To be an efficient couponer, you must also be an efficent organizer and menu planner!
Yes, anyone can coupon but few process the skill to save the most money possible while eating like kings and queens.
In order to help you get started, I have provided two templates for you to utilize. Below you will find a menu planner and grocery list to help you organize yourself.
Constant Clipper Menu Planner
Menu planning is a great way to save money because you only purchase what is on sale. It allows you to remember what items you have on hand to fix dinner. If you are anything like me, mid-week you have forgotten that you have everything you need to make enchiladas and end up picking up fast food. Menu planning allows you to stay focused. I recommend leaving the menu plan on your fridge so that you and your family can look forward what's for dinner!
To be a master menu planner you must commit a little bit of time each week scouring the sales ads and determining which store has the best sales. Once you determine where you will be shopping, you can begin planning your meals around the sales items. Plan around the sale meats, buy sale veggies in bulk to use in more than one dish and stock up on those pantry items that are at rock bottom price.
There are more benefits to menu planning then saving money and having a good family dinner, it also saves you time. If you plan accordingly you can prep two or three meals at once. Prepping meals early will save you time, especially during busy week days.
I like to take my menu plan with me when I go to the grocery store. I am notorious for forgetting why I am buying an item on my grocery list, so this helps me remember. It also allows me to make adjustments when needed. If I find a better deal on meat, I'll purchase that and swap my dinners around. Yep, menu planners need to be very organized, well prepared and flexible!
I have created a custom grocery list that will help you stay organized while in the store. The thing I love about this list is you can notate the sale price and whether or not you have coupons for the sale items. This will help you stay organized during a frazzled shopping trip. This list will also help you estimate your total spending for the trip. Please note, that it is only an estimate. You can not be totally accurate because you may pick up a few extra items or not grab an item you thought you might.
Till Next Time,
The Constant Clipper
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