I Put My Entire Kitchen in a Bullet Journal | Meal Planning, Pantry & Budget, by Jessie on YouTube. 36 min 30 s.
- Video length
- 36 min 30 s
- Time to do it
- 90 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Start a household classics page. List the meals your household actually eats and likes, then write the recipe or page number next to each one so you can find it fast.
Draw a monthly calendar spread. Mark the days, then add payday, grocery flyer dates, shop sale days and any nights you already know you will be out.
Create a weekly meal planning spread. Block out breakfast, lunch and dinner rows for all seven days so the plan covers the whole week, not just dinners.
Make a fridge and freezer inventory. Note what is in each, how much, and the date it went in, so you check the page before you shop.
Add a pantry inventory plus a Last Little Crumb page. On that page write ingredients that need using up soon and plan meals around them.
Set up a grocery budget tracker. Write your monthly grocery amount, then log each shop with the date, store and total so you can see what is left.
Add a price comparison list for the items you buy most. Record the price at two or three shops so you know where the cheaper option is.
Choose a weekly layout that fits your routine. Use the nutrition and meal tracking version, the batch cooking version, the busy household version or the flexible version, then repeat it each week.
Work out cost per serving for a few regular meals. Divide the total ingredient cost by the number of servings and note it beside the recipe.
At the end of each week, update the inventories, move unused food to the Last Little Crumb page and set next week's plan before you shop.
Tips and common mistakes
Fill in the inventories as you unpack groceries, because a list written a week later is usually wrong.
Plan meals around what is already in the fridge and freezer first, then shop only for the gaps.
Keep the budget tracker on one page so you see the running total at a glance instead of flipping around.
Leave a few blank dinner slots each week for leftovers or a night off cooking.
Questions
How often should I update the pantry and fridge lists?
Update them after every shop and again when you use something up. A quick two minute check before you write the shopping list keeps the pages accurate.
Do I need a special notebook or stationery?
No. Any A5 notebook and a pen will do, and a ruler helps keep the spreads tidy. The system works the same in a cheap exercise book.
What if I do not know the exact cost per serving?
Estimate from your receipt totals and the number of portions you get. An approximate figure is enough to spot which meals cost the most.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
