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Tips like these helped us pay off $127K in debt. You can read our story in Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After.
I’m always on the prowl for new meal planning ideas. No matter how long I’ve endeavored in the practice, I know there’s always room for improvement or a need to return to the methods that have provided success in the past. There’s no need to get overwhelmed, though. Your weekly plan doesn’t have to include spreadsheets or fancy recipes. If you like the same foods, it’s OK to repeat meals. And sometimes (or 3 times this week in our house), chicken strips in the oven, applesauce, and carrot sticks will keep everyone full and that is just fine. Welcome to the judgement free zone, where we all help each other plan, make the most of the food already in the cabinets, save money, and connect with our families when we sit down to break bread. Welcome to my oh-so-simple meal planning ideas for success.
Stop Trying to Be Like Everyone Else
I’ve often quipped that to pay off debt you have to stop trying to be like everyone else (because there’s deception in what everyone else is doing). So what if your girlfriend feeds her kids quinoa and beets for dinner every night. She doesn’t have your kids and that’s just fine. Seeing everyone else’s complicated strategies will wear you out. Drop that junk and lean into your family’s preferences instead. I’m not saying that you can’t try out a new dish, just don’t feel obligated or like there’s something wrong with you if you don’t. Planning a cereal night is ok (did I just hear you exhale?) and there is no shame in PBJ.
Start With What You Have
I know you know this because you are smart enough to read a post about meal planning (thanks for that, by the way), but planning your meals in the grocery store is B-A-D news. You need to begin planning while you’re at home. Open up the fridge, freezer, cabinets, pantry – wherever yo us tore food. Examine the items carefully and decide what you would make if you bought nothing else. This your first meal on your meal plan. From there progress to adding just 1 item. Maybe you have everything for your amazing smashing taco soup except for the protein source. Or perhaps you could make your world class chicken salad if only you had walnuts. This meal is your 2nd day. Just don’t forget to add the missing ingredient to your grocery list.
Write It Down (or Log it)
If ain’t in writing, it won’t happen. It’s not enough want to have a plan. You have to translate that plan to paper. I’m more of a traditionalist and this is the FREE printable meal planning tool that I use. However, you can program your plan into your phone, use an old notebook, or buy something swanky (if you promise to actually use it). Writing it down doesn’t lock you into to some restrictive world. I often flip days, sub out side items, or strike the plan if necessary. What writing down your meal plan does do is give you the security of knowing that you have what you need to prepare seven meals at any given moment during your week. Whew, what a relief.
Theme It
When I feel like our meal plan is getting just a little bit boring, I’ll throw in a themed night. We might eat hot dogs and hamburgers with french fries while listening to the 50s/60s station on Pandora or Spotify. Or, we’ll have Taco Tuesday but spice it up with some printables to help us learn Spanish. Music, decor, or a movie theme (how about Frozen dinners? Ha!) might spark an idea for you. You can have fun, learn something, and grow together as a family.
Plan to Dine Out
If you have the money budgeted, it’s OK to dine out (although we’re in the midst of a Restaurant Challenge here on Queen of Free). But instead of running through the drive at a fast food joint or playing the dreaded “Where do you want to go?” “I don’t know where do you want to go?” game (I HATE that game), choose to plan dining out. If it looks like your week will be exceptionally busy, choose a night you won’t have time to cook. OR make it even more special and choose a leisurely night to dine out. Take things to the next level by choosing specifically where you will go. Want to complete the awesome circle? Look at the menu online and make a choice in advance. Dining out is a luxury peeps, a glorious wondrous luxury (said the woman who hasn’t been in a restaurant for 17 days). Stop treating it like a chore. Plan to dine out and enjoy it.
What helps you best feed your family? Leave your meal planning ideas in the comments!
My book is now available: Slaying the Debt Dragon: How One Family Conquered Their Money Monster and Found an Inspired Happily Ever After. You can also check out Inspiration to Pay Off Debt: 30 Days of Encouragement from the Queen of Free
This post contains an affiliate link. That means when you get a great deal or maybe even something for free, you also help our family pay off our mortgage early. And for that, we royally thank you!
