Meal Planning and Budgeting

I love to go to the grocery store. I know, most people think that is weird, but I love to bake and cook, so going to the grocery store always gives me new ideas.  But, I tend to spend way too much money at the grocery store since I don't always bring a list.

I've tried to plan meals for each night of the week. I will stick with it for a day or two then get bored and forget the meals I planned. Which leads to extra trips to the grocery store and spending extra money. 

I was speaking to my friend Rebecca about this and she told me her new idea. She writes down 10-15 meal ideas.  Then she creates a shopping list based on her meal ideas. She does not link the meal to a certain day, but just checks the meals off the list as she makes them.  I think this is genius. So I made Matthew sit down with me and brainstorm 15 meals that we both like.

We came up with a great list and I went shopping for items for 2 weeks and spent less than $150.  Here are a few of our meal ideas:

1) Pepperoni/green pepper pizza

2) Tator Tot Casserole

3) Mom's Hamburger/Veggie Casserole

4) Pork roast with cranberry sauce and cabbage-crockpot

5) Pork chops with apples and onions-crockpot

6) Steak and mashed potatoes

7) Stir fry with chicken and veggies

8) Chili and cinnamon rolls-crockpot

9) Potato soup-crockpot

10) Chicken Noodle Soup-crockpot

11) Black Bean Burgers (this is one meal Matthew will not eat, so I will make it when he has night class)

12) Pancakes and eggs

13) Baked chicken tenders and sweet potatoes

So far it has worked and I pre-made the casseroles and chili. Those are in the freezer, so I just thaw them overnight and pop them in the oven when I get home.   I love the crockpot, too, so I always want a few of those meals.

What are your go-to meal ideas?

Side note: I try to eat a more vegetarian diet, but that's hard when my husband is such a carnivore. So I just eat less of the meat or fix a vegetable for my main course and Matthew's side.