Weekly menu-making calms the home!

Weekly (at least) menu-making solves two problems:

1. Not knowing what’s for dinner

and

2. Thinking you have to always be making new things.

You’re staring at a half-thawed package of ground beef with nary a plan, yet the perceived need for innovation paralyzes you. It’s decision fatigue from both ends, costs money, and takes so much time.

Planning menus fixes this turmoil. I elaborate on this method on my blog and in my book (volume 3). But it’s not that hard to grasp.

So there are two solutions to get you on the road to knowing what’s for dinner.

First, make food your family likes, rather than what some random person on Instagram likes. (That said, I share some of our meals and show pictures of my method here.) Write it all down, including the sides so you know what to buy; write down what everyone likes to eat when you go out. Almost all of it is doable at home.

Second, take advantage of what is seasonal and on sale. You won’t make it as a normal family living on one income if you aren’t sensible. Planning services just offer you random menus with no regard to availability or cost (or whether your family likes them, see #1).

From your list of all the menus your family can think of, make a basic rotation so you aren’t having to come up with new recipes all the time. If you all love your chili, there you go. Flexibility, of course, but start out fairly simple and go by the days: Sundays, a roast (easier than something with lots of parts and prep); Wednesdays, Italian; and Fridays, meatless (maybe homemade pizza).*

If green beans are abundant and cheap (or in the garden), swap out the brussels sprouts. If chicken legs are on sale, get what you can for your freezer and plan on those. Buy just about everything on sale or clearance.

If you do these two things — make menus your family likes and shop sales — you will simplify your life, free your mind, and save a lot of money. Use the money you save to buy sales items in bulk, and eventually you’ll have a good supply and not be spending as much.

Don’t forget all the meal-planning content already here on The School for Housewives!

*Those who pooh-pooh menu making are perhaps forgetting that they are now sailing along on experience, but experience comes after some thought, execution, and learning from mistakes. Even if you think you would like to wing it, try this method to get yourself through low-inspiration days.

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Harry Wingfield

Be happy at home! As with everything here at the SFH, the best thing is for you to take my ideas, which come from my experience of escaping feminism to enjoy the gift of 47 years of marriage, seven children, and more than a score of grandchildren, and apply them to your situation with discernment, prudence, and confidence — and a sense of humor!