Meal planning has been growing in popularity over the past few years because it saves time and money. The specifics are up to you, but the general idea is to plan your family meals for the next few days or week on a firm, set schedule. Some preppers cook the meals all at once, freeze them, and heat them up on the designated day.
Here’s Five Fast Facts On How to Save Money Through Meal Planning:
- 🤷 How Much Will This Save Me? - That depends. There are several factors at play, including the types of meals you make, the number of people in your home, and the prices at your supermarket of choice.
- 🍗 Whatcha Got? - Before your first trip to the grocery store, take an inventory of any existing ingredients you have in your house. If you can use them, that’s one less thing you’ll need and it’ll cut down on cost.
- 🍚 Less for More - Look for inexpensive ingredients you can use in more than one way. For example, rice works in everything from soups to Mexican bowls to a side dish.
- 🌽 Stay Low - Buying too much leads to overspending and lots of food waste. A good rule of thumb when starting out is to buy less than what you think you’ll need.
- 🍓 Freeze! - Buy frozen fruits and vegetables. They have all the same nutrients as their fresh counterparts but they’re considerably cheaper (and you don’t have to use them all at once).
🔥Bottom line: Meal planning may sound complicated at first, but many Americans have had great success with the practice. It’s also a way to save a good chunk of cash, match your busy schedule and cut down on dining out.
Do you plan your meals?
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