Meal Planning Saves Time and Money

I try very hard each week to plan out a menu.  I have discovered that on weeks I don't plan a menu, we tend to eat out several times throughout the week.  With 6 members in our family, that can run us $40 to $50 each time.  So it is definitely worth my time to plan a menu and stick to it.

The many benefits of meal planning:

• Menu Planning Saves Money.  You don't have to eat out because you have nothing planned for that evening's meal.  In addition, by going into the grocery store with a shopping list created from your menu, you are less likely to make impulse purchases.
• Menu Planning Avoids Spoiled Food.  Because you take an inventory of your fridge and pantry before you plan your menu, you are able to use up the food in your fridge before it goes bad, wasting money.
• Menu Planning Saves Time.  You don't have to spend time each day figuring out what to make for dinner or make multiple trips to the grocery store.  You already know what you will be making and have the ingredients in the house.

I have to admit, I don't always get around to planning my meals each week.  It takes an hour or two to plan everything out, and weekends can be hectic with the kids' activities.  On weeks like this, I fall back on a meal planning service that comes complete with a shopping list.  There are several out there and I have tried a couple.  The most economical by far has been E-Mealz.  I love that they have multiple plans available to fit your dietary needs.  In addition they have plans tailored to where you shop.  What I did was get a 3-month subscription.  I made sure to save the menus each week.  Then when I am pressed for time, I fall back on one of the E-mealz menu plans.  I am not spending money on the ongoing service, but yet I am able to utilize it when I don't have time to sit down and plan a menu.  The 3 month subscription definitely provided enough variety that it complements the meal plans I have designed.  It has been a good system for us thus far.  I never have to worry about what we are going to have for meals.  I know it saves us several hundred dollars a month in wasted food each month.

So tell me...
Do you meal plan?  What system works for you?