Are you spending way too much money on groceries?
Do you get home from grocery shopping and then don’t know what to make?
Do you have to throw away food because you forgot to use it and it expired?
You will learn how to; save money, time, and food. Meal planning is really easy once you get into the grove and understand the steps you need to take.
I have saved so much money following these 7 simple steps. Also, it helps me stick to my $35/week grocery budget. I’m confident that if you follow these steps, YOU WILL SAVE MONEY.
This worksheet is unique, it plans for two weeks. Isn’t that so much better? Who wants to go grocery shopping every week? Especially on your day off….
meal planning saving money steps
Download these two templates for free and follow along!
step #1
Fill out the “Have” section.
What do you have in your refrigerator or pantry that’s expiring soon? Do you have any vegetables, meat, or cheese? Do you have anything in the freezer?
step #2
Start filling out the “Meals” section.
I always have my Meal Ideas sheet nearby because I sometimes struggle with, What should I eat? Based on what you already have and are craving, list your first three or four meals. How many of each meal can you make? Put a number next to each meal.
step #3
Start filling out the “Grocery List” section.
From your first three or four meals, list the groceries you will need and the estimated price next to each item.
What is your total? How much money do you have left from your budget?
step #4
Fill out the “Total # of Meals Needed” section.
This section will help you think through how many more meals you need to add to your list AND, the total # of meals you will need for the two weeks.
step #5
Finish filling out the “Meals” section.
IMPORTANT. After choosing your first couple of meals. What other meals can you make that use some of the same ingredients? This will help you stick to your budget. How many of each meal can you make? Put a number next to it. Do you have enough?
step #6
Finish filling out the “Grocery List” section.
Now that you have a complete list of meals, what other groceries do you need? Add the estimated price next to each item. What is your estimated grand total?
I like to budget $2-3 below my budget to cover taxes.
step #7
Fill out the “Calendar Portion”.
Enter a date for each day, 14 days total.
Enter a breakfast (B), lunch (L), and dinner (D) from your Meals section. I don’t always follow this plan exactly but it’s to make sure you have enough meals for the two weeks.
