Meal planning on a budget-how to

Another rainy day in Seaford. Madds has been into EVERYTHING while I have been cleaning. She unfolded my clothes, pulled all her books off the shelf and dumped her puffs on the floor. I managed to plan 2 weeks of meals and get my shopping list together of the things I need and the coupons I have available for those things.

I want to share with you how we plan our meals on a budget!

-The first step is to set your budget,every family will have a different budget. We have a $150 budget for 2 weeks which fits our 2 adult 1 child household.
-I check my coupon list and the sale flyers to see what I can save BIG on and write these items down.
-I then look at everything that is in my pantry, freezer and refrigerator to be sure I do not buy anything that is unnecessary(this is key to saving money)
-I write everything down that I have available and first shop from what I have to make some of the meals. I also think about meals that the leftover things from the night before can be used in. For example: one night i may baked chicken and i will bake enough to have leftovers to shred for chicken tacos or chop for chicken salad.
- Once all those meals are choosen I then choose some of our other favorite meals to fill in the gaps, and write down what ingredients the meal includes(when choosing these meals I keep my pantry list, coupon list, and the list of sale items in mind).
-Then you make your full list of just your weeks meals and keep that on your refrigerator to keep in mind what you have choose for the week.
-I write my grocery list and next to each item I write what it costs(I always round up), if I have a coupon, and how many I need of each item.
- STICK TO YOUR LIST. I know how it is I use to go to the store with my list(or forget to take it)and get back home with nothing to make for the week and had blown my budget!
-Try shopping the outside aisles, very top and very bottom shelves, and the produce section of your grocery store these items are generally cheaper and WAY more healthy for your family than other things.

TIPS:
*Use your sale flyers and if you shop at Walmart take alt of them with you, the store will price match the price to what the other store is offering.
*Try shopping where coupons are doubled so you will save even more.
*Buy things that you will use often like pasta, frozen vegetables and non-perishable items in bulk to stock for future meals
*If you have extra left in your budget save it for the next weeks groceries or use it to stock your freezer and pantry.

Here is week one of my meal plan!