Do you plan meals in advance
Posted By: ? on 2007-03-17
In Reply to:
I'm used to going to the grocery store and just looking around (I do have a list of things I need) and deciding on what to make for dinner while I'm standing there. I've never 'planned' meals before.
I am separated and getting divorced and seriously need to cut back on the food bill. We typically spend $700-800 a month for 4 of us. (food and toiletries)
I use coupons when I have them and most things are generic, but not all. Our bill is so high in part because my husband goes to the store everyday to buy breakfast on his way to work and also has special dietary issues. Right off the top without those two factors, I think I will save about $100 a month. Also, two teenagers who eat nonstop is expensive.
I buy lots of vegetables and try to use less meat/chicken, and more veggies but it doesn't always work! I do make soup often but my kids aren't into that as a main meal, just as part of their meal.
I don't buy sodas so that's not an issue.
Should I make a lot of bean type dishes? my kids would rather starve first! Hmm, maybe not a bad way to cut back...!
Does it save money if you plan your (dinner) meals in advance? Any other tips would be great.
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Do you plan your week's meals in advance?
I try to, but I don't cook every night so I don't do a good shopping list.
I usually think of 2 or 3 meals before I head out to the grocery store and just wing it the other days.
My meals include the main dish and a side or two, plus a bread (for DS1, who loves biscuits, rolls, etc.). I never do desserts but I keep ice cream on hand for the boys and WW fudge bars for DH & myself. Dessert isn't part of our meal, but we may have it - or not - later in the evening.
I'm amazed at those who prepare full meals every single day plus dessert! Even though I was brought up that way, it's just not the way we eat. I'm not a big dinner eater, sometimes DH and I skip it altogether. I always feed the kids, though!
If I had at least 4, I would defnitely plan in advance. sm
When I was alone with two kids, I planned a lot of meals, and shopped in advance, according to what was on sale. Kids will eat anything. Why not beans? Just find some good recipes. They love Mexican food with refried beans.
GameBoy Advance
 My daughter has a GameBoy Advance with lots of extras. She is trying to raise money for a class trip and would like to sell it. If you know of anyone who might be interested please feel free to E-mail me for all the details. It is colbalt blue.
advance against paycheck?
Has anyone every done this? My sister actually did this several times until the point they would not let her do this anymore. Isn't this a crazy thing to do? I don't know how she ever paid them back . . .
Very true about booking in advance
Check out Expedia.com or other hotel sites, you can pay 300 a room at the Milford Plaza in November but half that in January for the same room. Also, don't buy tickets for shows at hotels - they can charge double. Check out playbill.com and sign up (it's free!) Right now the Wedding Singer has a special and is about half price for members.
Thanks in advance for my nightmare tonight. nm
My daughter has a gameboy advance
with some of the old style atari games like pacman, pole position and galaga. We're going to get a 2nd guitar also, but we're waiting until the wireless one goes on sale (hopefully). Once I get halfway decent at the game we'll invite people over. It does sound like it would be a good time! It's nice to know I'm not the only one enjoying these games!
Even tho it is 6 weeks in advance you had already made your plans sm
and your parents need to honor them. Either they go with you, stay at your place alone for a few hours or they stay at their own house and come another time. Holidays are all about traditions - if they change the rules they need to be able to ride out the wave.
Prepared meals sm
We have a new service in our rural area which has been very successful and branched out. They rent space (have taken chefs courses). There are several different types of foods already prepared and you are given a container and choose which entree and side dish you want, pack it up yourself and just bring it home. Most women working outside the home stop on their way home from the office and love it, all they do is pop it in and warm it up. You sound like you want to do it from home. I don't know what the licensing requirements would be, but busy people need help, perhaps you could check around with local rules and regulations for food handlers. This business took off really well and is expanding to other parts of the state. I will ask my sister who uses it how they charge if you're interested, I'm not sure if it's by the food choices or by the pound. They like the variety of choosing their own diverse food choices, no pots and pans, no dishes, etc.
I have 3 rescue meals (sm)
1) Southwestern Chicken in a crock pot - 4-5 ingredients
This works either with or without the chicken. The chicken can be breasts, tenderloin strips, or legs, doesn't matter.
2 cans corn
2 cans black beans
1 large jar salsa
sour cream or cream cheese to taste
chicken if desired, as explained above
Toss it all in the crock pot, set the crock to low. Come back 3-4 hours later and eat.
2) Chicken casserole, Easy Style
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of mushroom soup
1 can cream of celery soup
Mix the above up with 2 cups of instant rice on the bottom of a casserole baking dish. Top it off with chicken breasts or strips. salt and pepper that chicken to taste. Add whatever other seasoning you want to the chicken while you're at it.
Bake at 350 until the chicken is done.
3) If you have an Aldi, their stir-fry chicken or shrimp in a bag for $3.99 is really good. If I'm feeling extravagant, I toss in an extra bag of jumbo shrimp for another $3.99. Cook according to package directions in about 10-15 minutes total. Cook a cup of instant rice to go with. Feeds 2 adults easy, sometimes we get the kids to take no-thank-you-bites of that one (they're not big fans of veggies, LOL!)
Well skipping meals no matter
what kind of condition you have is not good. I have also heard that thyroid problem causes weight gain, but good food choices should still override this condition. We all have vices, and we all can have excuses. Just keep trying!
cheap and easy meals?
What are your favorite quick and cheap family meals? I have to bring my grocery budget down. I need some ideas for meals that can be made for about $10. My family is getting tired of spaghetti, chili, pork barbecue sandwiches and sloppy joes. What do YOU whip together on the cheap? I'm all ears.
Healthy meals for fussy 7-10 YO sm
"Yuck, ugh," sick of these words from young kids whose Mom wants them to eat healthy. They are also label readers (believe it or not), want to know where everything is on the food pyramid, yet they balk at everything in front of them. I am so tired of trying to please them and don't want to go against the Mom's rules. Anything tasty and healthy? Forget vegetables!
10 kids all demanding different meals
that would be crazy! I can't even imagine making dinner for 10 kids (I only have 1)
I don't know why many kids don't like vegetables. Perhaps if the parents don't have enough variety of them, or only tasteless overcooked ones.. raw or lightly cooked vegetables taste good and are colorful. I know you weren't recommending the force feeding. I am just reminded of the one time my father thought I should start eating scrambled eggs (which I don't like) because "everyone else eats them." I just swallowed, no chewing. He gave up after 1 time.
do you have Meals-on-Wheels in your area?
nm
I definitely agree with you there. I cook all meals and we
rarely eat out. I am very particular in what I cook and how I cook it. At least food that is eaten early in the day has a better chance of all the calories being burned off. A lot of times as well it will give them that extra boost of energy that they need. We as parents should have taught them how to make correct choices. That part is not the schools problem.
hypoglycemic child- kid friendly meals?
The ped endocrinologist said to cut out all processed sugar. Does anyone have experience with this? Would post any snacks/meals/names of cookbooks?
I'm going to see if our public and church libraries have any diabetic diet cookbooks. I've never liked cookbooks because they always list at least 15 items per meal that would cost a week's worth of our food budget to buy!
It's just the two of us so I don't have to worry about cooking for other family members.
Thank you :)
does your local grocery store off meals you can
buy that you just have to pop in the oven for a little while..I did this last year because I was so busy.. and it was a hit, we had prime rib and fixins, they also have turkey/ham dinners, it might save time and the dinner I got was tasty....(Obviously I am not much of a cook) Just a different idea.
I can't imagine affording all those meals out, but I have some suggestions sm
I usually cook from scratch. My idea of "fast food" is a can of lentil soup, and I have that about once a month, occasionally twice. I make crockpot soups a lot because I am busy.
I will tell you, there is a place that is sort of between a restaurant meal and home cooking. I used to have kids at home, lots of them, and I would get too tired to cook. My answer was to hybrid the dinner, so to speak.
You can get Stouffer's lasagne which is good. You can pickup some ready-made stuff in your grocery store deli or freezer case. We liked the frozen Banquet chicken back in the day. I might get that, a box of flavored instant potatoes, potato salad or ready-made mashed to go with it. We might get a bag of salad too. Fresh fruit cups were nice if they were on special. You know, make a nice meal you don't have to 100% cook, but isn't going out.
These days, I see that you can get beef tips in gravy, or sliced beef in gravy and other prepared stuff at the store. It just takes looking. It is more expensive than doing it all yourself, but it is much cheaper than going out.
You can try another thing that is NOT everyone's cup of tea, and that is OAMC or Once A Month Cooking. This is my favorite website:
http://snider.mardox.com/plans.htm
I don't have the energy to do this one a month, but the above site doesn't advocate for that. They advocate for "mini plans" using what is on special in a given week. They have breakfast plans, muffin plans, potato plans, chicken, beef, pork plans, ground meat plans, even some dessert plans. With planning, you can do this in bits and pieces. From people who have done far more of this than I have, they tell me that with soup already made, no chopping or messing, they are more likely to make fresh rolls, salad and even a quick dessert...round out any meal because the work is done. Obviously, it saves money.
As for the meals you've made that you end up tossing, sm
why don't you freeze leftovers in single-serving sizes, in microwave containers? I do this for lunches with leftover main meals, and it works quite well. Almost everything is freezable - chili, spaghetti, etc.
I love Mix N Match Pasta for summer meals
Just boil up a big batch of tricolor rotini pasta and add whichever of the following that appeals to you, or whatever you happen to have on hand.
Chicken, tuna, ham, shrimp, crab meat
Celery, carrots, onion, green peas, mushrooms
Ranch dressing, Italian dressing, mayonnaise, Miracle Whip
It's a great "clean-out-the-refrigerator" meal! 
Oriental, Thai, Indian meals. Pasta primavera. Hummus w/
s
Set my budget a year in advance, save all year and
nm
Def. Plan B
Gets my vote, esp. presuming that you explained why you were taking that path.
Putting the paper on disk and printing at school was not an unreasonable option, as is telling her to call a neighbor or classmate who lives nearby to see if they have any paper to spare (I would accompany her no more than 3 blocks to pick up paper).
Or, you could also have suggested that she gather up her "nonessential" print jobs and print her paper out on the blank sides of those sheets.
Either way, she needs to deal with the embarrassement and/or reduced grade.
I plan
on doing something. I have printed out his picture and information. I intend to take that into the school and give it to the principal; letting him know I believe they should periodically check this website out and inform their teachers/employees of risks. I may even call the superintendent and voice my concerns with him too.
We have Plan A and Plan B
We had a new house built last year on a nice lakeside lot. We are about 15 years from retirement.
Plan A: We sell the house and retire to New Mexico.
Plan B: We stay here after retirement.
We are both investing in IRAs, 401Ks, etc., and we consider the house a retirement investment as well. As soon as we get our son through college, we will begin putting additional money on the principal so hopefully we can have the house paid off by the time we're ready to retire.
Whether we stay here or move will depend on a lot of things, like cost of living (very low here in Oklahoma, higher in New Mexico - Albuquerque/Santa Fe area), the state of our health, etc. That's why we have Plan A and Plan B.
It seems like she is trying to plan
things for them she thinks they might like. I do not feel she is mistreating them as much as they probably just want to stay home and do all the things they are used to doing. The sound of the mother's note seems like there is some animosity towards her- could play out with how the chidren feel, they can pick up on things like this and play to their advantage. I say have a good talk with the kids as well as the MIL and let all know to give some- the grandmother wants the children over sometimes, not unreasonble on her part.
Plan
My plan is to get the proper number of strips ready and sent in (the syndicates require a certain number be submitted at once so they can see the continued potential). The artist and myself will be 50/50 partners (in writing, of course).
I believe my idea has potential for other outlets if it is picked up (think of some other comic characters).
The money will be split, but I cannot afford to pay anyone up front. Basically we would be business partners.
My plan - sm
Thank you all who responded. Yes, I definitely want to bring him to my house. I guess I just needed some others who love animals to reassure me. :-) I am going to see if he is there this afternoon and how he reacts when I pet him and if I think I can get him in a carrier by myself. Oh, and do not worry - he will DEFINITELY be neutered ASAP. That is not even an option for my cats! I will keep you updated. Thanks again, everyone! :-)
Zero, and plan to keep it that way!
//
sounds like a plan (sm)
You might want to discuss it with him first so he doesn't accuse you of being sneaky and not being sensitive to his needs (lol).
I was in pretty much the same boat and did what you are contemplating.
Guess what? My now ex put HIS money in a separate account (not accessible to me) and I STILL ended up paying all the bills!!
Can anyone recommend a plan for me?
I am 48 and do use my cellphone for emergency use only. Right now, I have Cingular One Go Phone but used it so rarely that within a few months, I had 135.00 in my fund.
I called Cingular One and asked them to switch me over to another plan to use up the 135.00 and she said okay, go to 25 cents per minute and when you deplete your 135.00, you can switch back to the monthly 30.00 plan again. Well, I went on a long trip, my car malfunctioned and when I went to call AAA, the cellphone said I had no minutes...seems I had bought air time which had expired rather than talk time...
So, I was told to buy a telephone card at a store for 100.00 which would last 365 days. Befoire I do this, since I know so very little about the cellphone plans, I wonder if anyone has any great ideas for me or perhaps will say I should do what was suggested?
Thank you much!
I think it helps to plan.
Even if that would be for 7 days. I like to somewhat plan, and then deviate when needed. Staples are pretty much always on hand. For something different, I'll look at cookbooks and write down the ingredients adding them to my shopping list. I think having a list and pretty much knowing what you want to cook each day is a good way to save money and curb overspending on none-such items. I am battling with getting my kids to eat more fruits and veggies, so I am having that struggle (should be eating more rice and not so many potatoes). Good luck.... 
By the way, that's the plan..just have to get through this part first (nm)
f
Sounds like a plan to me!
I agree 100%. Look at her lack of personal responsibility. She has wealth and privilege most people only dream about. She spends her days partying, parading in front of the cameras in skimpy outfits, and essentially doing nothing useful whatsoever. Shame on her! May jail serve as a wake-up call for her to improve herself.
You know, sounds like a plan and
exactly what I was thinking as I returned home. I would not care if he weighed twice as much rather than change in the midst of all this crap and perhaps lose him?? I told her that and when she kept on was very forceful as she was starting to get under my skin. I do not mind mixing a small amount of wet with the dry like she advised after I was so emphatic with her about them not being able to do dialysis. I know the risks with weight, diabetes, arthritic conditions, etc. but I also know now is a bad time to change kitties food when so far so good with the brand I have been giving them. Love them too much to risk their lives right at this very time. I thought seriously about just what you said, changing vets.
My weekend plan:
It's pretty self-explanatory. Buy a nice seedless watermelon, insert funnel and pour in oodles of liquor of choice...vodka, schnapps, rum, etc. (You'd be amazed at how much booze these things can drink!) Let sit overnight in your fridge if you can stand to wait that long, cut up and serve or drill holes into melon and give your best bud a straw and watch the magic happen. See you in rehab.
Now THAT'S a good plan!! nm
First of all don’t plan on retiring-
for what reason? I start drawing pension next year (65) from one company where I used to work but not planning any kind of retirement. I married a younger man a few years ago and we actually moved up in house size from before the marriage. I just think anyone who reaches a certain age should downgrade from any steps in a home- those are for younger folks.
If you are serious about leaving, you need a plan. SM
First, get some therapy for yourself to gain back some self confidence. Then make a plan. Find out how much a divorce attorney costs and start saving. If you are not being physically abused, try to stay in it as long as kids are young. Then make your escape.
Believe me, you are not the only one going through this. Are there any women's groups in your town you can join? You really need to vent. I know what that's like.
Personally I don't plan on becoming one of those - sm
old ladies who has the super short hair all puffed up and look more like a boy. I am with you with keeping hair long, though I don't know Meredith Viera (don't watch much TV). I personally know of two women, one 59 and one 76 who both have long hair, and I mean long, down to their waists. I think it is great. My hair is down to my waist too, though I am only 42. I am with your husband these other women are most likley jealous. Enjoy your hair and don't let the harpies bother you. It's your hair, your head, and you are the only one that needs to like it (I am glad your DH likes it of coure, mine loves my long hair). Next time they comment just let them know it's your hair and you like it long and that you do not need their input on the matter, your hair length is your business nobody elses.
I believe it's the ones without a plan that wins, lol.
We have a very detailed plan...but that just enforces our chances of NOT WINNING!
;-)
Well, it didn't quite go according to plan! LOL
My youngest had a game early Saturday morning, ran our errands and then spent a few hours at a festival our town was having (like a mini-fair). We ate, rode rides, played games (he won a live goldfish) and watched the entertainment. Came home, he went to play at a friend's and I relished in the quietness of the house. :) Woke up this morning sneezing, watery eyes, and having to work for the Q so will get a little more motivated for these projects next weekend!
How many of you have a backup plan
if your spouse were to lose their job? Assuming the MT rate of pay isn't that great I think most of your are probably like me and depend on your husband's employement to pay the majority of the bills. I don't want to live in fear but I am really getting scared with the state of our econmy right now.
We have no backup plan. My in-laws already have their other son (and family of 4) living with them due to job loss. My family lives in another state altogether. I don't know, I guess we would split for a while - me live with my family and he live with his so as not to place a direct burden on any one already struggling family. I just don't know what to think this morning. Should we have some sort of plan in place? Do most people? Our savings has dwindled to nothing this past year with all the increased expenses and we have cut back all we can. There's nothing else to cut other than house/cars/utilities.
backup plan
I've started working as much as I can. I have a FT hourly QA job, PT hourly QA job, transcribe pt and also am gathering some transcription from a local teaching university. At this point I don't feel I can make too much.
I feel very lucky that I can work as much as possible from home-I've landed well. I have a lot of debt, not behind but want to get out from under it. 2 kids in college....so far not too expensive as they are both at a JC. Christmas will be all cash and much skimpier this year. If I didn't have to make all of my monthly payments, I'd be loaded.
I am just crossing my fingers and toes that my husband doesn't lose his job. Times are tough tough tough. But they could be worse.
I'm on the hardship plan too for my
4 credit cards. I pay 6% to 9% interest. I have 4 years to go on 3 of them now.
Why don't you take the money you're saving towards credit counseling and slap it on the $3000 cc? That would cut the amount in half. I wish I could save some money, but between the 3 cards, I pay out $1000 a month. Nothing left over. But at least they are getting paid.
P.S. Don't know about you, but I went under because of DH's surgery 2 years ago plus IRS and went through all savings plus cc's until he could get back to work. Before that, I was slapping 1/2 the amount to the whole amount on the accounts. Didn't know my income was going to drop in half, either.
I just got a plan with PA BCBS and it is
designed that they cannot turn you down. I was just recenty turned down by another plan. I enrolled in this one and it costs me $336.75 a month, but my deductible is $750.00 with a copay of 20% up to a maximum out of pocket of $3,000.00. The other plan they had was $1500 deductible with 20% and a $6,000 out of pocket maximum. They just put in for an increase, but so far these are the costs. I think they call it Classic Blue.
I do not plan to BUT will get an extra - sm
vehicle they can use, but it will not be theirs so to speak. My parents unfortunately treated my brothers and I differently. They were allowed to get jobs while in HS, save up and buy a car which they both did. I was not allowed to work at all with in HS, therefore no way I was able to save up and buy a car. Lucky for me all my friends either were given cars or had access to one that was a family spare. My one brother was kind enough to let me use his car for the whole summer after I graduated HS as he was unable to have it where he was living at the time. My senior year in college my parents allowed me to use my dad's second car (an antique) which unfortunately the brakes failed on. I think out of guilt, and as a pre-graduation present my parents bought me a Nissan Sentra wagon so I could haul all my junk around, and so I could get to work (worked 2 jobs while at school and usually rode a bicycle but it got wreaked when I took a turn to fast and crashed). I am sure that went over like a lead balloon with my brothers but my college cost a third of what theirs did so they could not gripe too much. After that initial car I was on my own, paid my insurance, etc. though my dad did lend me the difference on the money I needed to buy a Blazer in 1989 (bank would not give me the full amount I needed) which was kind of him. But I will not spoil them by giving them a car....my neighor has gotten his daughter 3 of those new Mustangs so far, she is 17, has totaled 2 so far. I still cannot believe how stupid they are.
did you plan anything special?
did you plan anything special?
guys depend on us to do all the planning
when it comes to stuff like this
did you plan anything special?
did you plan anything special?
guys depend on us to do all the planning
when it comes to stuff like this
That sounds like a good plan...
but I would be exhausted! I have a very large family to shop for!!!
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