Monthly Menus=Big Savings!

So its been a super long time since I have posted anything! As the wedding nears (9 months and 6 days away!) I have been more and more focused on saving money to pay for the wedding. Our goal is to pay for it 100% cash and zero credit cards. Looking at how to cut down our monthly expenses we realized that though we rarely eat out, one of our biggest monthly expenses was food. Every afternoon we would call each other and say "What should we have for dinner?" then decide who had to go to the store to pick up ingredients. Stop the madness! 

My solution? A monthly menu, shopping list, and only ONE monthly shopping trip. This is our first month doing it so I will let you know our triumphs and struggles in September!

Tips before you begin
Use your BBQ and/or crockpot for most meals to avoid using my oven in the hot summer weather
Only cook what you will eat, or plan for leftovers to take for lunch ONLY if you will eat them
Prep and freeze veggies when possible

• Wednesday Aug 1- Crockpot Chicken and Salsa with tortillas
• Thursday Aug 2- Use leftover chicken for Chicken Taco Salads
• Friday Aug 3-BBQ Hamburgers with potato salad
• Saturday Aug 4- Spaghetti and side salad
• Sunday Aug 5-Family dinner with at the future in-laws
• Monday Aug 6-Crockpot roast with baby carrots and potatoes
• Tuesday Aug 7- Leftover roast sandwiches with swiss cheese
• Wednesday Aug 8-BBQ chicken and veggies
• Thursday Aug 9- Chicken stir fry and brown rice
• Friday Aug 10- Crockpot chicken enchiladas
• Saturday Aug 11- BBQ Chicken Salad
• Sunday Aug 12- Turkey meatloaf and side salad
  
• Monday Aug 13- Crockpot pulled pork sandwiches
  
• Tuesday Aug 14- Leftover pulled pork and homemade mac&cheese
• Wednesday Aug 15- Ground turkey tacos with fresh salsa
• Thursday Aug 16- Turkey chili and cornbread muffins
• Friday Aug 17- Steak salad with dried cranberries and blue cheese 
• Saturday Aug 18- Teriyaki chicken kabobs
• Sunday Aug 19- Family dinner with the future in laws
• Monday Aug 20- Crockpot lasagna
• Tuesday Aug 21- Basil chicken pasta
• Wednesday Aug 22- BBQ chicken and pasta salad
• Thursday Aug 23- Leftovers night
• Friday Aug 24- Angel hair pasta with broccoli alfredo sauce
• Saturday Aug 25- Mashed potatoes, grilled chicken, green beans
• Sunday Aug 26- Grilled chicken salad
• Monday Aug 27- Beef stroganoff
• Tuesday Aug 28- Leftover night
• Wednesday Aug 29- Pesto chicken pasta
• Thursday Aug 30- Ground turkey tacos with fresh sals
• Friday Aug 31- Turkey taco salad

Grocery list
Costco
10lb Bag of Foster Farms Chicken
4 pack ground Turkey
Canned Black Beans
Package of Romaine Lettuce
Tomatoes
Bag of Onions
Bag of Potatoes
Baby Carrots
Bell Peppers
Canned Pineapples
Canned  Olives
Tortillas
Bag of fresh Broccoli (freeze 3/4 of it)
Fresh Green Beans (freeze 1/2 bag)
Cream of Chicken soup
Classico Marinara sauce
Classico Alfredo sauce
Canned Tomato Sauce
Pesto sauce (or make your own with fresh basil)
Ground beef

Safeway
6 pack Jiffy Cornbread Mix for $4.99
Barilla wheat pastas
Lasagna Noodles
Can of enchilada sauce
Cucumbers
Salad Dressing
Jalapenos (or grow your own!)
2 packages of steaks (check the clearance meat section)
Pork
Pot Roast

Happy Menu Planning! I would love to hear success stories!