ONE GROCERY HACK TO SAVE THOUSANDS ON YOUR FOOD BILL | FRUGAL FIT MOM

[@kariner4297]

I used to hate meal planning, because it made me feel less free to make whatever I would feel like eating when the day came. Now I like to meal plan loosely. I write down 4-7 possible meals from what I have. But I don’t know exactly which day we will have what. I try to make what has the most parish-able foods first. Whatever is left on the list end of week is moved to next week. It really works for us, and it is saving me both money and stress!

[@bmcdonald7303]

I felt the same. Great idea.

[@mrseliephant]

I do the same thing. Cause some days you just don't feel like cooking.

[@Sarah.E.Johnson]

I do the same thing! Scooch on over to next week, fried chicken. You’ll get your turn. 😆

[@tcctocrazytccarson7309]

Have a couple, "I don't feel like cooking", recipes in the back of your mind. Also even having some quick put together things you can just pull out of the freezer, can be helpful. Just a couple of things I try to do, thank the heavens for the instant pot, being able have frozen proteins done in 90 minutes or less

[@cherylreed4377]

That's exactly what I do👍

[@sewwawa3202]

Leftovers are always lunches at my house.

[@alicebrison1899]

Christine: this is fantastic. This is a great video. This is the type of education that *I wish* they taught in school. This is basic economics and household management - and everyone should know this... but nobody teaches it. Thank you for teaching it!

[@wvgirl5000]

You're absolutely right. I had cooking class but it was pretty useless, something like this would have been so much more practical.

[@chandaharkins4418]

I literally just said to my husband, "They should teach this in school."

[@elenid7530]

My high school was in a smaller agricultural town, but we had a home economics course named "On Your Own" because for some reason no one wants to fund home ec anymore.

[@brendanboyle4250]

I wish they still taught home economics in our schools. Such an important thing that all students need to learn!

[@robynhayward]

I ALWAYS plan according to sales. It bothers me SO much when I have to buy a pantry item full price lol

[@inspiteofbecauseof4745]

My Mom always did this too. My family is WFPB and the cheapest foods we always buy are always cheaper than the sale items that are not WFPB. No meal planning for us ever. It has saved me time, money and our lives. Win-Win-Win!!!

[@marysueper140]

@@inspiteofbecauseof4745 what is WFPB?

[@stephanieleitner]

@@marysueper140 I think they mean Whole Foods Plant Based way of eating

[@jaytee2642]

@@marysueper140 It took 3 days for someone to answer your question. It's super easy to Google "WFPB" and have an answer in 2 seconds.👍🏻😁

[@weimermh1]

Literally was just thinking this I was always taught to make meals by what's on sale, not what you want. When you're really saving money. The app Flipp helps bc it tells u all the sales of every store in your zipcode.

[@samanthayoung6818]

A good use for oatmeal is apple crisp! Usually people always have oatmeal and apples on hand the rest is pantry staples!

[@laurenj.5312]

Peach crisp with oatmeal crumble topping too! Its peach season now!

[@samanthayoung6818]

Yess! I went to the store and just bought a whole bunch of peaches

[@heavenlee1965]

Looks at her apples and oatmeal and somehow feels violated LOL....

[@grandcatsmama3421]

Oatmeal cookies or bars with Blondies with peanut butter chips. If your children can have peanut butter.

[@KC-dr3cg]

1 banana mashed mix with 1 cup of oatmeal.greased teflon pan bake for 15 min @350°..healthy tasty cookies..could add cinnamon

[@jodischoolcraft9188]

I was meal planning 30 years ago when it was very unpopular and confusing for people… But we ate what we had… Made pantry meals… And ate what was on sale that week

[@marywatkins6798]

That’s how I do it, and have for years.

[@dianasimplifies]

Unpopular and confusing 🤣

[@jodischoolcraft9188]

I’d be like pork chops are on sale so that’s what I’m getting… my family acted like I was speaking a foreign language or trying to poison them 🤦‍♀️🤣

[@KC-dr3cg]

Online lots of "2 ingredient " deserts..meals..

[@KC-dr3cg]

@@dianasimplifies I follow the school lunch menus that are planned for the whole month.They plan for financial and nutrition reasons

[@teacherstreet]

Christine, I love how you can make a mundane topic interesting and even funny! You’re gifted! I love your videos!

[@melissaalvarez9154]

I agree she’s awesome !!!

[@hebamoslem8626]

Very true

[@tcctocrazytccarson7309]

Team FFM & Family ♡♡♡

[@allisonhartley6712]

I just always buy the meat on sale that week as well, even if we don’t eat it that week. Then you always have the cheapest meat in your freezer to put on the meal plan. If I am out in the freezer then I buy one for this week and one for later

[@erineccentric5810]

I've started doing this. I just load up on sale meat so I'm not paying full price. I can't stand paying full price for meat anymore.

[@heavenlee1965]

Thatssss what I do!

[@BallroomJenni]

Just quit my job and will be SAHM full time now, time to implement your rules/ideas/strategies and save my family money!!

[@Authorthings]

This channel, quaint housewife, and sweet magnolias are my favorite.

[@grandcatsmama3421]

You can subscribe to your local Sunday paper for the coupons, all papers have a Sunday only subscription. Usually for about $13 for 12 weeks of papers. If you don't want all of that newspaper lying around. You can call the major companies that have coupons. Go on websites and order coupons and let them know you like their products too.

[@cyndywatt6820]

Good for you!!

[@anitas5817]

I can’t imagine not having leftovers. For my husband and I - cook once, eat 3 times! One fresh, one leftover in the fridge for lunch or dinner, one to freeze for a quick reheat meal later. I always cook 6-8 servings. I only have to cook a few nights a week. Definitely check what’s in the freezer and pantry before shopping each week.

[@90aew]

I’m the same way! I hate cooking for just 2 people. When I cook, it’s mainly 8 serving or more. We eat a lot of leftovers and freezer meals.

[@janlefever607]

I do the same thing ,I love it when I eat it for 1 meal be gone for a few days then come back home and get to eat it again and maybe even share with family

[@lisarearick680]

This strategy works for those of us who are physically challenged as well. I cook one casserole dish for up to four meals for 2, pre cook sides & meats for easy meal prep, make freezer meals for I-Pot cooking, and use slow cooker and sheet pan meals. Anything to make meals easy for a BAD day.

[@vanessaguerrero3478]

when I met my husband and we start living together, he told me: I do not eat leftovers, that food is not good anymore… and I was like 😳 coming from a home where we always eat leftovers and my mother always saod, leftovers are your best friend, you justa need to warm it up 😂😂 of course now he learned and eats leftovers and he is happy about it

[@mrs.garrett1868]

My dad has always refused to eat leftovers. One day when my mom was complaining to me about it, I said to her "Why don't you portion them out and freeze them and then tell him they are frozen meals?" It worked! He has no idea that the food he is eating is not brought home in a cardboard box. lol!

[@anelmottley2630]

TELL HUSBAND HE IS A PATHETIC PERSON...........

[@blancahull7085]

Wow. Yeah, that wouldn't work in my house. LOL

[@reenie6079]

My boyfriends loves leftovers.

[@sharonberg4817]

My dad wouldn't eat leftovers too. Mom always cooked exactly what we could have, no seconds. Only NON-family style meals, we each got a plate with our food on it. I A didn't even know what a family-style meal was!

[@karenprinz5987]

What I’ve learned works for me is to double favorites. Making tacos, brown double the the meat and freeze half. Same for stuffed shells, meatballs, lasagna. If I’m already making one it usually doesn’t take much more effort to make a second batch.

[@a.humphries8678]

Yes!! I do this. Roast a chicken, or pork shoulder, do two, it's hardly any more work.

[@mistylovetroxel3087]

I've been meal planning for years and it definitely saves money at the grocery store but the best way to save the most money is to not take the husband or the kids.

[@firstigloochick]

Yes! Pen and paper lists all the way!

[@anetzband1383]

I can't imagine starting with meal planning IF one does not look at what's on sale for the week. I used to cut lots of coupons, but now I just make sure I try never to buy things unless they are on special, incorporating them into my planning. Knowing the seasonal items, the way a store cycles their sales all help lower the bills even more.

[@weimermh1]

The app flipp tells u all the sales on the stores in ur zipcode. :)

[@TheBeadGarden]

Exactly! I may have recipes in mind, but totally change it when I find other stuff on sale.

[@grandcatsmama3421]

If you coupon and follow the sales, you can save even more. I'd clip the coupons for the 3.5 pound bags of cat food which would be on sale. Instead of $3.99 they'd be $2.99, the coupons were $1.00 off each bag. I'd come home with six bags for which I had paid $17.94 plus sales tax, which in my state is 0.06 cents per dollar.

[@Scampergirl]

@@weimermh1 Ohh..good info!

[@businessacc179]

Same!! Have to check the deals first!

[@marywatkins6798]

I know you state the one thing is meal planning but I would argue, meal planning HAS to be in conjunction with store sales to save the most money. For me, I never do one without the other. Yes, you’ll still save money but to optimize your efforts, shop the sales and know your prices.

[@edevos3108]

Yup. And this is why pantry planning is important. I never buy anything that is not on sale--but I also have a pantry plan and I never purchase something that is not part of the plan just because it's on sale.

[@CookingwithKatelyn]

What helps me is when I’m buying meat I portion it out for each meal. Then I use my food saver so I don’t have to freeze everything all at once.

[@KatWrangler]

Exactly.

[@MyLady22]

Freezer ziplocks work just as great.

[@morganprudent1422]

LOVE "It's hard to look at ingredients and see a finished product" because it's so true! I've had to explain to my husband we have dinner planned for the same reason. The only problem comes when I look in the fridge and say, "the only food we have is ingredients!" In which case I really want something I don't have to make 😬

[@ericksonsails]

I understand completely! My husband offers to take me out but eating out is too fattening and too much trouble. I wish he would cook.

[@deecooper1567]

Ahh hahaha 🤪. That’s when/ why I make a Big batch of something… eat, freeze for those kinda days🤩. Yesterday made stuffed manicotti shells.. beef, sausage, ricotta cheese, lots of chopped spinach, pesto, mazarella (?) cheese & marinara sauce. Made 4 pans! That’s my lazy day planning 🤣🤣🤣🤣❣️

[@juliahardy5328]

O

[@ArtyMcKenzie]

I can still spend hella money in a grocery store. What I learned? Don't go shopping when hungry.

[@bellaleu7782]

Agreed! As a treat, I take hub out to eat then go grocery shopping lol…it might cost $10 or so but it saves me precious dollah dollah bills in the store 🤗 (I’m permanently disabled so there are times, he has to do the shopping w/me 😉)

[@deneandoll9922]

I also can't grocery shop when I am full. I used to travel to a distant town that has a store not available at home and we would make a day of it. If we ate lunch just before shopping I bought almost nothing, had no interest in searching out the sale items and just wanted to leave as fast as possible.

[@dianasimplifies]

Yes I gravitate more toward junk food when I'm hungry or right after work

[@patriciacole7976]

100%

[@milomilo55]

@@deneandoll9922 I'm with you there, If my belly is full the sight of all the meats, eggs, pastas etc. make me queasy and even if I have a list I'm telling myself I don't really need what's on the list and I'll just make up _something_ with whatever I have at home the next day....which is usually almost nothing. Even with a list I have to be at least a little hungry to go into a store full of foods.

[@laurielyon1892]

I can't imagine NOT meal planning. One thing I did is I wrote the meals we eat by the meat it takes. For instance, all the meals we eat that take chicken are on one sheet, beef on another, soups on another, etc. It really helps for when I see what meat I'm going to cook with to just look at that sheet. You have to look at what is in the fridge and freezer to see what you can use up. Like your family, we eat leftovers. In fact, I usually try and pick a meal either on Sunday or Monday that will make leftovers so my husband and I can take to work and then something else about middle of the week for the rest.

[@beehappy7897]

I love this advice. I also suggest grocery or curbside pickup. We’ve seen a lot of places offering curbside pickup over the past year and I absolutely love it because I never buy impulse purchases. Very easy to stick to the list this way, too. :-)

[@hopeup2792]

They are never picky enough for me if produce is on the list. They give you a small green pepper instead of the large one, but is makes sense to avoid the extra items and it saves time.

[@cemmett2008]

Curbside pickup has saved me SOOOO much money & keeps me to my budget! I grow a buncha my veggies & buy the rest from produce stands local to me!

[@PandaBear62573]

For me doing the shopping this way always just seemed logical. However, my mom did it this way so I most likely just naturally picked it up from her. Another thing I do is check the weather to see how hot it's going to be. For example it's suppose to be like 95 today so I meal prepped earlier this week so we could just eat leftovers today. Cause I am not cooking during heatwaves. My kitchen is not air conditioned.

[@nicolegrabowski5704]

I do that too! I make sure I have either a slow cooker meal or something I've prepped ahead if it's going to be too hot to cook.

[@kdonor]

Yes I put the crock pot and roaster oven outside in the summer.

[@coal.sparks]

@@kdonor I never even thought about doing this. How brilliant are you? SO BRILLIANT.

[@dianasimplifies]

@@coal.sparks lol I can't do that. The ants would be all over this idea 🤣

[@jakenda1978]

One of my new favorites is a packet of Knorr Rice Mix, some cooked chicken, any leftover vegetable in the fridge or frozen, some cream soup, some sour cream, onions, peppers, garlic, and here's the secret ingredient. Fried Onions. Put some in the casserole and some on top w/cheese. It makes a ton for what little bit of chicken I had leftover to use. Very flavorful and filling.

[@denisebozung126]

This sounds doable and delicious, especially for a single person like me. Plus it promises leftovers!

[@Dragonridermom]

I added onions to a tuna casserole and it took it up a notch.

[@green_willowtree]

4:43 I think it depends on your family’s appetite. My family of three can EASILY eat a whole casserole sized pan for one meal.

[@deecooper1567]

Oh my dear, you are so right! I was never one to “plan” for a week, weeks, month of dinners. Our schedule was always so crazy lol & hubby would NOT eat boxed foods. From scratch only 😵‍💫. AND we didn’t live close to stores or near town sooo I always bought extra staples to have on hand & still do at 73😆. People say I’m a prepper … on the contrary, I’m PREPARED 👍🤩. Big difference. Learned from my Mom ❣️. I also can & have a garden👩‍🌾 For those who are young or don’t have lots of freezer space, just having a few staples on hand for a fav meal really helps. You are such a joy to watch😉. Do you by chance can up some of your energy to sell!🤣🤣. I would buy a truck load 🤩🤩

[@intuitive_duck]

I finally decided to try buying groceries through the app & saved almost $100 on my usual cart full of groceries. I even bought extras for later!

[@10feralratsinacoat76]

Right! You don’t pass and suddenly remember you fancied that item and waste money on it

[@oliviagreen8853]

I'm a family of one plus a cat, so I meal prep on Sunday and pick two dishes to make and then eat the same thing for 6 days straight 🤣 I just mix up my snacks for variety and take a multivitamin. Works for me 😁

[@nataliestanchevski4628]

You are so lucky, I have 3 other adults to feed and 3 cats. None of them like left overs lol.

[@sherilynalexnder897]

I'm almost an empty nester and I enjoy cooking, plus I work from home so have the time. I'm not looking forward to the days when I'm cooking for one, but likely will do similar to what you said - cook once or twice and then eat leftovers, salad, etc. I have three cats, but only one of them will eat 'people food' (chicken), and he gets the trimmings, so I guess that counts, lol.

[@desertbluecatnm]

I also like to put extra in the freezer so I can just pull it out when I don't want to cook or I'm tired of what I've been eating. This week I ate burrito bowls for lunch and dinner for about 4 days. I don't understand people who say they don't "like" leftovers. Really? You liked it yesterday. Too bad, that's your lunch today (if I had a family, which I dont...)

[@nataliestanchevski4628]

@@desertbluecatnm Lol, I cook for my sister, mother, and tenant. Unfortunately I can't say "too bad, eat the leftovers" to any of them, I lack the authority 🤣

[@Sky-Child]

+1 for being an autist and eating the same meal every day for months without getting bored. I love it so much

[@citogal]

I did meal prepping for a while, and it's great, but as a small household I find I don't have to meal prep. It started getting ingrained that I should cook what I have, and when I go to the store, it's in my head what I have and I can put together a few meals mentally and only buy those items that will help. I used to throw away a lot of produce because I just didn't use it quick enough. Sometimes I want to get fast food or go out to lunch/dinner at a restaurant, but now I think "but I have this food that I need to make," and I make it. I think also the C19 for the last 18 months really helped me change. My grocery bill is way low now! Your channel helped a lot!

[@hedgerow.homestead]

One of my favourite meal planning tips is not to plan for specific days, just an order - and base that order on what will go bad first. If I have meals planned for each day, then I don’t remember to eat leftovers. But if I just have an order, than if there are leftovers or if we go out for a meal, the next day I know what the next meal is and it doesn’t matter what day it is.

[@Jen-Chapin]

I have known people that go to the grocery store each day after work to get items for dinner…I’m like whaaaaa? I mean you do you boo, but I gotta meal plan 😝

[@staceye6075]

So you're not Jen? or are you Jen?

[@FrugalFitMom]

Ha! The names have been changed to protect the guilty. 😜

[@christinajholman5800]

Ain't nobody got time for that!

[@TheLinkeFamily]

It depends how you do it, I guess. I don’t go on the way home from work. But walking to my local store to pick up a couple of things for dinner as I need them for each day is getting me fit and I’m only buying what I really need for the night so it’s also cutting down on waste. It definitely saves me money as long as I don’t buy a bunch of chocolate when I go. 😂

[@dianasimplifies]

I worked with a lady like that. I hate the grocery! No thx! Not going daily lol 😆

[@brittanydemaria4877]

Since being diagnosed with Celiac Disease in 2013, I've discovered meal planning. It makes life so much easier because I have to think ahead amd make almost everything from scratch. One thing that I have learned from your videos recently is to "shop from your pantry." Instead of just buying the same stuff each week, I think about what I already have and can make with that. It's been quite helpful! Thank you!

[@hardywifesweetlife1746]

I'm a well seasoned mom of five that has been meal planning for ten plus years...and I still find it so incredibly delightful going over the basics like you did in this vid! I loved it, it brought back memories of the days when my Alfredo dinner was literally a jar of sauce and a box of noodles. Or when taco night was just plain cooked ground beef and store bought tortillas warmed in the microwave...ahh the simple days!! Many Thanks Christine!!

[@sherylaugustson6304]

This is good advice for single people also. I have worked from home for the last 18 months and cooked every meal - this was new to me. I fill my freezer with different proteins and buy fresh fruit and veggies weekly.

[@brendaholcomb2910]

When the pandemic began I made a three week calendar grid. I wrote each meal I had planned out on sticky notes and placed them on the grid. Not only could we switch things around if we weren't able to get a key ingredient, my teenage cooks could decide which recipes they wanted to make and when, just by looking at the grid. It's also nice to see, according to the grid, when leftovers need to either get eaten or tossed

[@cyndywatt6820]

points for flexibility!!

[@laurajordan5751]

Yes!! Using Walmart Pickup has saved me so much money and there's no temptation 🙌

[@Erica-zx2ck]

I really need to do this

[@docsusun3667]

@@Erica-zx2ck I kept putting it off. Have paralyzed foot but its healing!!! Anyway I was very very hesitant and trust me you will be so glad you did it. Its soo convenient and they do a really great job!

[@desertbluecatnm]

I make my list (and a loose meal plan) based on what's on sale and whatever I like to have on hand (or need) for staples. Whole foods only, no or very limited processed food. Easy...

[@joannevans2829]

This is absolutely my method too. My husband and I are retired and could go out for dinner five times a week like I see some of my friends do, but…no! I plan out five dinners at a time, carefully checking and writing down ingredients. I’ve learned not to trust my memory, but actually check that pantry and freezer to make sure everything we need is on the list because our closest grocery store is nearly 30 minutes away so quick last-minute trips aren’t an option. The remaining two nights are either leftovers; “breakfast for dinner” (husband’s favorite); or going out. I love having a plan and feeling in control.

[@ItCameFromAVlog]

I love meal planning but I also love the flexibility of picking what I want to make each day. I create a list of dishes I can make on the calendar, shop it, then make it on whatever day I want during the week.

[@debimorsette1685]

I have a really easy plan for dinners. One chicken, one beef, one pork, one fish, one taco night, one brinner (breakfast for dinner). Each meat has one shelf in the freezer with multiple cuts of that meat. At dinner tonight, I ask what would the family like tomorrow night. Everyone gets a pick and is happy. I only buy meat on sale or markdown. In fact I rarely buy anything not on sale,except for milk. One night a week we have “Refrigerator Buffet”. That sounds much tastier than leftovers. Thanks for your continued great cost saving hints. You’re great!! 🥰🥰

[@lauramaillie3745]

My husband always laughs and asks 'what are you doing?' When he sees my legs and butt hanging over the deep freeze like you did. "I'm shopping! Okay done, now help me out of here!" (In case you don't know, I'm short) I'll also 'shop' in my pantry when meal planning....very inspirational. And so are you. So much heart your video.

[@williamwarren9448]

I have meal planned for YEARS - it has literally saved thousands of dollars - I keep a large calendar on the counter with the days dinner - then if the kids wanted pepperoni and cheese with crackers BUT they saw pepperoni on the meal list they KNEW not to eat it and instead find something else (left overs).....and everyone KNOWS whats for dinner and to help make it :) win win

[@thehappysouledwomen7832]

How did you teach your kids to follow that rule? My 9 year old would completely ignore it or just be oblivious to it all together 🤦🏽‍♀️

[@williamwarren9448]

@@thehappysouledwomen7832 AHHHH consequences = no pepperoni for pizza = I was very blessed by kids who wanted to eat -

[@AnnEvelyn7]

I am a single person and meal planning is hard for me. How do I know what I want to eat on Friday? Most of the time, I don’t even know what I am eating today. But, I do understand that planning will solve those problems. Getting motivated to cook on any given day is the real challenge.

[@itstime3976]

I keep fresh fruit, snacking veggies and nuts around all the time. Oh yeah and cereal with those small lunchbox sized almond milks. Makes is super easy to eat something healthy when hungry.

[@kathytate2221]

Hi I'm single as well this is what I do. I just look in My freezers for what meat needs to be eaten up then I make a list of 4-6 things I can make with it then I chose an item, cook it and then eat it till its gone so I try to not make more than I can eat in 2-3 days. Then I move on to the next item. So these 4-6 items will easily last Me 2-3 weeks. Have a GREAT Day.

[@AnnEvelyn7]

@@kathytate2221 I like that idea!

[@AnnEvelyn7]

@@itstime3976 I just ordered groceries to make smoothies and have frozen veggies for my air fryer. Thanks for the info!

[@kathytate2221]

@@AnnEvelyn7 YW

[@melissataulbee2048]

I watch you and think the same thing...."Boss lady " when it comes to just putting something together. I am so amazed every time you cook.

[@Day-Zee62]

This video made me so happy. I was feeling overwhelmed with thinking I should buy a whole months grocery haul but when you spoke about the weekly meal planning, I felt relief. Thats exactly what would work for me. I appreciate all you do and your fantastic insight and advice🤗👍🏼

[@blessthiscrazymess]

I want to be in the store watching you make those videos lol

[@megannvialpando363]

I use a lot of your money saving tips! My kids love to help me find the reduced stickers lol

[@Gitanarosa]

My grandmother always used every bit of food. I opened her fridge and couldn’t believe it. Later she brings out the most delicious tacos. Potato, tomato and a bit of chicken. Friend and tipped with lettuce, tomatoes and fresh crema. She already had al of that. Oh and a cucumber lemonade with alfalfa. So good.

[@melindaclements4080]

I was just watching your crusty bread video. Got mine in the oven. Fingers crossed. Love your videos!

[@janedoe9421]

Yes, make your own bread. Bread at the store is toxic.

[@firesong100100]

Ditto

[@diamondheart4154]

Have made the crusty bread several times. We love it! Got my daughter making it, too!

[@ketogorl]

I love that recipe!! I use it for the crust for mini pizzas too ... it’s a hit with my kids!!

[@melindaclements4080]

The crust bread turned out perfect!!!

[@whitehusky3]

I do weekly meal planning, and I place my order online and pick up my groceries at a scheduled time the following evening. I love doing this because it allows me to see the price of all my groceries (and if needed, make adjustments) before I finish the checkout process without the embarrassment of standing at the register with a conveyor belt full of groceries with people waiting in line behind me when I realize I didn't want to spend that much. I also don't have to walk around the store looking for items or trying to find an employee to ask where something is located. Stores love to reorganize things all the time, so placing my order online alleviates this irritation. Meal planning is hands down the most effective way I avoid waste and ensure I have a lower food bill at the grocery store. I wish I'd been doing it my entire adult life. We used to run out of money and food every payday a few days before our next paycheck when my husband was active duty military. We went hungry sometimes. It sucked. With meal planning, that never would've been an issue, but this is one of the things I learned after he left the military. I actually learned to do it because I signed up for a meal planning service called Dine Without Whine (I have no idea if that's still a thing), and they would provide a plan for 7 dinners and 2 desserts as well as a complete shopping list for your convenience when you go to the store. After a few weeks, I realized I could do it myself (and actually cook meals I knew my family would love). I love using sites like Allrecipes, Campbell's Kitchen, and Taste of Home to find delicious recipes. When I tell people I only spend $50/week to feed four people, they don't believe me. I show them my receipt and they can't figure out how it's possible. MEAL PLANNING!! It is hands down the best way to spend less at the grocery store. Only buy what you need. :)

[@kathycourington4748]

Great reminder, keep it simple with what you know.... Planning is what I need to get back to. Saves a ton money.

[@itstime3976]

Simple meals are sometimes bthe best meals!

[@jlbnerdy]

Watched this as I combed through the ads for the grocery stores this week! Meal planning has been a huge way to take some stress off & also save a little money. It's definitely worth the effort!

[@jodythomas1159]

I use my crockpot more in the summer than in the winter (saves on heating up a Texas kitchen)! I freezer prep my meats. Different sauces, different veggies, etc.... Now I crockpot the meat or thaw for pan cook and all I do is add the sides.

[@alinewright1093]

Yes, I use my crock pot on my patio in the summer. So my neighbors must get hungry smelling my food.

[@annbeth6730]

My mother taught me this when I was about eleven . She would write a shopping list with me and my sister present . Tell us what she was cooking each day has she looked through the cupboards .... seeing what she had and what was needed. Then my older sister by a year and I would fetch the shopping. I was born in England In 1952. . Can't believe that Utubers have to teach families how to shop clean and manage finances.

[@jaytee2642]

I plan my meals around what's on sale. First look through the sale flyer, write down the good deals and THEN plan my meals around that.👍🏻

[@AskAgainL8ter]

I plan so similarly. $500-700 a month for my family of 7. I do plan dinner for every day and then we eat leftovers for lunch the next day. I absolutely hate throwing away food! I would also add to check into local resources if you have kids. Our school district does free lunches M-F during the summer for any child, saves me a ton.

[@justicedaicy]

Love your sense of humor! Gave you a thumbs up just for the "jump start" introduction!

[@Swifftylady17]

😊 I love this. Yes!! My meal plan this week for breakfast for myself is "eggs." Monday and Tuesday I had egg in a wrap. Today I had eggs and toast. Tomorrow will be eggs and toast. And Friday guess what, eggs and toast. Lol I am not making my family suffer eggs everyday. The children and my husband have been al la cart: eggs, cereal or waffles. No more stress in the mornings, I love it! Grocery has been the first area to check each time funds run low to fast. I am working my way up to monthly meal planning. The past 2 months have been good. Let's see how July goes.

[@kimberlystone849]

I haven’t been subscribed to your channel for very long but in just the past couple of months that I’ve really started to meal plan I’ve cut our grocery budget almost in half, and that is including the three meals a day that I do prepare for my family. My son and I eat breakfast lunch and dinner at home every single day and my husband usually takes the leftovers. Thank you so much for all of the advice that you have offered out

[@sarab9385]

Great video! This would make a fun series. Tip 1 - meal plan Tip 2 - how to shop the circular Tip 3 - how to build a stockpile I’m just making stuff up. Lol

[@Kiterpuss]

I had to teach myself how to cook and some of my favorite recipes are the ones that use very simple ingredients to make filling staples. Craving bread? Make a flatbread in the oven and you don't need yeast. Craving cheese? Make a bechamel cheese sauce and you can stretch cheese a lot further. Got some bacon/chicken grease in a jar? Add some to your beans or rice to stretch the flavour. Want cookies? Make oatmeal cookies and now they're filling, sweet, and healthier than a sugar cookie. And all so much more affordable than you'd ever expect.

[@lindseydawn2838]

I was a single mom for 11 years and now a married mom with 4 kids and my hubby. This is how I’ve shopped since I was 16 on my own with a baby. It’s the only way I could keep us all fed. Now I do my notes app on my phone, checking the box is just as gratifying as crossing things off 🤣

[@deecooper1567]

Oh Yes!!! My Mom started me with a list when we fittest got married & had to get just basics. Now I’m a “ List of “ person for everything lol. Then comes the cell phones 📱 Now my lists are on that. 🤣🤣

[@hollydingman7455]

Oh my gosh, that’s so true! My husband is also mystified and surprised at how I can “make food out of nothing.” 😂 You gotta have chef’s eyes 👀

[@the_caffeinated_hustle]

YES!! I started meal planning about 4ish months ago and after watching many of your videos, I am working on decreasing my weekly grocery budget!

[@leahirvine3522]

Thanks Christine!!! You have inspired me to cook from our freezers, which we have been working on since January. I keep a freezer inventory and update it every three months. If there is something still in the freezer the next round, we make sure it's on our next meal plan. Our freezers are almost ready for all the fresh produce :-)

[@alebhd7434]

2020 was all about survival with many achievements not met but you have to be ready you don't get caught up and it begins right now by making a move to achieve your goals…If you have been saving and it’s not really getting you to were you want to be, then invest that money today for a better life tomorrow. If you can’t fly, run, if you can’t run walk, if you can’t walk crawl but just try and move to achieving your goals

[@christie724]

OMG....I am such a Jen! Thank you so much for sharing. I know that I need to meal plan but quarantine and all the changes that came with it have really got me out of the swing of normal life. Thank you so much for the reminder and push to get back into a meal plan schedule 🤗

[@sbbsgee3319]

Breakfast for dinner also great idea.

[@deborahadcock978]

You are SO Right!This will save us all money on our grocery bill PLUS no wasted food when we meal plan!A BIG 👍🏻 Thumbs Up for this video!

[@chelitalittle7506]

I recently subscribed to your page. I'm going back to things that used to work for my family and you are my type of frugal mom, lol. Thank you.

[@gaylegreene]

Love your videos 🤗 I grew up in the country. I learned to cooked from scratch. Soups and casseroles. Grateful 🥲

[@patpowles2129]

I have been doing this my whole entire life. My first job had me an hour away from stores, so I ad to plan. Lived on an Indian reservation. Still do it even though stores are close.

[@ninaprabhu6586]

Love this.I spend a lot on my groceries and now kids are in College yet I spend the same amount..I get excited when I go to the store and ideas start popping in my mind about recipes. Getting better over time

[@gushodges8320]

I love your videos! You always crack me up! “Boom! Who’s the boss now?!?”😂😂😂😂😂

[@misshappy2976]

I am that friend of yours who wanders without a list and came back home with plenty of stuff I don’t know how to cook 😂. Thanks for sharing, this will definitely save my money from grocery. ❤

[@rebeccasladky7678]

My meal plan would only have tacos on it. Beef Tacos, Breakfast Tacos, Baked Chicken and Mexican Rice Tacos! Maybe some Enchiladas, some Colorado Chili!!! Love you guys!

[@doublea6252]

Meal planning 3-4 days is my SWEET SPOT!! (And meal planning has always been my kryptonite!!😜)

[@ashley.hulsey]

I do the exact same thing! We have a standing breakfast rotation, easy lunches, and a dinner meal plan done weekly. I also do Kroger PickUp, so I only get what is on my list for the week’s meals. I do a CostCo haul every few months - sticking to my list. We are also gluten free, dye free, low sugar, so that filter makes shopping easier too.

[@kimberlypillman2983]

Growing up my siblings and I, and now MY two sons, used to have hot coco and toast with butter then dipped buttered toast in coco. Yum.

[@jdchainsaw1335]

Wow your positivity really shines thru in your videos. I wish more people made meal prep seem so fun. Rofl when you did curls with the ranch.

[@annizhan3171]

I love the fact that you made a video about grocery hacks not using coupons. I live in a country where we more or less can never, ever find coupons. We can get special offers on cheaper items for the week from stores I'm a member of. I already knew everything you mentioned here BUT do I do it in real life? No. This was a great way of giving me a kick in the butt and actually do it as well! Thanks. 🙂

[@TheRachag]

I’m so happy for Jen!

[@RecoveryTidbits]

Walmart grocery pickup. No, not here. They 1. Cant find it 🤨 2. Are out of it 😳 3. Don’t pick the quality i want. I will say? It does make the stores less crowded. It works if i can get someone who understands special diets

[@AS-nb9fe]

Nailed it. Simple and has always been true, always will be. You rock 😘

[@kskollections2142]

I learned to meal plan when my hubby was in the Air Force and he only got paid 2x/month. Being a military family was tough but we made it work for 22 years. As my kids have aged, they eat more but are still picky. If they don’t like what is on the menu, they have to fend for themselves. Now my daughter plans and cooks one meal per week so I can get a break. My youngest son also loves to cook so he has meals that he loves to make and has me incorporate into the menu. We are fortunate enough to be able to shop at the base commissary where the brand names are cheaper than other stores generic brands. I feel very fortunate to have an awesome family!

[@leahirvine3522]

Definitely make Christine's pasta jambalaya recipe!!! It is SO good and so easy :-). Winner-winner no chicken🐔 in that dinner 🤣

[@ourunfilteredlife8119]

100k starter homes.... looks around my 50k forever home. Confused. That put me in my place... poor. Lol. Anyways... What we do bc of Corona... Hit up a couple food pantries. Build off that and whats in my pantry. Makes our meals a a dollar or 2 per servings at most. Oh and double every recipe. One for now and one for later. Marinade at least half the meat you buy before you freeze it. Easy meals half way done for you. Or better... spend a weekend and plan out/shop/prep/freeze a month of freezer dump meals for a crockpot/pressure cooker or casseroles for the oven.

[@returnofthereasoner3200]

Our Unfiltered Life, it must be a generational thing. My starter home was 28K and I was thrilled! Never thought I’d see what the real estate market is like today. The “American Dream” of owning a home is becoming unattainable for too many people.

[@kristinegoodman7534]

A 50k home is still a home! Dave Ramsey would LOVE to hear that you were smart enough to buy a home at that price!

[@michellemybelle22]

Depends where you live!

[@nicoles7126]

Unfiltered, check out budget bytes if you're looking for recipes. She breaks down the cost of recipes by ingredient as well as by serving.

[@CTmealplanner6387]

Love this video! I shared it to my meal planning page on Facebook. This is exactly what we do and it saves so much money. We make a lot from scratch instead of buying prepackaged foods and that saves money too.

[@smartin5888]

“Starter $100,000 homes.” Way to flex, there 🤣. My starter home wasn’t half that 😩.

[@carmarasmussen8118]

We paid $76k for our starter home in 1998! Today, I bet that little starter home would list for $350k!! 😳

[@tiffanyhenderson897]

I still rent 🤣

[@username00009]

@@tiffanyhenderson897 at this rate I’ll be retired before I buy a house!

[@michellemybelle22]

Of course this depends where you live! It’s extremely difficult to find a house for under $200k here in Boston.

[@hollycaffeinatednerdgirl940]

My husband thinks I'm nuts because I plan my lists for in store shopping like a military exercise, it's broken down by section and aisles, I can get in and out like a flash, he on the other hand is a wanderer and is so slow and I'm going bananas by the time we are done. He is however great and picking up the curbside orders on the way home from work.😄 I pick my battles...lol. my issue lately is I just feel in a rut with my menus. I love getting ideas from Christine!😊

[@jodythomas1159]

The FIRST step is shopping your inventory. If your family won’t eat leftovers, well that kinda sucks. Instead of making a big 9x13 pan of lasagna, make two 8x8 containers of it. Cook one, freeze one and add a large salad and maybe breadsticks. Huge help: teach your kiddos how to cook & assemble a meal. I have one teen that just won’t fix a meal (even a sandwich) because she wants me to do it. Errrr. Another tip for saving money if you have kiddos (might apply more when in school and they take their lunch): ask them what works and doesn’t. Try to find out HOW MUCH they are eating! I found halves of sandwiches in my daughters trash and a drawer full of granola bars. I had to tell her that I’d rather her be honest about what and how much she would eat than her just throwing away valuable food (and my money 😉).

[@jenniferdeboer4127]

It makes me so happy I'm not the only one who like using colored pads of paper! 😂😅

[@kevinmulryne8414]

My mom would do a leftover day once a week it was so much fun! Put it all out on the table and we got to have whatever we want. Love your videos

[@ashleykohn2539]

This is what I do! I call it, the leftover smorgasbord 😂

[@cherylreed4377]

Yes we do that too👍

[@conniecierpiot2687]

EMG day. Everything must go!

[@umy9828]

I really love how simple and relatable you are. Love your channel! ❤️

[@tngardener231]

I haven’t shopped in 2 weeks but today I had to go get peppers, an onion and coffee creamer.. groceries done! Family of 5

[@familyof5quicktips514]

I use HEB curbside every week, I’m convinced this has saved me 💰THOUSANDS💰 just by not going into the store. I can be intentional about what I purchase and remove things from my cart to stay in budget! As always great video! 👍🏻

[@rosemarydoran9907]

I do the same thing with my regional grocery store app. I am disabled so I have to use the delivery service but same principle. I put what I want in my virtual cart and then edit when I get over budget.

[@familyof5quicktips514]

@@rosemarydoran9907 ordering online makes grocery shopping so convenient! I’m glad you are able to take advantage of the service!

[@Mrs.Silversmith]

I don't meal-plan, but I have certain basic cooking ingredients that I use a lot, in a variety of ways. So I write my list by opening each cupboard and the fridge and just checking what I have on hand and what I need to replenish my standard inventory. I make sure that any items that spoil quickly (like fruits) are items that we will definitely use up. This system works pretty well for us.

[@toniberryman7605]

I would ask my kids and hubby what they would like to eat for the week and plan from there. The rule was they had to eat whatever the other people chose. I chose the day. This made supper planning easy.

[@lmr45241]

Great reminder and something I need to be better at doing. Will shop my freezer first and make my list based on that before I go out today.

[@firequeen2194]

Totally agree. I can’t eat much at one sitting so I tend to buy the aluminum baking dishes at the dollar tree and when making a casserole for instances, I will actually split the recipe as you do. One for today and one for the freezer. Makes food budget go so much further with very little waste. Speaking of which, I’m on freezer clean out at the moment, lol. My current grocery list is under $20 and that includes the trifle I’m putting together for the pool party on the 4th of July. Highly recommend Six Sisters for crock pot/instant pot meals as well. Have used a lot of them and they are so easy. Loving what you do!

[@amyworman4196]

YES! That is how I do it, too! I have also started using Hello Fresh for 2 meals a week. It's nice to get new recipes in the mix. We also have 1 "on your own" night where everyone is responsible for their own dinner (my kids are 22 & 20 so I don't have to plan for them).