Meal planning is a sort of calendar for your groceries and meals. The same way you might plan out your week or month for work, meal planning takes care of that for each meal.

• If you're meal planning for five meals, write down a grocery list that includes everything for those five meals.
• Set a limit on how much you can spend on groceries each week and have a designated "grocery day."
• Take stock before you shop. You might still have...

Buying groceries can last much longer. A five-pound bag of rice costs around $10. It can last for many weeks and also compliment any meal.

Cooking your food is often far healthier and more effective per calorie than processed food.

The idea is to live by a schedule so you can save some money on groceries, and free up time.

• Make sure your meal plan is simple. If it is too much planning, plan fewer meals and rotate throughout the week.
• Prioritize leftovers and bulk cooking.
• Simplify the dinners themselves. Some meals can be quick and cost-effective.