Save Money on Your Grocery Bill by Planning Ahead...Make A Grocery List and Weekly Meal Plan

Meal planning can really go a long way. It can save you time, money and space in your kitchen. Sit down the day before you plan on going to the grocery store and plan out your meals for the week or for the next two weeks depending on how often you go to the store. Make a menu similar to the old school lunch menus that you used to bring home from school. It really can save you a lot. Plan out breakfast, lunch and dinner and even a snack if you like. Some families make something different for each mean and then do a leftovers day. Some make one large meal and have the leftovers for the next meal. Some make multiple meals in a day and serve them up over the course of the week. Whatever your system is, planning it and putting it on paper is key. If you take a half hour out of your week and plan your meals and shopping list you can save yourself the headache every day of trying to figure our what to make. Microsoft Office offers great templates. Click here to get my favorite meal planner file that you can download for free.

Here is link to all the meal planning files that they share: Microsoft Meal Planner Templates

Planning your meals will also help you make a good shopping list that will include only items that you need to make the meals plus your basics and snacks. This will also save you money because you are not over buying or buying things you don't necessarily need that week. By not over buying you save space in your pantry and freezers. I have found a great excel spreadsheet online at Microsoft Office templates gallery. Click here to download my favorite grocery list file for free.

However, there are many grocery list files that you can choose from and download for free: Microsoft Grocery List Templates.

When I plan my shopping list I first look at the basic, such things as milk, eggs, butter, condiments, bread, sugar, etc. I put basic items I need on my grocery list first. Then I look at my meal plan and plug in the items that I do not already have on hand to make each meal. On my shopping list I have a section for the good old Dollar General Store where we go to pick up our household goods like cleaners, paper towels, toilet paper, toothpaste, etc because they are cheaper there than at the supermarket. I also have a section for errands, things like pick up laundry, pick up prescriptions, etc. This is so we can do our entire running in one day because we usually pass those other places on our way to the different stores we shop at. (This will also save time and gas money.)

After I get my list done, I turn to my coupon folder and the Internet. I clip coupons and store them in a coupon holder, which is just a little accordion file folder. I pull out the coupons for the items I have on my grocery list. Then I go to the computer and see if I can find coupons for other items on my list. There are some good sites to print off your own coupons. And don't forget to clip them from your local newspaper, magazines and mailings. I pull out the coupons that I plan on using and put them in the front of my coupon book. The other coupons that I find and print that I think I may use in the future I just file under the appropriate category tag in my coupon book.

Here are some ideas on how to label your tabs in your coupon book:

Baby

Beverages

Boxed Goods

Canned Goods

Cleaners/Personal Care

Condiments

Dairy

Frozen

Meats

Misc

Pet

Restaurant (coupons for restaurants and fast food)

Using (this is the first tab where I keep the coupons I plan on using)

Here are a few websites where you can find coupons. Also look at the website for specific brands, they often times have coupons, special deals and free recipes. An example of a brand that has a great website is Kraft Foods. They offer recipes, coupons and so much more. Another tip not related to grocery buying but shopping in general, you could look for coupons on department and specialty store websites such as Michaels, Hobby Lobby, Toysrus, etc. Often times they offer different printable coupons for each week's sales promotions.

Here are some good website to find printable coupons for groceries and department store items:

All Printable Coupons

Cool Savings

Coupon Cabin

Coupons

Mommy Saves Big