Easy Secrets to Affordable Meal Planning You Need to Know

Meal Planning on a Budget Made Easy

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Meal planning for the week helps Joel and I eat for just about $50 a week! And we still eat healthy food and lots of organic items as well, not junk! If saving a ton of money on your grocery bill sounds like a great thing, keep reading!

Meal planning for the week is definitely for you if you have ever run into the following issues.

Do you find yourself looking in your fridge every night and struggling to figure out what to cook? Have you ever thrown out food because you didn’t have time to eat it before it went bad?

Maybe you’re so exhausted when you get home from work that the thought of having to pick out what to eat is just too much. So, you end up ordering pizza… again.

I know I have had all of those issues before, which is why I started meal planning in the first place. Plus it is easy to do meal planning on a budget! In fact, meal planning will help you save tons of money on groceries!

If you are a newbie to meal planning for the week, this post will tell you everything you need to know to start simplifying your life, eating healthier, and saving more money all by meal planning.

And be sure to read all the way to the end to find the best free meal planning template printables and tons of free meal plans to get you started!

This post may contain affiliate links. Please see my full disclosure policy for details.

What is a meal plan?

I know what you’re probably thinking, can meal planning for the week really help me with all those things.

I used to think the exact same thing. It seemed like making a meal plan was some crazy fad that everyone was doing. I honestly didn’t start meal planning until last month.

I can’t BELIEVE I waited so long.

The number of times Joel and I would absentmindedly look at all the food in our cupboards and fridge only to order pizza was getting to be a bit ridiculous.

Sometimes you are just so tired after a long day at work, that thinking of what to eat is the last thing on your mind.

So what is a meal plan anyways? I think some people make meal planning for the week seem like this complex task, but really it is pretty simple.

Instead of deciding every night “what are we going to eat for dinner” you sit down once and plan out your entire week (or two) of meals all at once.

It doesn’t mean you have to cook elaborate meals each night (although you can- keep reading for some awesome and free meal plan ideas).

It also isn’t the same as meal prepping. In fact, as someone who isn’t a fan of cooking (I swear everything takes forever!) even I like meal planning for the week!

How do you meal plan for the week?

Ok, so here is how you can actually get started with the greatness that is meal planning. I actually plan 2 weeks at a time, because I prefer to not have to make big grocery trips each week.

Plus when meal planning on a budget, it is helpful to buy some items in bulk when they go on sale. This is easier to accomplish when planning for 2 weeks at a time.

I will say though, that I usually do have to make a quick stop the second week for more produce so it doesn’t go bad and/or I don’t run out. But things that are shelf stable, have a longer lifespan, or can be frozen I like to buy every two weeks.

Whether you decide to plan for the week or for two weeks, the following steps will work for you with some slight adjustments.

1. Determine What Food You Already Have

Go through your fridge, freezer, and pantry so you know what you already have and need to use up. This will help prevent food waste and save more money on your food budget.

2. Check Out The Weekly Ad to Make Your Plan

Every Saturday bust out the grocery store weekly ad. When meal planning on a budget, you can save tons of money by planning your meals around things that are in season or already on sale.

This is why I always base what I am going to eat loosely on the grocery ad. I go over our savings strategies even more in-depth on my post about saving money on groceries, but the meal planning is a critical component.

I do buy things that aren’t on sale, but for meat and produce, I really try to stick to the sales. This cuts my grocery budget almost in half with no (or only a few) coupons! This is the reason Joel and I are able to eat for about $50 a week!

I also save even more money on my groceries by using the Ibotta app. It makes finding coupons quick and painless.

Just download the app and you can search for cash-back deals based on where you shop. Then link your store grocery card or upload your receipts after purchase and watch your savings grow!

You can even get up to $20 in free money for joining Ibotta with my referral!

3. Making Your Meal Plan

Decide on the main dish you are going to have for each meal as well as any sides. When meal planning on a budget, you can add in staples that are more affordable like pasta, rice, frozen vegetables, etc.

Write down your plan for each meal each day of the week. (Keep reading to see some of my favorite free meal planning templates.)

Using a template to keep track of your plan will help you make sure you are getting a healthy balance of foods. It will also help you shake things up so you don’t accidentally plan some kind of pasta for like 4 nights in a row.

Plus, your meal plan template will be hanging on your fridge (or somewhere else you will see it). This way you can check out the plan for the next day to prepare, pack a lunch, take meat out of the freezer if needed, etc.

Having your meal plan template somewhere easy to see if probably the most important part to meal planning. It will help you stick to what you planned so you can eat healthier and minimize food waste to help you save more money.

Make sure you stick to your meal plan so that you use up everything you bought. If you want to switch Tuesday and Thursday or something like that, feel free to do so if you just aren’t feeling it one day.

5 Free Meal Planning Templates

To help keep your meal plan organized, here are some of my favorite free templates from around the web. Be sure to check out the websites they came from to grab a download of your favorite one!

1. Money and Mountains Free Meal Planning Template

You know I’ve got you! Here is the meal planning template I have made just for you!

You can print it out in black and white (if you want to save your ink) or there are two more fun options! So take your pick and start planning.

Plan out your main course and sides for each meal of the week and write them on the corresponding day.

After that, fill out your grocery list according to food category. That way you don’t have to go back and forth through the aisles you have already been to because you missed something.

The number of times I have done that… Joel always used to wonder how it took me SO long to grocery shop). This free meal planning template not only helps me save money, but time as well!

Be sure to check your fridge or pantry first and make note of the things you need to use up so you can incorporate them to improve your meal planning on a budget.

Then, because meal planning on a budget is my favorite, and I find I spend less money when I calculate approximate costs ahead of time, I have included a spot for you to write the cost of each item to total up.

If you are shopping the weekly ad, this is super easy to do!

The next 4 free meal plan templates are NOT mine. Please click on the link to each site to download from their creators if one of them stands out to you.

2. Printable Crush Weekly Meal Planner

This free meal planner is great for a lot of reasons. One thing I really like is that it has the spot for your grocery list right there on the page.

That way you can double check that you have included all the ingredients you need to purchase for your meal plan for the week.

This template is also really helpful for making a healthy meal plan and keeping yourself accountable to a diet. It has a little box to check off for each day to make sure you got at least one serving of those healthy foods we all need.

3. Thirty Handmade Days Meal Planning Template

Here is another great free meal planning template. It has a place to record what you will eat for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack for each day of the week.

I love that it includes the snack, because I am a notorious snack eater. Making a healthy meal plan is definitely easier when you actually plan for your snacks instead of just munching aimlessly.

4. The Kitchn Meal Planner

This meal planning template is simple and easy to use. I like that it has a spot to make note of things that need to be used up. This will help minimize food waste and save you more money! It also has a section where you can jot down reminders for yourself of anything you need to prepare in advance.

5. Bewitchin Kitchen Meal Planning and Recipe Binder

Last but not least is this awesome binder from the Bewitchin Kitchen. Not only will you have a place for your meal planning and grocery lists, but also some cute recipe cards and a place to list all your family favorites.

This is the perfect meal planning template for those of you master chefs out there. Feel free to come to my house (er… RV) to cook some of those for me as I am not a master!

Benefits of Meal Planning for the Week

If you still aren’t convinced about this whole meal planning for the week thing, here are some amazing reasons you really should consider it. It is at least worth it to try!

Worst case you decide meal planning isn’t for you and you go back to whatever you were doing before.

But keep reading, because I think you may be surprised by just how helpful meal planning can be for your health, your stress levels, and your budget.

Save Energy and Eat Healthier

Meal planning has really helped me, because then exhausted Kathryn isn’t making the call on what to eat. Which would usually lead to eating less healthy foods. (Wait, you mean popcorn doesn’t count as a meal… well this is awkward).

It was also too easy to fall into the routine of ordering Chinese or pizza….again. Not only is that really not healthy, but it can also take a big bite out of your food budget (pun, slightly intended).

Plus, now I don’t waste time staring at the fridge trying to decide what to eat every night. So it is a huge time saver as well.

Stop Wasting Food

Have you ever gone to the grocery store not really knowing exactly what you needed or how much of it? Maybe you ended up having WAY too much of one thing and not enough of another.

So you went back to the store partway through the week to grab some more of the ONE thing you needed, only you didn’t come away with just one thing. (If you did, I commend you!)

That’s where meal planning comes in. By knowing in advance what you will eat each week for the next 1 or 2 weeks, you can be sure to buy what you need for that time. And just what you need for that time. Not a bunch of extra food that will only get wasted.

Did you know that Americans throw away an average of 1 pound of food per person per DAY! I’m not even going to get started on how awful these statistics are in terms of environmental impact, but let’s take a look at what that means for your wallet.

Say you’re a household of just 2 people. That means (if you are average) you might waste 730 pounds of food each year. If each pound cost say $2, that would up to almost $1,500 a year that you are literally throwing in the trash!

Buy Seasonal Produce to Save Money

If you are meal planning on a budget, one great way to cut down on costs is by buying things in season. This is especially true for produce.

My absolute FAVORITE food in the whole world are raspberries. But you know what I don’t buy in the winter? Fresh raspberries. This is because they can easily cost triple or more what they cost in the summer.

If you have some favorite foods like this that you want even when they aren’t in season, try looking for them in the frozen section. That way you can still enjoy your favorites, for a fraction of the cost.

This awesome guide shows you when produce is in season so you can plan your meals around foods that are more affordable. It is a great thing to reference especially when you are getting started.

The more you get used to meal planning and buying produce in season, the more comfortable you will be with it. Soon, you’ll know what fruits and vegetables will help you rock your budget meal plan without even batting an eye!

Check in here for even more tips to save on groceries.

5 Free Meal Planning Ideas

To help you save even more money, I have also compiled a list of websites that offer some amazing and FREE meal planning ideas. If you are new to meal planning, checking out these ideas can give you some inspiration to start building your own meal plans.

Or, if you aren’t super creative in the kitchen, you can just copy what you find here for a tasty meal every time!

Easy Family Recipes Weekly Meal Plans

Kimber has some seriously amazing meals on here. But the best thing is that she has weeks and weeks of meal plans and their recipes for you.

No more boring grilled chicken and veggies boiled in hot water (literally my go to… clearly I need to expand)!

Eating Well Free and HEALTHY Meal Plans

If you are looking to make meal plans to lose weight or just to help you stay fit, you are definitely going to want to check out Eating Well.

There are meal plans designed according to season, calorie intake, sugar detoxing, and more. It is seriously a gold mine of healthy meal plan meals.

Tastes Better From Scratch Meal Planning Ideas

Lauren from Tastes Better From Scratch has some tasty looking meals included in her one-week meal plan.

The thing I love most about these free meal planning ideas is that she includes a shopping list of exactly what you need for the week of meals. What more could you want?!

Meal Planning on a Budget with Don’t Waste the Crumbs

Well, as the name Don’t Waste the Crumbs suggests, these meal plans are focused on saving you money and time! These free meal plans are designed for a family of four to spend $330 for a month of food!

Don’t have kids? You could probably halve the recipes or else freeze some for those nights that cooking just sounds like the worst thing ever.

There are also meal planning ideas for breakfast, lunch, and dinner to keep you eating well all day long!

Free Monthly Meal Planning Ideas from Pocket Change Gourmet

So maybe meal planning for the week isn’t quite your style. If you would rather have a plan for the whole month, Pocket Change Gourmet’s free meal planning ideas have got you covered.

Check out meal plans for every month designed to make meal planning on a budget a breeze.

That’s a Wrap for Meal Planning on a Budget

Whew! You made it! As you can see, meal planning on a budget is not only possible, but it can also save you time and energy (and of course money).

By planning your meals ahead of time, based on what is on sale and in season, you can save tons of money! You can save even more by having meatless days or choosing more meals with affordable meat like chicken.

Before you go, be sure to download my free meal planning template to help you get on your way to eating healthier, saving energy, and slashing your grocery bill.

Want tips for saving money on more than just food? Check out these tips to save money easily.