I’ve talked before on this blog about what a challenge it is to cook at home every day. We are on a fairly tight budget, so eating out often isn’t really an option. But that doesn’t mean that we magically have time to plan our meals out every week and prepare them nightly while also trying to feed Darah and start her nighttime routine. Even though I try to make a menu for the week, I often will leave a crucial ingredient off of the grocery list, which throws everything into a downward spiral and Tim heads out the door to pick up takeout or we just turn to our boxes of cereal. I’ve also run into the problem of planning a pretty decent menu, and getting to the store only to realize that some of my key ingredients are either unavailable or ridiculously expensive (our Kroger is seriously lacking in the produce and cheese departments, as well as the specialty meats).
I wanted to tell you about a really cool online meal planning service that helps remedy every problem but the actual food preparation (sorry, the computer can’t do the cooking for you!). emeals is a menu planning service that plans a week’s worth of dinners for your family. And get this; the meals are based off of what is on sale at your local grocery store, which will save you a nice little bundle each week! Woo hoo!
Just log into emeals, print your recipes and your shopping list. You don’t have to do any planning at all! It even tells you what the price of the items you are buying should be. I really love that feature. I know that if you can plan a menu based on what is on sale at the store that week, you are money ahead. But I have NO TIME to sit down with the flyer and come up with a list of dishes that use all the bargains! emeals does that for you. Brilliant.
I had the opportunity to try out E-Mealz for a month. I loved it, though I would like to see some of the meal options be just a bit healthier. You can check out a sample menu here to get a sense for if E-Mealz offers the types of food your family likes to eat. They actually offer some low-fat menus, so those may have been a better fit for us. I would also suggest that E-Mealz send email reminders to subscribers when the new grocery list is available. With all the chaos in my home, I forgot to check in with E-Mealz twice during the month, which bummed me out. Other than that, though, I think this is an amazing service and I would highly recommend it for folks who need to save money by eating at home, but who are also short on time.
Buy It!: E-MEALZ Easy Meals for Busy and Frugal Families costs as little as $1.25/week. Imagine how much time and money you will save…$1.25/week is a total steal. Also, if you use the code SAVEMONEY at checkout, you can save an additional 10% off your first purchase of a meal plan!
Win It!: One lucky Stuff Parents Need reader will win a three month subscription to emeals. Get ready to get some of your time back! Woo hoo! The contest will run until July 7th at 7:59pm CST when a winner will be selected using Random.org. The winner will be emailed and will have 48 hours to respond before the prize is forfeited and a new winner is selected. Open to residents of the United States.
Mandatory Entry: Tell me which emeals plan you would select if you win!
Additional Entries:
1. Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by email, RSS or Google Friend Connect (one entry, total, even if you subscribe multiple ways)
2. Follow E-Mealz on Twitter
3. Follow Stuff Parents Need on Twitter
4. “Like” E-Mealz on Facebook
5. “Like” Stuff Parents Need on Facebook
6. Tweet about this giveaway (only one extra entry for this)
7. If you are a blogger, add my button to your blog and leave me a url so I can find it!
Be sure to check out all my other current giveaways on the sidebar of my home page!
Disclosure: I received a complimentary subscription in order to facilitate my review. The opinions expressed here are strictly my own.
khaymax says
I "Like" you on Facebook.
khaymax at hotmail dot com
khaymax says
I "Like" E-mealz on Facebook.
khaymax at hotmail dot com
khaymax says
I follow you on Twitter. @khaymax
khaymax at hotmail dot com
khaymax says
Follow E-mealz on Twitter. @khaymax
khaymax at hotmail dot com
khaymax says
I follow via GFC.
khaymax at hotmail dot com
khaymax says
I would choose the Regular Family Meal Plan for any store.
khaymax at hotmail dot com
faithfullyfrugal says
I tweeted giveaway,
http://twitter.com/NikkiDavis05/status/17982026382
Thank you,
Nikki
faithfullyfrugal says
I follow you on twitter, nikkidavis05.
Thank you,
Nikki
faithfullyfrugal says
I am following E-Meals on twitter, nikkidavis05.
Thank you,
Nikki
faithfullyfrugal says
I am a GFC public follower.
Thank you,
Nikki
faithfullyfrugal says
I would choose the Wal-Mart family meal plan.
Thank you for the entry,
Nikki
Jill says
Like Stuff Parents need on Facebook
Jill says
Follow Stuff Parents Need on twitter, id is jillypooh480
Jill says
Subscribe to Stuff Parents Need by GFC and email
Jill says
The only meal plan for my area would be the Walmart plan. So, I would choose the Walmart plan.
ThePonceFamily says
I like you on facebook.
emilydowningponce@gmail.com
ThePonceFamily says
I follow you on GFC.
emilydowningponce@gmail.com
ThePonceFamily says
I like e-mealz on Facebook.
emilydowningponce@gmail.com
ThePonceFamily says
I would try the Aldi family meal plan.
emilydowningponce@gmail.com
Anonymous says
I would chose the WAL-MART Family Meal Plan ~ 🙂
sounders72 @ aol.com
Trish says
I liked e-mealz on Facebook. (Tricia Begnaud)
Trish says
I am following e-mealz on Twitter.
(DesertTricia)
Trish says
I would like the Regular WalMart version. Thank you for sharing this. I'm putting it into next months budget *if I don't win*.
triciaATsunsandfamilyDOTcom
Jason says
I'm a gfc follower
Jason says
I follow you on twitter
Jason says
I like E-Mealz on FB
Jason says
I like you on FB
Jason says
I would get the the low carb any store if I won
Jason says
Follow e-meals on twitter
♥Heather♥ says
I follow you on twitter! (@hell_0kitty)
mommys3lilbirds@gmail.com
♥Heather♥ says
I follow Emealz on twitter! (@hell_0kitty)
mommys3lilbirds@gmail.com
♥Heather♥ says
I would like the Walmart meal planner!
mommys3lilbirds@gmail.com
Valeen says
I would like to try the Low Carb Any Store Meal Plan! It sounds very intriguing!
sweepyhead at gmail dot com
Cellobelle says
This looks awesome! I would get the points system Publix for 2 people
Katie R. says
I would choose the Low Fat Any Store Family Plan.
Dancehottie1621@aol.com
letsshop2gether says
following Emealz on twitter
@letsshop2gether
dpan1204@tampabay dot rr dot com
letsshop2gether says
following you on twitter
@letsshop2gether
dpan1204@tampabay dot rr dot com
letsshop2gether says
I follow via GFC
dpan1204@tampabay dot rr dot com
letsshop2gether says
i would try the publix family plan
dpan1204@tampabay dot rr dot com
Flufferwuffer says
I would get the Meal Plan for 2 Wal-mart
flufffreebies@hotmail.com
Emmy T says
I want this! Looks so perfect, but I agree about the meals-where is the fish and veggies? Anyway, I would choose the any store low carb, since my hubby is DB. iwontru yahoo.com
I♥thesecrazykids says
Your button is on my blog http://atrioofboys.blogspot.com/
bcgood83@yahoo.com
I♥thesecrazykids says
I like Stuff parents Need on fb
bcgood83@yahoo.com
I♥thesecrazykids says
I like E-Mealz on fb
bcgood83@yahoo.com
I♥thesecrazykids says
following Stuff Parents need on twitter
bcgood83@yahoo.com
I♥thesecrazykids says
following E-Mealz on twitter
bcgood83@yahoo.com
I♥thesecrazykids says
I follow via gfc
bcgood83@yahoo.com
I♥thesecrazykids says
I would get the Low Fat Walmart Family plan
bcgood83@yahoo.com
lisad33611 says
I added your button to my sidebar
duncan.lisa@gmail.com
http://my2centsfl.blogspot.com
lisad33611 says
I "Like" Stuff Parents Need on Facebook (Lisa Duncan)
duncan.lisa@gmail.com
http://my2centsfl.blogspot.com
lisad33611 says
I like e-mealz on FB (Lisa Duncan)
duncan.lisa@gmail.com
http://my2centsfl.blogspot.com
lisad33611 says
Sorry, I forgot to say I'd sign up for the PUBLIX Family Meal Plan! 🙂
duncan.lisa@gmail.com
http://my2centsfl.blogspot.com
lisad33611 says
I follow you on twitter @My2CentsFL
duncan.lisa@gmail.com
http://my2centsfl.blogspot.com
lisad33611 says
Following EZMeals on twitter @My2CentsFL
duncan.lisa@gmail.com
http://my2centsfl.blogspot.com
lisad33611 says
I'm a gfc follower! (lisad33611)
duncan.lisa@gmail.com
KristaLee says
I've subscribed, already follow e-mealz on twitter and fb, now follow you on twitter and fb, sent a tweet about the giveaway (all steps but #7 since I don't have a blog). I'm already a member of e-mealz and have been for 6 months. I LOVE it! I have a family of 6 and subscribe to the Aldi Family Plan. It has been a huge life-saver for me, financially and sanity 🙂
I'm excited to learn more from your blog!
The Baldree Family says
I subscribe!
rachelbaldree at hotmail.com
The Baldree Family says
The lowfat Walmart
rachelbaldree at hotmail.com
The Elwells' Weekly says
tweet
http://twitter.com/mommyericae/status/17274647332
erica dot jmail at mac dot com
The Elwells' Weekly says
I've got your button
http://www.the-elwells.blogspot.com (It's in the area called sites I like)
erica dot jmail at mac dot com
The Elwells' Weekly says
I like you on fb
erica dot jmail at mac dot com
The Elwells' Weekly says
I follow you on twitter
erica dot jmail at mac dot com
The Elwells' Weekly says
I follow E-Mealz on twitter
erica dot jmail at mac dot com
The Elwells' Weekly says
I subscribe to Stuff Parents Need in all those ways! 🙂
erica dot jmail at mac dot com
The Elwells' Weekly says
I would choose the low fat any store plan.
erica dot jmail at mac dot com
mutchkin21 says
like stuff parents need on facebook(stephanie hodges)
clc_little_britches@yahoo(dot)com
mutchkin21 says
subscribed via email
clc_little_britches@yahoo(dot)com
mutchkin21 says
Regular Family Meal Plans
clc_little_britches@yahoo(dot)com
Cali says
oh AND i subscribe!
Cali says
i would get the Regular Family Meal Plans for any store! (i so need this bc i am incapable of meal planning most weeks)
Cali says
i like ez on fb too
Cali says
i like you on FB
leslie says
I want to hear more about this ! Did you end up saving much money using emealz? Were the recipes good??