Mastering Meal Planning On A Budget: Plan B Edition

Have you ever got home from picking your child up from school, got home, go to start dinner, only to realize you forgot to thaw out the meat?
What about not wanting to make a recipe that's on your meal plan for the week?
What if something comes up and you no longer have time to make dinner?
Real life happens, so I am prepared to eat at home even when I can't make what's on my original meal plan.
I ALWAYS have a PLAN B to my PLAN A meal plan!
Your PLAN A is what you originally wanted to make for your meal plan. It's your initial plan. Your PLAN B is there to save you when your PLAN A meal plan doesn't work or can't happen.
I eat out for convenience. Most of us have been there. To help combat that, I make sure eating at home is convenient.
If you struggle with sticking to your meal plan or find yourself eating out even though you took the time to create a meal plan, this will help!
CHAPTERS
00:00 Intro
01:23 My Meal Plan Schedule
02:11 The Plan B Meal Plan Strategy
03:23 Criteria for Plan B Meal Plan
05:52 What's Always In My Freezer
06:21 My Plan B Recipes
11:15 How to Start
➡️ TERIYAKI CHICKEN RECIPE: bit.ly/49SNZ6Q
➡️ HOW I TRACK MY SPENDING: bit.ly/3aIe89I
➡️ HOW TO USE A BUDGET CALENDAR: bit.ly/2IzF2Vj
➡️ FINDING YOUR WHY: bit.ly/3aJUryj
➡️ THE BUDGET MOM'S FINANCIAL FREEDOM STEPS: bit.ly/3cfJXsp
➡️ HOW TO GET STARTED WITH THE CASH ENVELOPE METHOD: bit.ly/2vQJaO5
➡️ HOW TO CREATE A PLAN OF ATTACK TO PAY OFF DEBT: bit.ly/2wDETxF
ABOUT ME
I'm the blogger behind www.thebudgetmom.com. I have a rambunctious ten-year-old son, live in Washington, and I'm passionate about helping people with money management and personal finance. Let me know what you like to learn more about! Leave me comments and suggestions on my video and let me know!
YOU CAN FIND ME AT:
📝 BLOG: www.thebudgetmom.com
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📌 PINTEREST: / thebudgetmom
GET STARTED
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Soundstripe License: 09IHTGCI0QXUXIEZ

[@cmbrownie]

❤

[@nw8204]

Oh yay! I originally found you through your meal videos way back in the day and was sad when you stopped doing them. Hope it becomes a weekly thing! ❤ waiting for my budget by paycheck box set to get delivered, super excited to start!!🎉

[@marneangel7]

Such a pretty color on you! I have that same sweater but looks better on you 😍

[@valeriereyes1129]

Miko I am so happy you are back on KZbin. This made my day!

[@tolbert424]

You sharing this once before stuck with me and has saved me many times. Hearing it’s okay to stick a frozen pizza in just for back up has saved us many times from eating out!

[@maureenyoung2700]

That is the cleanest, most organized pantry I’ve ever seen. I so wish I had a pantry.

[@jessicanelson3211]

I had to do a Plan B meal last night when the chicken I pulled out was still frozen! Frozen Orange Chicken from Trader Joe's for the win! 😄 I like to keep Plan B meals on hand because life happens too often, ha ha. Since I have a young kid having a frozen pizza and chicken nuggets on hand is a must. When I make things like spaghetti and chili I have leftovers for a couple days and then the remaining portions go in the freezer (this also works great for work lunches in a pinch). I like to keep breakfast items on hand so we can do breakfast for dinner ("brinner") if needed.

[@alexisa.9256]

I love your content regarding budgeting and meal planning. It’s so fitting for my situation as a mom of 2 with 1 income. Keep doing what you’re doing! You are awesome and I’m glad I found your channel. 🙏👍😁

[@michellemorales401]

I feel like we lived on Plan B for years! Hahaha 😆 We have a general meal plan, where we know what we have and what we can make. We allow that to be fluid, so it's not a rigid plan and make extra for leftovers for busy nights. Implementing a Plan B has completely stopped eating out for dinner. NOW, we reserve eating out for lunches and for date night. Truly a game changer! ❤😊 💙💜💙

[@tha1nOnlyNatomi]

🤯🤯🤯

[@livroaberto]

Yep! When making my "plane A", I try to always have a backup meal for when life happens. It's maybe not the healthiest ou cheapest, but it's helthier and cheaper than eating out. Pasta + freezer bolognese. Soup (I'm portuguese, we always have soup around 😅)+toast/panini, tortelinnis/raviolis with a can of tomato sauce/cheese, frozen pizza...

[@sharonostrowsky37]

So happy you didn’t change your into! I love seeing you and little/young James in your apartment kitchen and your smile at the end is infectious.

[@pollydolly9723]

Grilled cheese and bacon sandwiches and tinned soup. Add a salad to your frozen pizza or lasagna. Air fryer chicken breast, rice and veg.

[@lekeshahill2477]

What do you do with your KZbin pay check? How do you budget that? Thank you for your videos.

[@gabrielamendoza2572]

Amazing video! I love the power bowl idea. Def going to try them.

[@ginamoffett1973]

Thank you for sharing this, fallowing you has literally changed me and my family life❤

[@dailyorangepill3338]

Glad you're back! 🌿

[@JKRBW]

I freeze our leftover soups and marinated meats in food service tubs. That way if I need something fast and zero effort, I can plop the whole frozen puck into the Insant Pot (add a little chicken stock or water if it's needed for the pressure function) and it's all handled without needing time to thaw. I appreciate the nod to food allergies. Our groceries are expensive because of Celiac, but the flip side is we spend very little money dining out. Our backup meal game is a well rehearsed exercise.

[@MadisonBriggsArtchick]

Such great ideas! Thank you! And your “messy” pantry looks amazing!

[@rosamondhazell2149]

What a wonderful thing to see you on KZbin. You are right life happens. Love Plan B!!

[@jchoco453]

Thank you for this video, loved it! ❤

[@thebudgetmom]

Ohh!! I am so glad you loved it! Thank you!

[@AnnaLexa21]

Thank you for helping me understand that it is possible to be better and for making me feel more in control of life. You are amazing and you deserve the best

[@thebudgetmom]

Thank you so much! I am so glad you loved the video!

[@tiffanymarie2097]

I love the idea of having a plan b menu plan! Never thought about that before and will definitely implement it in mine. Thank you!

[@dariana4247]

My plan b changes depending on what season our family is. It ranges from frozen lasagna, frozen pizza, chicken nuggets, frozen chicken, Mac and cheese served with frozen veggies or rice. My family also loves breakfast for dinner. We all like it and saves us so much money and stress.

[@madalina088]

I would like to see how your weekly meal plan looks like! Thank you for this video!❤

[@cathyb6358]

This is the best idea for a video that I have seen.

[@keshiawatson3177]

Loved the video. Trying to eat out less as possible. These ideas will help so much

[@butoolhasnain4164]

What is clean and organized of it's not this pantry?

[@ccap3211]

When you said to make teriyaki sauce with brown sugar, ginger, and teriyaki sauce did you mean soy sauce?

[@veronicaluna7369]

It's great to have you back on YT. I dont like to comment on people's appearance, but you are glowing. My eating out budget used to give me a couple of meals off each week, but prices are so high that it doesn't go as far now. Thank you for this content.

[@chantalschonewille3455]

Thanks miko!!! I will use this.

[@TheLuzy18]

This was fabulous!!! Thanks for saying this

[@lisaruiz6799]

Miko, First off, THANK YOU for more videos! Secondly, I meal prepped your Teriyaki chicken last night just the way you said it. Girl, omgosh, not only did I only spend $11.42 for just the chicken and some soy sauce but girl, oh my gosh, it's DELICIOUS! It came out *so* incredibly moist and fall off the fork when I took it out of oven but eeek, I'm so incredibly stoked that we will get 8 meals out of this at the cost of $1.43/meal! THANK YOU for the recipe and the directions because I've wanted to do that recipe for years!

[@jenellevanmeter1273]

Ive been doing this for a year or so and it has helped!

[@williamwarren9448]

I do this too ! Shop those freezers ! I know you have stuff in there you don’t “feel like” But it costs MONEY!!! Use that up ! And Don’t Buy it again !!!! I always have a plan b !!! Hot dogs and hamburgers !!! So glad to see you Miko ( and Ryan ) welcome home ! ❤glenda

[@marym.8234]

Hi so nice to see you back on you tube. Thank you for sharing your ideas!

[@angiefowler8858]

I am a newbie. I ordered the budget by paycheck binder and received it just this week. It definitely exceeded my expectations! You thought of everything and I love it!! I will continue to purchase this workbook. Love your channel!

[@thebudgetmom]

I am so glad you love the BBP Workbook! It's a game-changer!

[@jsb9157]

Thank you for making this video!!😊👏👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@kimberlyberry9453]

I will definitely be trying cause it's makes a whole lot of saving of my money

[@rickmayer9614]

ive been away from social media for sometime. few months now. when i seen you on my feed, i immediately smiled. waking up Sunday’s to new videos is the best, and your cupboards look great!

[@MovingMountainsMM]

Love this!

[@kristacatananzi2957]

So happy you are back on KZbin!!!!!

[@lilymayra8368]

You have such great meal plan, enjoyed 😊

[@espadron8454]

Hello! I'm new to the community and just received my newsletter for this month and was wondering if there was any way to get the printable for the January Savings Challenge? I was able print the Feb and Mar pdf but cant find January in the blog

[@tracyperry309]

Love this! We have something along those lines set up but I didn’t real call it “plan b”, though that’s exactly what it is. Looking forward to trying your teriyaki chicken recipe!

[@arambladen3087]

Awesome video as usual, but I have a question... How do you meal plan when you JUST moved into a new home/house? Everyone talks about how to meal prep when you DO have the ingredients at hand but how can you meal prep when you have nothing in the pantry/freezer/fridge? I don't see anyone talking about that!! 🤔

[@ThemilyCurran]

Sooo good!!

[@fondcello1994]

Great video!! Ladies, always double some recipes and freezer, you will be glad to pull it out from the freezer

[@thebudgetmom]

Yes!!!!

[@ruthgreen5718]

Miss you. Glad you did a video. God bless

[@PureLace]

A youtube video!?!? Yay!!! I've been missing them 😍

[@fasteddy3336]

Mac and cheese, spaghetti, breakfast sausage and frozen pancakes and waffles.

[@thebudgetmom]

Yes! These are awesome Plan B Meal Plan meals!

[@Jeannine241]

I love the RealGood brand for high protein frozen convenience dinners. Their bacon wrapped chicken is one of my go-tos

[@Sam88677]

Wow, TY ❤. I'm going to check my bank to see on AVG how many times a week we end up running out for last minute food cause of XYZ and have that many plan B meal stored. 👌❤️

[@lisaruiz6799]

Yeeeeeeeees, the same for me for Raos and pasta sauce!

[@carolynflathers3159]

My backup meals are pasta/jarred sauce (marinara or Alfredo - Rao’s is our favorite brand), frozen pizza, soup & grilled cheese, chicken tenders or barber stuffed chicken with frozen veg or instant potatoes. In the warmer months, grilled burgers/hotdogs are a go to meal as well.

[@shelbyconklin525]

Spaghetti is one of our 'Plan B' meals as well! We always keep Rao's Marinara on hand but instead of doing ground beef, we buy the Costco Kirkland frozen beef meatballs to use! They are so good taste and ingredient wise! We just throw some in the air fryer while the sauce is heating up on the stove and then add them in for the last 5 minutes or so. An even faster way to make it, if you put a bag of noodles in the bottom of your Instapot, jar of Rao's (large size from Costco), then fill the jar with water and dump in, then add a layer of the meatballs on top and cook on high pressure for 10 minutes, DONE! Pasta texture isn't my favorite when it's done, somewhat over cooked, but it's a LIFESAVER when I need something fast with minimal prep/active cooking time. Just some tips for fellow Costco shoppers!

[@neffatiticarpette]

You look so pretty. ❤

[@lisaruiz6799]

Hi Kimo, you basically described how I do our meal planning. Except that I do a lot of soups/stews/roasts and girl, I'm about to add your recipes to my list! I've been dying to find a good power bowl recipe and teriyaki recipe!

[@ibraidhair]

Quiche is one of my go-to plan B meals. I always have the ingredients.... eggs, milk, cheese, some sort of meat (optional).

[@quantrillej]

Thank you for inspiring me to meal prep again! For some reason I’m having trouble finding the recipe section on your website. If someone can direct me, I’ll greatly appreciate it. 🙏💕

[@thebudgetmom]

You can find all of the recipes that I make for my meal plans here --->> pin.it/2gkpIM7Z7

[@amandap8936]

For the teriyaki chicken do you use teriyaki sauce or soy sauce?

[@thebudgetmom]

Sorry! I meant soy sauce!

[@Jen-qd4qc]

Love to have burgers or Italian sausage patties for a plan b meal

[@BudgetingwithTracey]

Plan is a frozen pizza 🍕

[@juliehalling730]

My “Plan B” meal plan is that I do monthly meal planning and do a big shopping trip for all the pantry and freezer items for the month. That way I can make most of the meals on my plan at anytime, the only meals I can’t make require fresh perishables I have planned for a weekly grocery trip.

[@hayleyroche4379]

Costco has pans of frozen lasagna that are delicious and cheaper then what I could make myself. My favorite plan B

[@NancyCavillones]

Rao's is the best! It goes on sale fairly regularly so I always stock up on that. I won't pay more than $8 or $9 for a jar. Costco usually has the best price.

[@thebudgetmom]

True! I always find the best deals on Rao's at Costco!

[@kristabarbosa7306]

What’s in your basket by your sink? Everything on the white tray.

[@lisaruiz6799]

If you ever find a power bowl recipe DIY, let me know. Currently I'm swarmed with LOTS to do, BUT I'm excited to do your teriyaki chicken!

[@ZimmieBudgets1025]

What containers do you use for your brown sugar and other things like that? I have yet to find a good container that can keep my brown sugar soft and fresh.

[@NancyCavillones]

The key is not the container itself but a terra cotta disk. You soak the disk in water for 15 minutes, wipe it off then stick it in the container. The container I have came with a disk. It's Progressive brand, but you can buy the disks separately.

[@crystalgale15]

i just put a piece of bread inside my sugar container. usually the ends of the loaf. it has always kept my brown sugar soft. you just change the bread once it gets hard. 😊

[@thebudgetmom]

I use the Rubbermaid Brilliance Food Storage Containers with Lids.

[@thebudgetmom]

@@NancyCavillones I love my brown sugar teddy bear!

[@NancyCavillones]

@@thebudgetmom mine is just a boring old disk 😆

[@latanyaneal4070]

❤ good evening how are you doing today ❤

[@melissamoats3926]

I love having tasty bites pouches around for those last minute scenarios!