Meal Planning: Inflation Sucks!

Feb 9, 2024

As my daughter would say, “holy moly crock-amole”! Not sure what state you live in but here in Illinois it’s rough.😒These are some things I do to help offset the cost.😊

Tip #1 -Use a physical Meal Planner

You can save time, save money, reduce stress, and improve your eating habits. By planning meals in advance, you can look at ad papers and take advantage of deals as well as figure out what you truly need in the house instead of impulse buying. Using a meal planner cuts down on time spent trying to figure out what you need to cook every day. Also, you’re not stressing at the last minute to come up with a plan. Since you’re taking the time, you can plan healthier snack and meal options.

*Links to mine below

Tip #2 -Check your inventory

Nothing is worse than buying chicken just to realize you have some already in your freezer. Okay, so there are worse things but you get it.😂 Super annoying! Check what ingredients you have at home already. There might be something in your freezer or pantry that you can use for meals!

Tip #3 - Check your store ads

Take advantage of your store's deal! If I happen to throw out the ads that come in the mail I use the Flipp app https://app.flipp.com/ (no affiliation). I like how easy it is to browse and you can create a "watch list" that will look for specific deals on certain items you choose.

Tip #4 - Make meals with similar ingredients

I used to buy herbs for one meal and then they would sit in my fridge and go to waste. I'm super conscious now about getting the most out of the ingredients I purchase. You bought cilantro for a dinner recipe? Use cilantro in a few more meals that week. It reduces waste and saves you money.😊

For example, this week chicken legs were on sale. Essentially I bought chicken in bulk (another meal planning tip😉) and used that ingredient in a variety of meals throughout the week including chicken soup, casserole, protein for salads. I froze some chicken broth to use at a later date.

Tip #5 - Stick to the Plan!

Lastly, stick to the meal plan. I know it's so tempting to just order out. BELIEVE ME, I get it. That is where your meal planning comes in to make life easier for you. You already did the work and now it's just following through. You can do it!