Smart Menu Planning

I have always been a big weekly meal planner with a menu and usually at least one new recipe to try out. The coupons and sales ads however I used randomly.  This year I decided to kick up a notch and begin smart menu planning and consistent couponing.  I am happy to report that I have saved an average of 25% on grocery expenses,  have fully stocked my pantry with non-perishables and the fridge is stocked with frequently used perishable staples!  I am not an extreme couponer.  And I have a baby on the way, an almost 2 year old and an almost 4 year old so I do not spend hours a week couponing or running around getting deals.  I average 1-2 hours a week printing off coupons, clipping coupons from the one Sunday paper delivered to my house and meal planning.  And then an additional hour at the grocery store shopping, which would be less without the little ones!

Run Down of My Smart Menu Planning Method

1. Find blogs that do the work for you.  Do you have a favorite grocery store that is convenient on your route to somewhere?  Find a blog or two that does a coupon matchup for that store.   For me that’s Giant Eagle.  Mine doubles coupons up to 99cents, is on the way to and from preschool and also has a fuel perks and food perks program.  Print off those coupons they link to and find the  Sunday paper coupons they mention.
2. Get the Sunday paper.  I just started getting it last month and already have seen a drop in my weekly expenses and even score freebies!
3. We are big on natural and organic products and now there are coupons online for many of the products we love.  Do a search on “coupon” and brands you love or types of food like organic and you will find sites with coupons.  Bookmark the ones you will use again and print off those coupons.  You can also facebook like your favorite sites to get updates pushed to you.  I’ve done that with two sites/blogs so I can print out coupons as they come.
4. Use your favorite blog coupon matchup and the weekly flyer to make out your grocery list.  Stock up on things you use frequently when they are on super sale and especially when you have a great coupon.  Once you have the great deals listed out, look at your perishables you have and the items on your grocery list and make up a smart menu that use these things.
5. Keep your coupons organized and with you.  In the car and actually bring them in when you shop or in your purse/diaper bag/whatever.  You'll run into unadvertised sales at the store and can use those coupons for rock bottom prices!

Example Weekly Dinner Menu Using Smart Menu Planning

To keep up variety and the family happy I usually make one new recipe a week.  These are designed to feed a family of four with some leftover depending on how hearty your eaters are.  Think lunch for someone the next day!

These prices are averages that I buy them at.  I’ve definitely gotten the items even cheaper, especially now that I'm getting good at couponing!  If you see an * that means it’s pro-rated because not all the product was used.  Some spices are not included in the price as they cost pennies.  We often serve salads with our meals.  I didn’t include these in the meal samples.  Also these aren’t the cheapest meals I could possibly make, but things we are happy eating but at a lower cost because of smart meal planning.

Six Dinners just under $60 for family of four ($10 average)

Crockpot BBQ Chicken with Roasted Red Potatoes – Just under $13

$8 - 4 lbs  - all natural split breasts on manager special

$1 – BBQ Sauce these are always on sale and you won’t use a whole bottle

$2 – Red Potatoes, use half a bag

50 cents – White onion, use half

50 cents – use few cloves garlic

66 cents – steam bag veggies, also have gotten these free!

25 cents – a little olive oil goes a long way

BBQ Chicken Mini Pizzas with Mushrooms - $9

Free – chicken, use left over from BBQ Chicken

$2 – pizza cheese, I won’t pay more for Sargento or Kraft shredded cheese, it goes on sale and stock up

$1 – Pizza Sauce, store brand sauce is great and we only use half the jar

$2 – Mushrooms were BOGO so I used them twice this week

$4 – three mini pizza shells, I’d like to just make my own but sometimes quick is good

Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole - $10

$2 – 1 lb boneless chicken breast

*$2 – wild rice, I do buy the good stuff so spend more here but you only use a portion

$2 – mushrooms were BOGO so I used them twice this week

free – onion, use leftover from BBQ chicken

$2 – sour cream, won’t use the whole container

$2 – pizza cheese, I won’t pay more for Sargento or Kraft shredded cheese, it goes on sale and stock up

Tacos, Cornbread & Corn - $13

*$3 – ground turkey, buy family pack and freeze or use in another meal

free – cheddar use leftover from Chicken and Rice

free – sour cream use left over from Chicken and Wild Rice Casserole

$2 – lettuce

$1 – tomato

$3 – tortilla, you can get these cheaper with coupons of course or on sale

66 cents – corn steamable bag

$3 – cornbread mix, we buy pricier healthy/organic mix

34 cents – taco seasonings, I buy a huge thing at Costco

Turkey Meatloaf Muffins, Mashed potatoes, Veggie – around $7

*$3 – ground turkey, buy family pack and freeze or use in another meal

free – onion use leftover onion from Chicken and wild rice

*$2 – breadcrumbs, spices, sauces, ketchup, egg

$1 – mashed potatoes, buy instant on sale have coupon even cheaper

66 cents – veggies steam bag

Spaghetti with Spicy Sausage - $7

$1 – pasta stock it when on sale, even the organic you can get for $1

$3 – sausage, we buy organic or natural chicken on sale/manager special

$2 – pasta sauce, these are always going on sale with coupons take advantage

$1 – garlic bread, make your own or stock the sale texas toast

Lunch Ideas for the Week

• Eat those leftovers
• Use leftover tortillas, sour cream, chicken if you have it and $2 cheese to make quesadillas
• Pasta salad loaded with veggies, make it big and eat throughout the week