Weekly menu planners...saving money

For the weekly menu planners: Do you feel you save money planning out your menu vs just buying food and cooking?

Re: Weekly menu planners...saving money

I recently starting spending planning out our dinners for the next week before I shop in hopes of spending money. Before that I'd just go to the supermarket and buy whatevr I felt like buying.

I still spend the same amount (more or less) however I'm actually at least buying stuff I need rather than ending up with 25 cans of soup or 12 boxes of pasta because I didn't plan out what I needed.

Re: Weekly menu planners...saving money

definitely.

i plan my menu around what's in season and what's on sale in my local supermarket. if chicken drumsticks are on sale then that's showing up on my menu that week, KWIM?

Re: Weekly menu planners...saving money

When I plan things out I feel like we save money because
1. I am not running back out to the store during the week, thereby eliminating any extra purchases and saving gas.
2. I use what I already have and go through my leftovers as I am incorporating them into my meal planning.
3. If I remember to match up what I am making with what is on sale in the circular that week, then I really save.

I feel like I go through periods where I plan out everything and then there are others where I am worn out from it and will just make do with what is in my pantry and freezer or we will do take out.

Re: Weekly menu planners...saving money

Yes!!!

I only recently starting planning for the whole week. Before that, I thought I was doing pretty well since I shop the circulars, make a list, and stick to it. Now that I know what we're eating each day, I know what I need and what I don't. I used to buy stuff just bc I was out of it. Now, I only stock up if there's a great deal and otherwise I'll put off replacing items until it's on sale. I also plan my menu based on what's on sale and try to stretch out meats for multiple meals (Ex- a whole roast chicken can make several completely different meals or a family pack of ground beef for two separate meals.)

Re: Weekly menu planners...saving money

I feel like I save in a few ways but the main reason is this:

I save because even though monetarily it might be the same, I am not wasting any food. Every item I buy is part of a meal or plan. I used to buy things I'd want to use (and then never get to use it) or impulse buys, etc. Fresh food would go to waste because it would go bad if I did not have a plan for it quick enough and I would have a lot of junk food and other things on hand. Now I always have complete meals and nothing goes to waste!!

Re: Weekly menu planners...saving money

Re: Weekly menu planners...saving money

I think DH and I save money in the long run since if we dont plan then one of 2 thing happens

DH makes runs to grocery store to buy more "stuff" to cook

OR we do take out which is $$$