Really Creative Meal Planning and Budgets

We ate well this past week, though my plan was quite skewed. It does help to have a big list of possible meals to pick and choose from. We had no take out or deli meals, though DD 2 had a birthday meal out with friends and a field trip that included lunch at an Italian market/restaurant. this was what the menu looked like this week.

• Monday-Leftovers-Turkey meatloaf, Sloppy Joe's, and assorted stuff from last weekend
• Tuesday-I was fed too well at my meetings, and DH ended up just making a pizza. DD2 had a birthday meal with friends before her orchestra concert
• Wednesday-We ate the leftover frozen pizza (I again was fed well), and I made DD2 a quickie friend rice with veggie and egg when she got home form work
• Thursday Boneless BBQ chicken thighs, baked  potatoes 
• Friday-chicken tacos, Spanish rice, beans, and cheese
• Saturday (for tonight)-Chicken, rice, and broccoli hotdish

I vow to make my self imposed $380 challenge for May. I have a balance of $28.45 until June 1 and today is May 25th. We're just going up to the cabin either later tonight after DD2 works, though she has an online paper due by 11:00 p.m. so depends if she needs to complete, or early tomorrow through Monday night. We then have Tuesday-Thursday meals to plan for. I forgot a package of greens at the lake last weekend, but still should be good, so am not bringing another green salad, but will bring some vegetables and either dip of hummus. I have many other ingredients in my freezer an pantry to supplement these items.

Here's my grocery list and cost estimate.

1 bag frozen boneless chicken thighs $6
1 box frozen hamburgers $6
hamburger buns $1.00
1 container grape of cherry tomatoes $3
1 cucumber  $0.50
1 bag carrots  $2
1 container hummus or dip $2
2 pound apples  $3.00
box of pasta $0.80
Jar pasta  sauce $1.50
1 container cottage cheese $2

Total: $27.80

Lake meal contributions
Chicken for grilling
hamburgers and buns
veggies and dip/hummus
green salad with vegetables
tuna pasta salad with celery
Tortilla roll-ups

Home meals
any leftovers
Crock pot pasta  with vegetables
Tuna hotdish
grilled cheese and bean soup (frozen)

I have frozen bananas and may make some bread later today or muffins to bring along to the lake. I'm making a pan of brownies regardless as I already have the mix. Lunches should be easy to scrounge, but we do have canned soup and pastas. We have oatmeal and bread for breakfast, plus a few eggs. No one will go hungry. I'll give a final testament at the end of the week since this is only a plan, but one I feel will be successful. 

I'm beginning to think ahead to June. We'll save $60 or so a month with no school lunches, but DD2 will be home during the day, plus potential of assorted extra kids. She'll also be gone for 10 days with a friend, but I'll send money along to contribute to road trip meals plus groceries while they are staying with her friends relatives in Kentucky. I'm helping a few friends with grad party desert bars, so ill fit that into my grocery plans. I probably think too much on our meal budget and planning, but it is an area I feel I can have control over. Challenging myself in these ways helps me feel like I can be more generous in other areas of our budget.