Do you meal plan for your family?

[leannehurren]

I need to go back to meal planning as money is really tight with my OH being out of work since April.

For those of you that have really cut your shopping bills do you only buy shop brand and do you have any treats? I keep trying to reduce our shopping bill so am looking for tips!!

 

[Midgetgem]

we never do.. but can i come for tea on Tuesday! pretty please..

You can come any day you like! i cook for 11 people every day... one more doesnt make much difference! x

ooh lovely! its a shame your a bit too far away!!

 

[x-li-x]

we do same, we dont pick what we having on each day but we plan a weeks worth of meals we fancy , then wite down what we need for them and anything else we nee dthat week, like toilet roll or washing liquid ect and then go shopping or do an online shop, definately saves us plenty of money as were not just picking up anything n then finding ourselves needing more later in the month, online shop works out even cheaper as when we go to the shopping centre we always come back with some other things we were tempted by like donuts , choc ect x

 

[RainbowDrop_x]

OH is a fussy eater and so am I but Livie isn't on solids yet so we just sort of eat as we go really lol.

You're dinner sounds nice though Yum. You're lucky you're not 10 minutes down the road or I'd be turning up uninvited for me tea

 

[pinktaffy]

i dont do meal planning.
i do a shop most days and just get bits for that day i need.
i do admit im abit tight and often get reduced food haha.
well im a vegerterian and my oh is a massive meat easter. so its not worth me buying expencive meats as only he will eat them.
when my lo is older and eating meats i will get better meats for her and oh then not cheap stuff haha. she will defo not be a vegertaian like me it totally restricts how u eat so i want her 2 take after her farther. if shes older and chooses to be i wont mind though xx

 

[ouchwithNo.2]

Wow! Super organised!
We need to do this. Im in Sainsburys almost every single day spending £10 to £20 here and there. Only 4 of us!
I easily do £100 a week.
I get nagged by OH as freezer is rammed. We could live out of that for 3wks but we never remember to take anything out.
My bank statement is so dull. Sainsburys, Waitrose, Etc Etc...

 

[Sam9kids]

I really should plan our meals but i just have no imagination what so ever its always really boring stuff
Do you shop weekly?

I do, friday is shopping day!

 

[Sam9kids]

I need to go back to meal planning as money is really tight with my OH being out of work since April.

For those of you that have really cut your shopping bills do you only buy shop brand and do you have any treats? I keep trying to reduce our shopping bill so am looking for tips!!

I buy toilet rolls and nappies as asdas own

ANd i buy biscuits and crisps, but smartprice biscuits and asdas own crisps!

 

[Sam9kids]

OH is a fussy eater and so am I but Livie isn't on solids yet so we just sort of eat as we go really lol.

You're dinner sounds nice though Yum. You're lucky you're not 10 minutes down the road or I'd be turning up uninvited for me tea

Anytime hun! xx

 

[_Vicky_]

we do we spend about £70 a week but that about £25 on nappies/formula/general boy stuff and that is ohs lunches too and he is a builder so eats A LOT!!

 

[bump_wanted]

i always buy tesco own toilet roll and kitchen roll get the cleaning stuff on special offer to and buy whatever detergants on special offer too

i found planning meals saved me about £30 a week on shopping because before id just keep buying and buying and id have about 3 of the things in my freezer

i buy munchies on special offer 2 lol like the chocolate bars just whatever is going for a quid xx

 

[Sam9kids]

i also get the 3 meats for £10 as well!

 

[amandad192]

I need to go back to meal planning as money is really tight with my OH being out of work since April.

For those of you that have really cut your shopping bills do you only buy shop brand and do you have any treats? I keep trying to reduce our shopping bill so am looking for tips!!

I buy a lot of shop brand stuff, but not everything. We do get some treats in but it's mainly for OH. I don't like to snack, because I don't stop.
I tend to buy thinks like custard and soup for OH to snack on..like a mini-meal.
He won't eat cheap bits like that though so it's usually proper branded stuff for his snacks.

 

[jenny82]

I bought the Asda own brand 'mars' bars, 'bounty' and 'milky ways'. Was pleasantly surprised that they're actually really nice, and so cheap too. Think I'llbe making the switch to those from now on!

I only really buy treats when they are on offer anyway. I buy own brand chopped tomatoes, chick peas and other beans, rice, pasta, tomato purees etc as I don't think theres much difference to the more expensive stuff

 

[discoclare]

Is it shocking to say that I have no clue how much we spend a week on food. We do an online delivery from Tesco about once every 4-6 weeks when we buy bulky and heavy stuff like washing powder, fabric softener, wine, beer, squash, cat litter, cat food, juice, toilet roll, kitchen roll etc. It usually comes to about 60 - 70 pounds.
Food shopping we buy EVERY DAY! We have a big sainsbury's superstore just over 10 mins walk away, a tesco local about 7 mins walk away and a sainsbury's local at the end of our street so we buy our lunch / dinner stuff daily according to what we fancy / what is in the store. I am sure we could do much better if we meal planned but at the moment we are just 2 adults and an 11 week old. When we have more mouths eating solids perhaps we will have to rethink.

 

[xpinkness87x]

we need to start it but i dont know where to start

 

[Sam9kids]

we need to start it but i dont know where to start

First you need to think up of how ever many evening meals you will need until the next shop then write the things you will need for those on a list. Then add other essentails like toiletaries, cleaning stuff, baby things, lunchtime things etc

And when you go shopping, just buy what is on your list

 

[WW1]

we need to start it but i dont know where to start

First you need to think up of how ever many evening meals you will need until the next shop then write the things you will need for those on a list. Then add other essentails like toiletaries, cleaning stuff, baby things, lunchtime things etc

And when you go shopping, just buy what is on your list

That's exactly what I do - saves us a fortune!

 

[paula88]

I sometimes do this but the hardest bit is thinking of different meals each week apart from Spag bol, Lasagne and pasta type dishes. can anyone inspire me please ? x

 

[Sam9kids]

I sometimes do this but the hardest bit is thinking of different meals each week apart from Spag bol, Lasagne and pasta type dishes. can anyone inspire me please ? x

I do lots of things like

beef stew
pork with sugar and mustard, baked potato mash, veg and gravy
roast dinners
sweet chilli chicken and mushroom with mushroom savour rice and veg
corned beef hash
chicken fajitas
home made curry

all pretty healthy too!

and lots more!