How sticking to a meal plan can save you money

1. How sticking to a meal plan can save you money Are you one of those people that nips out for milk, but ends up coming home with a trolley full of food? So many of us rack up the pounds by shopping spontaneously and buying things we don’t need. Having a meal plan makes it much easier to be strict with your shop. Because you’re sticking to a pre-planned list, you’re far less likely to give into the temptation of a ‘cheap deal’. Your list will also stop you from impulse buying. Let’s face it, if it’s something you bought without thinking about where it’ll fit into any of your meals, it’s bound to end up in the bin. According to wrap.org.uk, household food waste is now a whopping 7.1 million tonnes! Writing down your meal planning ideas makes sure you only buy what you need and nothing goes to waste. Making your meal plan Take some time to come up with a detailed plan, including all the ingredients you’ll need, before you hit the shops. Here are some tips to get you started: • Look for ways to make your favourite meals less expensive. Frozen veg is usually cheaper than fresh, and it lasts longer. • Small packets will cost you more in the long run, so plan some crossover between your dishes. For example, if you know you need chicken for one meal, have chicken again later in the week. • Stick dry staples like rice and pasta on your shopping list. You won’t need to buy them every week, and a 3kg bag of pasta would only set you back around £3. Your weekly shop A family shop for the week sticking to our meal plan, including staples like rice, pasta and milk, comes in at £27.17. That boils down to £1.81 per meal, or a little over a fiver a day. This spend is based on a shop from Tesco, but you may find if you get your food from places like Aldi or Lidl, it could be even cheaper. Did you know that the best time to do a food shop is actually in the evening during the week? If you visit a supermarket after 8pm, you can take advantage of the reductions on food that’s close to its sell by date. Prepping for the week ahead When you’re budget meal planning, your freezer is your best friend. Cook meals in batches and freeze the leftovers, so nothing’s wasted and you don’t have to cook from scratch after a tiring day. Split your veg, meat and fish into portions. Then when you come to cook, everything’s already separated and ready to chuck in a pan or the oven. Related post: ThinkMoney Headquarters Info