Planning meals is important if you want to save money at the grocery store, but most people admit they don’t do it.

I know people who have 10-20 meals that they know their family likes and they just rotate them throughout the month, adding in seasonal foods and specials. Others just buy food when it is on sale and then plan meals based on what they have that needs to be used up or how much time they have. I am in that last bunch. I grocery shop about once a week rotating between two stores that I think have the best prices. When there is a good sale, I stock up. When planning meals, I include at least one food from each food group and sometimes more than one vegetable.

The Spend Smart. Eat Smart. web site has a whole section on planning meals. You can find a 5-day menu planner, and sample meal planning calendars.

-pointers by Peggy