Meal Planning and Shopping Once a Month - Tips Please

[Carina]

I have been doing a bit of reading on Meal Planning and Shopping Once a Month ( to clarify I would still do weekly shops for bread milk and produce)

My goal is about 70% of my shopping done once a month with another 10% done for fresh food weekly

This is going to be extra challenging for me because I work in a grocery store.

I seem to be shopping 5 times a week and spending $50 to $100 each time - that has GOT to stop.

I have done weekly meal planning in the past - but have always looked at what I have and written it out for the week.
This time I want to write out the month then shop for what I need.

I started yesterday with the last 2 weeks of May and I was shocked how much I liked knowing I had things all worked out for 2 whole weeks.
Procrastination was my problem when I did it weekly - it was so easy to skip a week, then skip another.... I am hoping cutting the work to once a month will force me into doing it.

I would LOVE to hear your tips and tricks - do you have a master shopping list or write it out each time. Do you still buy loss leaders each week when you buy your produce, milks, and bread? How big is your freezer? Do you hit multiple stores on your monthly trip?

Anything else you want to share would be much appreciated!

 

[MomToOne]

I don't shop once a month, but I do grocery shop only once every 2 weeks. I hit only one store, but I know that store has the lowest prices around on non-sale stuff, and know my prices so when they have good sales I just stock up on the basics there too. Once you meal plan consistently for awhile, you'll get to know what you use a lot of, and what you don't, so you know what to watch for sales on - and you'll also get to know what a good sale price really is, so you know exactly when to stock up. I have just a regular fridge, and keep the freezer part of it stocked with mostly meat - that's where I get the biggest bang for my buck as far as my limited freezer space goes. I got a tip on this board once to watch the meat sale prices - they tend to run in cycles, so you don't have to go crazy stocking up, you just have to buy enough to last you until the next sale. For example, I know boneless chicken breast will be on sale for $1.99/lb at the supermarket I shop at every 6 weeks. So I only have to stock the freezer with enough to last me 6 weeks when I see that sale. And one of the key things to remember if you start using your freezer extensively is that you have to take things out of the freezer to defrost ahead of time! I try to remember to take out any items needed for the next night's dinner and put it in the fridge while I am cooking dinner for the current evening. It can be hard to set a pattern like that at first, but keep at it and eventually it becomes second nature.

I think the biggest savings in shopping less often is that there are simply fewer times I am tempted by impulse purchases (Doritos anyone?). It's amazing how much money those can eat up

List-wise, I just make out my meal plan every two weeks and then cross check what I need for that against what I have in the pantry/freezer and make my "must buy" list from there. I have certain meals that get into the rotation just about once every 4 weeks, but then I also mix it up with other stuff that we have only once in awhile. And I also try new recipes a few times a month - most of those tend to be failed experiments, but every now and then we get a keeper. When I get to the store, I'll grab other standard pantry items as I see a good sale, I don't add those to my list unless I am totally out and need them for a planned meal.

Finally, it helps to set a certain date and time in your mind for when you go grocery shopping and stick to it - that way you won't procrastinate and end up with no food. I know that every second Saturday, I grocery shop in the morning. That's the time that works for me - you can pick anytime that will consistently work for you. Protect that time if you can, and only disrupt that schedule for a really good reason.

 

[edk35]

Hitching a ride.....

 

[sets14]

I do one big shop per month, hitting three stores- Kroger, Harris Teeter, and Trader Joe's. I do each store a different day to get stuff home, so technically takes me 3 shops, but that is all I do other than run out for bread, milk, produce. I read through the sale ads, make my lists, and then plan my menu- I have a good rotation of about 50 meals that we like and I can make pretty easy based upon what's on sale. One thing I do to help when the frantic nights hit is double any recipes I can and freeze them for emergencies. For example, I made a big batch of teriyaki mini-meatloaves and froze half to have another night. I did the same with a big strip of salmon I got on sale. If you are buying on sale, it makes sense to extend those recipes some and double up. I currently have in my freezer two extra batches of pizza dough, a batch of tomato bisque, a batch of cilantro lime chicken, a batch of chicken and broccoli, and a batch of salmon. I also stock up on frozen veggies when they are on sale, along with dried beans, canned tomatoes, condiments, etc. If your pantry is stocked, whether once a month or once a week, you can whip up just about anything.

As for organization, I have a board that I write the weeks meals on so that I can easily and quickly see what I may need to pull from the freezer, or what fresh items I may need to grab (herbs, produce, dairy). I also pull out the recipe cards that I need for the month, and keep them in their own folder so I am not digging them out again two weeks later when I am ready to cook.

Like PP said, simply by cutting down your shopping trips, you avoid buying the stuff you don't need. My family of 4 spends about $450 a month on food- about $350 on the big shop and $25 each week on perishables.

 

[goingtowdwwithkiddos]

Thank you for this post

I do not do this YET.
I tend to shop weekly give or take at 2 places Winco and Sams club. I then run way to often (read daily) to target, trader joes etc to pick up whatever I NEED. Then there is my husbands days off and we run to one of the more expensive stores (Albertsons ralphs) to buy what he feels like having.

So new goal is to stop this craziness as summer is coming kids will be home so way more food I am going to try every 2 weeks (5 people and no big freezer). With a stock up on fresh fruit veggies and milk bread weekly.

I found a printable monthly calendar and am filling it out I am sure for me the planning is what we need most

 

[edk35]

I do one big shop per month, hitting three stores- Kroger, Harris Teeter, and Trader Joe's. I do each store a different day to get stuff home, so technically takes me 3 shops, but that is all I do other than run out for bread, milk, produce. I read through the sale ads, make my lists, and then plan my menu- I have a good rotation of about 50 meals that we like and I can make pretty easy based upon what's on sale. One thing I do to help when the frantic nights hit is double any recipes I can and freeze them for emergencies. For example, I made a big batch of teriyaki mini-meatloaves and froze half to have another night. I did the same with a big strip of salmon I got on sale. If you are buying on sale, it makes sense to extend those recipes some and double up. I currently have in my freezer two extra batches of pizza dough, a batch of tomato bisque, a batch of cilantro lime chicken, a batch of chicken and broccoli, and a batch of salmon. I also stock up on frozen veggies when they are on sale, along with dried beans, canned tomatoes, condiments, etc. If your pantry is stocked, whether once a month or once a week, you can whip up just about anything.

As for organization, I have a board that I write the weeks meals on so that I can easily and quickly see what I may need to pull from the freezer, or what fresh items I may need to grab (herbs, produce, dairy). I also pull out the recipe cards that I need for the month, and keep them in their own folder so I am not digging them out again two weeks later when I am ready to cook.

Like PP said, simply by cutting down your shopping trips, you avoid buying the stuff you don't need. My family of 4 spends about $450 a month on food- about $350 on the big shop and $25 each week on perishables.

Would love the cilantro lime chicken!! Can you post that recipe? Or is it on Pinterest?

 

[Carina]

Thank you for this post

I found a printable monthly calendar and am filling it out I am sure for me the planning is what we need most

OP here,
That's what I am doing. I used to think 'but how do I know I want taco's next Sunday' I've come to realize that I am so darn glad on Sunday to not think about dinner that I am thrilled to be making and eating Taco's!

I know the hardest part is going to be waiting to buy something we just ran out of, because I work at a grocery store I am RIGHT THERE. But I really want to stick to once a week for my in-between shops.
I also think it's going to be hard to buy enough of the non-meal items (lunch snacks, juice ect) I know my family will not be on board if I am constantly out of things that they use daily like granola bars for their lunch.

It was so nice to get off work today and walk right out the door instead of phoning home to see what we need.

 

[sunnyday123]

I would love to be able to do something like this, but how do you plan around stuff that happens unexpectedly, or just not being hungry enough to cook?

I throw more food away than I care to admit and it's really frustrating.

 

[Carina]

I would love to be able to do something like this, but how do you plan around stuff that happens unexpectedly, or just not being hungry enough to cook?

I throw more food away than I care to admit and it's really frustrating.

How do you plan around stuff that happens unexpectedly? My calendar is written in pencil. To be Honest we don't all miss many meals ( if any) in a month do to unexpected plans.
Sure 1-2 of us might but left-overs/small meals ( that means dig up something like frozen chicken strips or perogies if there are no left-overs) are scheduled in once a week. So someone missing a meal would be no big deal it would just increase our leftovers (which we could freeze if left-over day wasn't for 5-6 days or we could eat as lunches).
If we all miss it would bump to the next night if defrosted already or get skipped and added to the start of next month.

Un expected company 'most' nights we could just absorb especially if its just one friend of the kids - I am already cooking for a family of 5 with all 3 kids being teens. And if its a meal with specific portions ( like steak night) we either drive to the store for a few more steak and corn, or we shuffle it with another night (like taco's or spaghetti)

Just not being hungry enough to cook? As mentioned above we are a family of 5 with 3 teens and my oldest Daughter and my husband are full time landscapers. Dinner is cooked 7 days a week at my house. Even I am never not hungry enough for dinner, although my portion may be smaller. I think skipping dinner is unhealthy.
Could you plan some smaller meals through the week? Maybe a soup and grilled cheese night or chicken ceasar salad night, even a pankcakes dinner once in awhile?

I throw more food away than I care to admit and it's really frustrating
This is why we are implementing this plan, with written in left-over nights, using our freezer more, and basically being more aware of what we are buying and planning to eat.

Now I know to freeze leftovers right away if we are not having leftovers for 5-6 days and it's not suitable for lunches ( spaghetti sauce for example) And if I do find a container in the fridge and I want to know if its still good to eat for lunch I can look on the calendar to see when we had it for dinner.

 

[AndrewBarnard]

I use to do shopping for all the month at once, it helps me to plan and sort all the income and it goes better with saving money.

 

[pryncess527]

I would love to be able to do something like this, but how do you plan around stuff that happens unexpectedly, or just not being hungry enough to cook?

I throw more food away than I care to admit and it's really frustrating.

This was always my problem. I've had to take the opposite approach of most people here -- I cut my grocery budget drastically by going to the store almost EVERY day. I stop on my way home and pick up what we need for dinner that night. I'm able to resist some old temptations that used to lure me in because I know I'll be back within 48 hours, so if we still want/need it then, maybe I'll get it later.
I know it would not work for everyone, but it's worked for us. I tried the meal planning, but I think my stubborn nature got the best of me, if it was on the plan it suddenly became the last thing in the world I wanted to eat/cook.

 

[FairestOfThemAll37]

This was always my problem. I've had to take the opposite approach of most people here -- I cut my grocery budget drastically by going to the store almost EVERY day. I stop on my way home and pick up what we need for dinner that night. I'm able to resist some old temptations that used to lure me in because I know I'll be back within 48 hours, so if we still want/need it then, maybe I'll get it later. I know it would not work for everyone, but it's worked for us. I tried the meal planning, but I think my stubborn nature got the best of me, if it was on the plan it suddenly became the last thing in the world I wanted to eat/cook.

This was me as well. I'd throw out so much food. Then I fell back into eating out a lot cause I never want to cool after work. Now I shop, cook, foodsaver and freeze once a month. Then all I do after work is defrost. I'll still stop by the store for salad fixings every now and then.

 

[jsmith]

With only two of us i have found that stockup/once a month/lostleader sales shopping resulted in way to much waste ( that out of code cake mix in the back of the pantry was a great coupon deal two years ago type thing) i shop ONCE per week-and for only what is needed for the week. I make a meal plan by day on Friday nights for the next week-the shorter term usually allowes me to plan for things like appointments and classes in the evening. When i cook a large or crock pot meal i plan for half to go into the freezer for another week-and occassionally we have freezer weeks when i do not shop at all.

 

[queenofthehive]

I wouild love to do this but I know my plan will go bust. My problem is that when I go to the store weekly for produce and milk, I end up with a whole cart of "other" stuff that looked too yummy or with stuff that was at such a good price to pass up. I think I could do it if it was every 2 weeks. I do recall a blog / podcast called "Once a Month Mom" that always had some great ideas. Also, a recipe blog called Mommy's Kitchen" always has the blogger's menu plan for the entire month. I would really love to hear some tips on this subject. Sounds like a great concept.

 

[Carina]

Did my 'weekly top up' shop today, I stuck to my list 100%!

(Ok not counting the shop at Bulk Barn - But I am only in that town early enough to shop at that store once in a blue moon, so I bought what I needed/wanted there without a list and felt no guilt... Especially since it was technically a shopping day!)

 

[queenofthehive]

Carina- that is great!! I really need to give this a shot. I have been researching Pinterest on this topic and it has some really great ideas. I thought of planning 20 meals per month and leaving the remaining days for leftovers, etc.. I just need to try and stick to the list on the weekly shops for produce and loss leaders. Glad to hear you a good week!

 

[ALD85]

I would love to be able to do something like this, but how do you plan around stuff that happens unexpectedly, or just not being hungry enough to cook? I throw more food away than I care to admit and it's really frustrating.

I buy my meat in bulk at sams club and pre-cook most if it! I bake off all the chicken breasts and freeze them individually in the ziplock portion packs. Not only is this convenient if you're rubbing short on time but it really does save $$$! Maybe you're not so hungry one night and you pull out 2 breasts instead of 3 or 4 that come in a pack from the grocery store-It's easy to do because they're cooked and stored individually. I only spend $60/month on MEAT for my family if 3. But I'm still working on decreasing the amount spent on other food.