[Kathy]

I’m curious if others do this too—when it comes to grocery shopping, I don’t make a weekly meal plan or stick to recipes. Instead, I just buy versatile ingredients that I know I can use in different ways.

Things like rice, canned beans, frozen veggies, pasta, eggs, tortillas—stuff that has a long shelf life and can be turned into a bunch of different meals depending on what I feel like eating.

When it’s time to cook, I just look through my pantry, fridge, or freezer and come up with something on the spot.
Sometimes it’s great, sometimes a bit random—but it works for me.

Do you do the same? Or do you prefer planning out your meals ahead of time? I’d love to hear how others approach this—whether you cook spontaneously like I do or stick to a structured menu.

What are the pros and cons in your experience?

[Brittney]

Yes but no. I start by making a week worth of meals using up what I have in my freezer and pantry.

I only buy a few things I need to complete those meals. And then I check store ads for sales.

I stock up on food deals that we aren’t necessarily going to eat that week, but things that are deeply discounted on foods we typically eat.

The following week, we start over. Create a new week of meals using what we already have on hand, buying a handful of things we need. And stocking up on staple sales items.

We average less than $100 a week for two adults who eat keto (can’t bulk up on cheap carbs) and who eat every meal at home.

We only eat out if we are traveling

[Shara]

Yep. I shop loss leaders, produce/dairy/meat markdowns (bless you, Kroger), and sale items when they’re at or below my price point.

I cook meals based on what’s on hand.

[Amy]

Yes, I concentrate on having the same ingredients in my house that I can use multiple ways.

I go grocery shopping once every 3-4 weeks

[Teresa]

I’m just now starting to do this. I’m at a point where meal planning doesn’t work, so having all our usual foods on hand is working out much better.

[Candice]

Sometimes, yes. We’ll get ground chicken, chicken tenderloins (raw), some veggies, and then mix and match the meat with what’s in our pantry (our favorite marinades, taco kit, pasta, mashed potatoes, rice or cous cous).

We always keep our pantry stocked up when our favorites go on sale, and just buy our chicken each week.

[Varvara]

Yes. One of the best things about being an adult is deciding what you want to eat each day, even when the options are limited.

I also buy what’s on sale and/ or fresh almost every day.

I’ve heard about this weekly meal plan and shop thing and I believe it is frugal, but I’m just not ready for that yet.

Maybe when children are older and it’s easier to predict their appetites.

[Tiffany]

No, I need to have a solid plan. I make out a menu each week. We can mix up the days, if we want, but I do so much better with a plan.

I used to do a month at a time when my kids were in school, but now just a week at a time.

[Shirley]

It’s just me and my adult autistic son. I always have his foods and very little for me. Just basics like milk, coffee and bread.

I use the Flipp app once a week to buy sale stuff for myself.

Meat is only what’s on sale and a couple times a week for both of us.

[Kathi]

Never ever plan. Just shop and create veggie meals on the fly. Just two old nonpicky elders.

[Author]

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