How to Make a Monthly Meal Calendar

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By kunsthure
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Start with a calendar.

Menu planning is one of the best ways to save money. You save on groceries and you save by not eating out. Making the menu seems a little daunting but it's not.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

You
Calendar (either paper or on your computer)
At least 30 recipes

Step 1

Find or buy a calendar, or use a program like Excel or iCal, for planning your monthly menus. White boards work well also because they allow for easy changes on the fly and everyone in your house can see what's for dinner.
Step 2

Ideally you should have at least 30 different recipes at first, assuming you're planning your dinner meals only. But it's okay if you don't, just rotate the ones you have. Try new recipes each month to add to your repertoire and prevent too many repeats.
Step 3

Plan meals with similar ingredients for the same week, especially when it comes to produce. It will save money and reduce the potential for waste.
Step 4

While keeping Step 3 in mind, try to vary the kind of meal or main ingredient every day. Don't plan spaghetti the day after you made lasagna. It's a bit tricky, but that's why having a lot of recipes helps.
Step 5

Write your menu down on your calendar and make your shopping list accordingly.

Tips & Warnings

If you find a meal you really like, make a double batch and freeze it. You'll have a home-cooked meal ready when you need it in a pinch.
Consider not planning a meal for every night. Things happen and you won't always get to cook what you had planned. If you have a few open nights on your menu, you can shift things around.
Be flexible. If you planned a complicated meal but had an exhausting day, switch it with a simple meal from a different night.