Well and truly into things now, I’m sure if you are a mum during these times you understand how completely insanely busy life is. With everything that we have to do with our children at home, full time and needing schooling, time is very thin. This fortnight more than ever I need to rely on already prepared frozen meals I have and a basic meat and vegetable menu. So with basic meat and vegetables in thought I’m looking at a lot of nights of roast meats that have been portioned from only a few during a bulk prepping day. Roasts that are simple and with not much need of too much preparation. They are cost effective and a family favorite.
Another note to be made is my budget has had a small increase. My general rule is $50 per person in the household is the main grocery shop for a fortnight. With then a flat $50 for the top up shop in the second week of the fortnight. So in total that is $250 for the fortnight for my family of 4. HOWEVER in the case of change right now - prices going up, everyone home all of the time - I have also added an extra $10 per person for anyone 14+. This is a trial for me and something I always suggest for people to do if they are reducing their usual budget by a lot or scared of how they will go when they first start. In today’s time with things very uncertain I am trialing the extra in my budget . Under previous instances this increase would be something that would be achievable …. in today’s times and groceries in Australia even more expensive than what they already were it is uncertain if my increase will meet the needs of today.
Keeping all this mind my budget for my main shop is $220. I’m currently estimating that I will spend around $226, so be sure to watch the matching grocery haul to see if I stay under budget !
Some tools I used to do my meal planning were:
(VIP's use the shop code found on the private Facebook Group to download FREE)
- 4pk Monthly Meal Planner + Shop Your Pantry Meal Ideas + 40 Dinner Theme Night Idea's + Blank Family Favorite Meals Sheet - INSTANT DOWNLOAD
- A Easy Grocery Calculator - INSTANT DOWNLOAD
- 2pk Grocery List Budget + Grocery & Meal Planning Wish List - INSTANT DOWNLOAD
- Lunch Box Meal Planner - INSTANT DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE
- Daily Meal Planner For The Busy - INSTANT DOWNLOAD PRINTABLE
Print out these using the VIP shop code found on the Facebook Group!
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So that is where I'm at this week. Be sure to check out the matching grocery haul vlog if you want to see what I got and how I went with staying within my budget.