Bree's Menu templates

[newfiemountiewife]

I have decided that I've had enough of continually gaining weight, and eating "fast" food because I don't think of dinner until too late in the day, etc.

I also feel better when I'm more organized. So this week I'm tackling my crazy basement and getting kids clothes packed up and ready for either eBay, yard sale or charity. AND I'm going to get my meals sorted.

Anyone use Bree's Menu templates? Did you stick to it once you had your menus planned?

[Nikki Epperson]

I haven't but it is something to look into b/c I tend to forget to get something out. um, daily. lol

[Sarah8914]

I don't use bree's I made my own... but we've been making a menu for a couple years now and it's fabulous! You never have to think about dinner and it makes the shopping list SO much easier!

[Darcy Baldwin]

While I haven't used Bree's templates, I can say that menu planning is SOOOOOOOOOOOOO helpful! Oh goodness, when I get off, we really get off.

Just to have something there to remind you to take something out of the freezer as you go to bed each night is great. Having something there to remind me at 4pm what to start making so I don't stand in front of the fridge or pantry and wonder what the heck I'm going to make today. Just to have something there to let Hubby know so he'll stop asking me at 2:45 everyday about what's for dinner LOL(He often needs to psych himself up if it's a dinner he's not all that fond of - he does not like having it sprung on him).

And for me, just not having to think about what to do day in and day out is a huge relief. I stay on track eating in more when I know what I have to prep, or pull out and thaw. It helps my grocery budget more, too, because I buy off the plan, and mostly only the plan (I usually buy one or two emergency meals to have in the back for a night when I can't). It allows you to go with your schedule and know that maybe tonight I can make 2 of this to put back for next week when I have 3 nights I'm not going to make it home in time to cook a full meal.

I think I'll go get those templates now - they've got to look tons better than my word spreadsheet! LOLOL You can laminate them and use magnets, or go through Something Blue Studio (isn't she the one that does magnetized printing) and have them done on magnet paper - so much more easily - and I can do a few to change with the season!

[newfiemountiewife]

Thank you Darcy and Sarah for the helpful advice. I usually try to remember the night before, so I can take meat out for example, but I'm bad for not having the rest of the ingredients, etc. So then I have to go out to the store because I don't have brown sugar or something or other and it's a pain in the rear.

We have to travel 1 1/4 hours each direction for ballet each week, starting next Saturday, so I plan to shop up there, because the store is larger with better selection. So I thought a menu plan would work well because I could plan ahead for my shopping each week.

I really want to get organized, I hate feeling like a scatterbrain!

[Sarah8914]

Definitely helps with budget! I love it!

Here's mine just so you can see--boring--just a calendar--but that's all we needed! http://www.myscrapbookart.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=77259&cat=all&ppuser=126

I LOVE Megan's:
http://www.digishoptalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=312668&cat=fav

But Bree's are cheap enough that it'd be worth it if it would work for you!

[newfiemountiewife]

Those are GREAT Sarah!!! TFS!

If I can get them laminated, and use a dry erase, that'd be perfect!

[lovely1m]

I haven't used Bree's, but I started making a menu every Sunday for a while now. I know what I am cooking, I know how to plan and I can shop easy. I love it.