Where do I start - are there any websites with premade menus and shopping lists to try........

This seems really time consuming...........I dont know where to begin and how to figure out where to start??

How often do you shop? How often do you use fresh?

As you can see I am very interested but very confused.

thanks for helping me!

Debby in Ohio

You can make your own list of meals you like real simple. Just keep track of your weekly menus on your computer and compile them together. I like to try a new recipe about 2-3 times a month, if it's a keeper I then put it on my list. After about a month or two of keeping your menus you will find that you have a good amount of meals to choose from. Not bad.

Keeping a menu WILL help you to save money $$ I find that since I have a menu plan that I am less likely to fall prey to the fast foods detour ;)

Good luck and let us know how you do! I'd like to here more!

Yes, it does take some planning - I sit down with the grocery sale paper, read through the whole thing, writing down anything that I might want to buy, and the sale price. Then I look at what's on my maybe-list, and decide what I could make with those things. Going through my cupboards at that point helps, because seeing what kinds of canned/packaged good you have already can spur your creativity. And that way, you already know what you *won't* have to buy.
After I figure out the menu, then I add on extras and sale stock-up stuff, and then estimate the total. If it's too much, I have to tweak the list - maybe replace a recipe on the menu, or substitute a lower-priced item.

I sit down every Saturday morning with the flyers from our local grocery stores and write down everything that is on sale (really on sale not just a come on!). From there I go to my recipes books and plan out a menu based on what's on sale.

I always make sure that if something is on at a really great price a buy a little extra and put it in the freezer, especially big ticket items like prime rib, shrimp, veal etc.

My husband thinks I'm nuts because I don't havr to do this but it gives me great satisfaction to feed my family well, at a reasonable cost.........go figure!