A new year and a new meal plan for my next fortnight! So again this fortnight I'm not planning on buying main meal meats as I just don't need too! I've actually got plenty of meals in my freezer to use up so that's what I'm doing. We are in school holidays and I'm still keeping things flexible and simple as always, especially when it comes to either having hot veggies or cold salad. With temperatures in Victoria ranging from 16c to 33c I do need to think about hot or cold sides, but I can still be flexible in my choices depending on availability and how my day is going with the kids.
This fortnight , just like the previous couple of fortnights I'm able to meal plan my main dinners completely from what I already have on hand. That means I don't have to spend money on extra ingredients and raw meats, which in turn keeps me well under my budget. IN FACT I am estimating my grocery spend to be nearly $100 under my budget! HOW? I owe it all to my BULK FOOD PREP that I regularly do. That in itself has saved me more time and $$$ than you know! I have spent the last few fortnights running down my bulk freezer meals that I did have in my freezer just to rotate through and save $ during the end of year. So starting next fortnight I will be cooking up a storm to 'restock' my emergency stockpile. I will be firstly focusing on my regular meals that we know and love, so be sure to keep an eye on the channel for that!
My general rule for setting a grocery budget is $70 per adult (persons aged 14yrs+ because we all know that teenagers eat as much as adults at this point!) and $50 per child (under 14yrs) in the household is the main grocery shop budget for a fortnight. I feel no matter where you are living in Australia - city, country or coastal states - it's a fair $ goal for your budget. For us that is $240 for the main shop in the first week - BUT personally I am trying to hit $200 if I can. I wont feel too bad though just as long as I'm under my $240.
I then have a flat $70 for the top up shop in the second week of the fortnight. I base that off what ever I set per adult. So in total that is $310 for the fortnight for my family of 4.
Keeping all this mind my budget for my main shop is $240. I’m currently estimating that I will spend around $151, 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.