When my second husband and I married, I had two children and he had three. Since his wife had passed away, we raised all 5 of them. Needless to say, with a family that size, one must find as many ways to be frugal as possible. One thing I started doing was to make out a menu before doing my weekly shopping. I made my shopping list accordingly. That way I didn't buy more than I needed. I mostly cooked from scratch (including goodies) and shopped only once a week to save money on gas.
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Since we live 45 miles to the nearest big grocery store, I do monthly grocery shopping ( especially with the price of gas) I make a menu up also, but it is for the month. There is only the 2 of us, but it still saves $ . Prior to the 1st of the month, I scan thru cook books, mag, on the net, for good recipes , so my menu is not repetious.
Joy @ Culbertson , MT
Judy - I would love to see a "draft" of your weekly menu....I have been thinking about doing this (not for grocery shopping) because sometimes I just get too busy to prepare, or come up with everything in the freezer TOO Late! I have two boys 5 and 18 months, so they can be very picky (especially the 5 year old!) and my DH eats with us every four days for four nights (rotating shift).
I TOO DO THIS. I MAKE A WEEKLY MENU,BUY ALL I NEED FOR IT THEN WE CHOOSE FROM THE MENU WHAT WE WOULD LIKE TO EAT EACH NIGHT.IT ALSO HELPS ME THINK OF MEALS WE MAY NOT HAVE EATEN IN A WHILE AND IT HELPS ME KNOW WHAT I MAY OR MAY NOT NEED. I WAS SPENDING MORE MONEY GUESSING IF I NEEDED TO GET AN ITEM TO MAKE A MEAL THEN FIND OUT WHEN I GOT HOME I ALREADY HAD SOME OF IT
This is to camo-angels; I tried to send you a direct message, but couldn't get through.---I really had no fancy draft for my menus. I have used steno pads to keep information and make lists for my chores. (things like that).I just listed the days of the week then proceded to write out a menu for each day. I didn't always write down everything. Sometimes I would just write " veg." and use something from my pantry.
I am a single parent of three children: two adult children living on their own and one daughter living in a university hostel in another city. I shop on a monthly basis and work out my list according to the meals I plan to prepare. I cook the same amount I did when we were a family of five, but I freeze half for my daughter in the hostel - she has a fridge and a microwave in her room - and the rest for myself.
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