What’s for Dinner?

This is almost a necessity when working with your grocery budget.  Having a meal plan will allow you to shop specifically on your next trip to the grocery store.  It can be as simple or extravagant as you want it to be, but I find that our family enjoys the same style meals on a regular basis.  We like to have a pizza night, a fish night, and a Mexican night on a weekly schedule, so I know when I go grocery shopping, I will need to buy items for those nights.  This will allow you to avoid ‘impulse’ spending (and yes, that can happen at the grocery store, especially if you take along your spouse or children)!  There are a number of resources out there with meal plan templates, so do a simple Google search to find one that works for you.  If all else fails, create your own!  Meal planning will allow you to see exactly what you need to buy.  Try starting this week’s meal plan building on the ingredients and items you have right now.  I find that when I don’t have a plan for my food (especially refrigerated items), many times things will spoil, which is money down the drain…NOT our goal, right?!  Next week we will look at ways to make your food stretch from one grocery trip to the next.  Until then, spend wisely!