How do you save money when planning meals for your family?

Answer 1

If meat is involved it is hard to do!

Instead of buying all those noodle/rice boxed dinners make them yourself.
Buy in family bulk (specially meat!!), when home break the packages up and then put in freezer.
Potatoes in a box are much more expensive then a $1.00 (if that) bag of potatoes.
Home made food is not only better for a person, but will feed a family. Those instant food not only do not feed a family but who knows what is added into them.

Anyhoo when plaining meals for these guy of mine I think of how much food will be prepared. Also I spend a lot of time in the kitchen some days!! I think it depends if the cook is a one working outside the home or a one who is at home and has time to cook for two sometimes three hours a day.

Anyhoo saving money is not easy, hit the day of the sales too :0)

Answer 2

I'm a bargain shopper. I plan out what we are having that week after I check the sales paper. I buy things that I use often when it is on sale for a very good price. I go to Kroger early in the morning, when I can get manager's special, in the meat department, they mack all their meat fresh every day, and anything that didn't sell the day before gets tagged for usually half what it was and the date on it is still good. I also go to Kroger.com and you can put coupons on your Kroger card that automatically take the coupon off when you check out, so no clipping coupons. And I have a foodsaver that cuts down on throwing away freezer burnt meat. And I also go to Sam's club for paper products and things like that.
I have 5 kids, so I cook dinner for all 7 of us, so saving money on grocery's is always a good thing.

Answer 3

I make three meals out of one!

Example:

Dinner #1:Kentucky fried chicken with the trimmings

Dinner #2: Use leftover KFC boil, add noodles make dumplings and veggies WA_LA! Chicken Soup!

Dinner #3: Dumplings will make the soup set up overnight in the fridge.. so Put it in a pre made pie crust and bake 1 hour @ 350*
Chicken Pot Pie!
I do this once a month!

Best of both worlds, you get to eat out AND make 2 home cooked meals.. your family doesn't even know they're eating leftovers because it's all freshly made!

Answer 4

Use less meat since meat is often the most expensive item on the menu. Don't go for cheaper meat since that doesn't help you maintain a healthy diet. Just use a little less. Also, try using grans and starches since they are often the most filling and least expensive part of the meal. Try to make more then you need and then using the leftovers for lunch.

Answer 5

Planning there are lots of ways but buying it helps if you know the real prices things are. When you're trying to compare prices across stores, brands and sizes you want to be comparing the price per the smallest unit of that item. For lots of canned goods that would be the price per ounce (not per can as they can be different sizes). For some things it will be per pound or per square foot.

To get the price per unit you divide the total price by the number of units the item holds. *For example if you were buying Prego Traditional pasta sauce you could get a 26 oz jar, a 48 oz jar or a 67 oz jar. Traditional wisdom is that the largest jar will cost you the least but you do want to check. The 26 oz jar ends up costing about $.11 per oz ($2.79 divided by 26 oz = $0.1073). The 48 oz jar ends up costing about $.08 per oz ($3.99 divided by 48 oz = $0.0831). And the 67 oz jar ends up costing about $.09 per oz ($5.79 divided by 67 oz = $0.0864). While the prices are close you actually get more for your money with the 48 oz jar.

That type of comparison becomes even more important when you're choosing between brands that have different sized portions for sale. Or when you're trying to compare prices between stores (especially bulk stores like Costco, BJ's or Sams Club). It takes some time but it can help you stretch each penny just a little bit farther.

Answer 6

What my wife does is the following:

She prepare expenses sheet approx. Accordingly she make envelope and put amount there. Left over money is for mutli purpose.

What you can do : Have a List of weekyly items, find out the cost and try to stay within your budget. First keep some fund reserve for that purpose. Do not touch that fund.

Good Luck,.

Javed

Answer 7

I say shop at Costco! Buy a big fat juicy roasted chicken(over the fire) and dripping with honey and seasonings. The chicken is only $4.99, super hot and like I say SUPER JUICY!. Buy a few a week then make different recipies after you cut it up. You can feed 3 hungry people! Also, for $1.50 you can get a jumbo Coke and, a huge yummy hot dog with the works!

Answer 8

I have a large family (four kids) and I save a lot of money going to price clubs (like Sam's or B.J.'s, Costco) and buying in bulk. If you have a freezer and extra storage space it's a great option.

Answer 9

Shop at discount groceries like Aldi's and clip coupons. Be aware of what days various stores take double or triple coupons. Also buy a lot of the off brand food too. Like the store brand mustard and stuff like that.

Answer 10

Sit down and plan a menu, write a grocery list of everything you will need for your menu, clip coupons, and write everything else you need at the store, so you won't have to go back, until next payday! Stick to your menu, you will be surprised how much you will save!!