We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Food

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

How Do I Plan Family Meals on a Budget?

By K. K. Lowen
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 2,940
Share

There are number of methods for planning family meals on a budget. Taking advantage of store sales, comparison shopping, and buying food in bulk are all helpful. You also could prepare large meals and use the leftovers as part of another meal. Planning ahead and shopping wisely are both very important.

One of the simplest things you can do to create family meals on a budget is to plan ahead. Knowing what meals you want to make for different days of the week and creating a shopping list with ingredients needed for the meals you chose may cut down on unneeded spending. You also may find coupons online or in the newspaper and can plan your meals around them. By shopping for specific meals, you can avoid purchasing items at the store that you do not need or that do not go with the meals you have planned.

Planning family meals on a budget can be easier if you compare prices before making purchases. If you frequently visit a large number of stores, you may notice that some consistently charge less money for foods that you use most often, such as pasta, eggs, or fresh vegetables. You should also factor in the cost of gas used to drive to the stores into the total cost.

It may be beneficial to locate stores in your area that sell food in bulk at lower prices. When buying food in bulk, make sure that you have enough space to store the items. If you purchase perishable foods, consider how much you can or will use before it spoils. You also may find perishable items that freeze well if you have enough space in your freezer. Family meals on a budget become much easier to create if you already have many commonly used items.

You can save a considerable amount of money by taking advantage of store sales and clearance items. During sales events, you may want to buy extra freezable and non-perishable food items. Clearance stickers are another thing to watch for, and many stores decrease the price of foods that are nearing their expiration dates or items that the store does not plan to stock in the future.

Preparing larger amounts of food may be helpful when creating family meals on a budget. You can eat an entire meal consisting of leftovers or use parts of a previous meal with freshly prepared foods. If you double or triple a recipe, you can freeze the leftovers for later use as well. Creating bigger meals is a good idea if you buy in bulk and also may be helpful for nights when you do not feel like cooking.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/how-do-i-plan-family-meals-on-a-budget.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.