to do it myself.....

 

[Contrary Housewife]

Pulled from the freezer for this weekend and next week:

-- wild rice soup
-- baked chicken, spinach
-- salmon, chopped salad
-- chili
-- baked chicken, carrots
-- tacos

And we are eating out with friends twice.

 

[Tine]

Monday: Thai curry with chicken and veg.
Tuesday: Pasta and meat sauce.
Wednesday: Lasagna.
Thursday: Leftovers.
Friday: Beef stew with mashed potatoes, carrots and celeriac.
Saturday: Leftovers - if home.
Sunday: Spaghetti and meatballs.

 

[Contrary Housewife]

Did a quick freezer inventory, for next week:

tacos (bumped from last week)
cold cut sandwiches, spinach salad
HM burgers, fries
chicken, veg, spanakopita
soup
pasta w/Italian sausage, veg

Also have 3 different kinds of sausage to choose from for Sunday breakfast.

 

[Tine]

Wednesday: Ham and lentils stew.
Thursday: Potato and Jerusalem artichoke soup with bacon.
Friday: Leftovers.
Saturday: (not home)
Sunday: Chili.

 

[FrugalWAHM]

This week's menu:
M - Stirfry
T - French Toast
W - Leftovers
T - Frozen chicken nuggets and fries
F - Bean and cheese burritos
S - Tortellini and sauce w/ homemade garlic bread
S - Game day snack foods while we watch the game!

 

[Contrary Housewife]

Next week, based on what's in the freezer:

baked fish, sweet potato fries
chicken, mini quiche
dumplings, spring rolls, maybe a stir fry
LO pot roast
chicken pot pie
mystery soup

Eating out one night with friends.

 

[dlrcpa]

I have no idea what to plan & shop for. Hubby's doctor thinks he needs to be on statins for cholesterol. Hubby declared he will eat low-fat instead and says he will only eat beef 1X weekly. But of course he tires of chicken really fast and won't eat vegetarian either. I'm not a fish fan and it's very expensive anyway. I could do mostly vegetarian. Maybe I will just start a vegetarian list and hubby can fend for himself if he doesn't like the menu.