Menu planning is hands-down one of the best money saving practices a gal can put into practice!

I find a few things to be helpful to get me doing it on a regular basis:


1. Accountability - I like to participate in a weekly blog meme called Menu Plan Monday, where hundreds of ladies share their menu plans (and tons of new recipes to try out!) every single Monday. This means I have to have my menu plan ready to post on my blog by Monday.

2. Organization - They say ten minutes of preparation will save you and hour down the road. It typically takes me about a half an hour to complete this particular task. Did I just hear groans? Ladies, DOING THIS saves me 3 hours a week! I don't go to the grocery store every day, trying to figure out what to make for dinner. Wouldn't you love to have 3 extra hours a week in your schedule to do something better than hanging around in the supermarket?

When I write my shopping list for the week, I simultaneously create my menu plan. Then when it is finalized, I jot it down on a menu planning template. Don't have one? Check out these 20 completely free printables. One of them is sure to suit your fancy. The person who compiled this awesome collection also suggest several ways to use these templates. Right now I am into using mine in a photo frame turned dry erase board. Love it!

3. Inspiration. A mom needs a good source for recipes. Or two. Or twenty. Cooking day in and day out (no matter how much you used to LOVE cooking) gets old. Doing the same ole, same ole. Eating the same ole, ole.

B-O-R-I-N-G.

Got a free couple of minutes? Surf the net and look for some recipe sites or blogs (I like . Bookmark the ones that look good. Subscribe to the awesome ones. I strive to try at least 1 new recipe weekly. I like to keep it fresh, and my family appreciates it!