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StitcherSuccess does not happen overnight nor does it happen without any plan or preparation–it’s in the systems. Planning and prepping go hand and hand, and we’re going to create systems in place. We do believe that Sundays are your rest days, so in this episode, we’re going to share actionable tips on which you can do little by little without exhausting yourself.
The more you prep, the easier it gets to be able to prep for the next one. It gets easier to get one thing done.
Sponsors:
- The Final countdown. When you hear this I’ll have a baby but right now we are recording my last episode before baby. That’s right, we’re in the final countdown. That phase of life where I don’t know how many weeks pregnant I am but I can tell you to the minute when I’m due. Here’s something you don’t want to count down, your money. That’s why you should keep your emergency fund in a high-yield savings account. Our current favorite is CIT Bank. CIT is currently offering over 4% APY on their Savings Connect account with no hoops to jump through. A $100 minimum deposit is all you need. If you need a sinking fund for the next football season head to frugalfriendspodcast.com/CIT to get what we think is the best HYSA out there right now.
Check out some relevant episodes
How to Simplify Your Meal Planning Routine
Meal prepping shouldn’t be stressful, but a way to make your week plans easier for you! Living Well Spending Less shares 10 tips on simplifying your meal planning routine.
What Jen + Jill have to say:
When it comes to meal-prepping, prioritize what works for you over what works for others. Jill recommends choosing days that are both doable and enjoyable for you. Set aside a specific time to plan and prep, and make sure it fits into your schedule. Remember, delicious meals don’t have to be complicated. Simplify your ingredient list and don’t be afraid to use pre-made items if it makes cooking at home easier.
Try creating a list of your family’s favorites; this can help you know which ingredients you should look out for when grocery shopping and which meals to prepare from time to time. It also allows you to make the most out of your pantry. Jen also wants to embrace make-ahead and freezer meals to lower the barrier to eating at home rather than ordering a take-out. Don’t feel like you need to make everything from scratch; pantry staples can be a lifesaver.
8 Easy Tips to Make Your Weekly Meal Prep a Breeze
Many think meal prepping is a waste of time and impractical, so Real Simple listed 8 easy tips for preparing your weekly meal doable and faster.
What Jen + Jill have to say:
Keep in mind your family’s preference without letting it dictate your entire planning decisions. Jen advises embracing a bowl, as the fewer dishes, the better. The better if it’s a one-bowl meal or a one-pot meal. Sunday isn’t really for meal prepping; it should be a day for rest, but it gets done much easier by preparing one little thing for the next meal! One important thing to get ahead of is to keep your fridge organized. It doesn’t need to be bare, nor do you not have to buy the fanciest storage boxes, but you will need it to be organized.
In the meal planning process, prioritize making recipes using the same ingredients to make the most out of them. Jill would have a specific cuisine for the week, such as Asian Cuisine. She would have to use a lot of rice; hence, she would try to create dishes from the said ingredient. Try to think ahead and outside of the box. It doesn’t mean you would think and do the entire planning and prepping for the whole day–do it little by little.
What are some things that help you actually enjoy meal prepping rather than seeing it as a chore?
Jen loves spending time in the kitchen, cooking while sipping on wine, and listening to timeless music like Frank Sinatra and Norah Jones. She also finds having friends over to share the workload helpful and convenient. Jill may not like cooking, but she also shares the same way to enjoy meal prepping: pairing it with wine and music.
Bill of The Week
Thank you Olivia for sharing your bill about your target grocery pick up bill – the pick up being helpful in not impulse spending at the grocery store!
Thanks so Much for Listening!
Thanks so much for listening! Many of you know we have a private community where we do monthly money challenges and offer accountability groups. We want to congratulate one of our members for a big win:
Mindset Winning!
I have a scarcity mindset so I sometimes struggle with wanting to save too much and not spend any money. Thanks to a lot of the challenges I've completed I've been able to allow myself to spend on what matters to me.
I recently went on a friend's bachelorette trip and was able to spend on drinks and good food without any guilt or shame.
Congrats! Thanks for listening and if you want to check out our monthly challenge community head to frugalfriendspodcast.com/club to see what challenge we have coming up next.
Keep leaving us reviews on iTunes or Stitcher, and sending the screenshot to reviews@frugalfriendspodcast.com. And don’t forget to share your favorite quote from the episode by using the hashtag #FrugalFriendsNote. 😉