I make menus for two weeks at a time and go shopping every two weeks. When I was a young mom I did this for a month of menus/groceries. Was the best way I could keep to our budget - have always been paid once a month.

For several years when we were first empty nesters I got so far away from that I found myself in the grocery store every 3 - 4 days. Now that my husband is having health issues and the money is getting tighter and tighter I went back to the menus and list - but for the two weeks, not four.

My menus are a list of meals - doesn't mean we eat a particular meal on that particular day, but that's what I have the groceries for. For 14 days I plan about 9 meals. The rest are leftovers or ocassional meal out.

During the summers (my husband and I both teach) I include lunches in the menu. During the school year I take leftovers or Weight Watchers frozen meals for lunch; my husband eats in the school cafeteria. We each the same breakfast every morning - boring, but true - and I keep things on hand for each of those.

My daughter does the same way - which I find funny. She always thought I was WAY too organized!

If I am shopping by the week, I will plan 7 dinners, and 7 breakfasts, lunch is whoevers choice. I don't have "hamburgers on Monday or Tuesday, just burgers, chicken, tacos, etc, Works for me, and we do save money that way I also have a list on the fridge for things out of the pantry need replacing.

Going back to Flylady and her menus, they rock!!
Saves me money, even though I'm an empty nester.
Sister is coming to stay for awhile, that's when it will really help me. We can get together and write in both our likes and leave out the "Well, maybe when h*** freezes over".

We did when we were doing South Beach... saves alot of time, whats for dinner? etc. made for more healthly meals. with out schedules, just make them so there is some flexabiltiy, like changing out the sides.

I cant ever stick to a menu, my day changes from day to day.. Plus hubby will ask for something specific from time to time so I fly by the seat of my pants and just buy lots of everything..

No, but I really need to do it & stick to it. It saves time, money & heartburn - cause if you've already got what you're going to eat figured out, it's just much easier & better.

Never do I plan ahead. Well...sometimes...like I think we will have chicken stir fry tomorrow,,,but when tomorrow comes I am busy quilting so honey....can you stop at Arby's on the way home??? Yay!!!! With just the two of us here now, don't have to keep to a strict menu anymore. We eat whatever we have a taste for. Hubby is easy to please, he will eat whatever as long as there is plenty of it.

I make the menus, buy the food....eat out ha ha

I used to when I had ALL my children at home and I was working. It helped me tremendously when I went to the grocery store. I haven't done it in years.

Been there, done that. Waste of time now. The kids are gone and it's just me and DH. We'll eat something easy or some takeout.