Years ago when my kids were small I was sold on Once A Month shopping and cooking.  It is supposed to be more economical because you have planned, and you purchase what's on your list, and since you're not in the store two or three times a week, you cut down on impulse buying.

Doing most of your cooking for the month in one day saves time and stress, as you always know what's for dinner the next day.

I did it successfully for some time but burnt out because I was also making my own baby food and freezing that too.  It became a nightmare to drag three young children to the store for monthly shopping - something that should take a half day ended up taking almost seven hours, with bathroom breaks, diaper changes, needing to nurse someone, get three kids something to eat, etc.

Then there was the  nightmare of trying to get all that food cooked and in the freezer before it spoiled with three little beasts running around the house, needing to be nursed, diapered, ministered to, homeschooled, etc.

Now, all of my kids are in school all day.  No diapers, no potty breaks.  I'm ready to try again.  My monthly bill should be cheaper because I'm not buying a month's worth of diapers for two kids - but butter isn't 99 cents a pound anymore either.  Oy.

I'm ready though to try it again.  Working as a real estate agent who needs  to be ready to run out the door on short notice, or who may n eed to work later than expected means I need to have some kind of plan so that my kids and hubby aren't stuck eating frozen pizza or ordering pizza from down the road when things turn out differently than I had planned for the day.

Some do cooking for a week at a time but I don't see the value in spending one day a week doing that and having to do it again another week...it will only take a little more planning and a little more work and only having to do it once a month as opposed to 4 times a month.

I can set aside two days a month for shopping and cooking, and I'm actually looking forward to it.  I know what I need to do, I know what I need to get.

I'm looking forward to trying out some of the recipes I've been hoarding but was never able to try out because I was so wrapped up in simply surviving the day.

Anyone else do monthly anything?  Any tips or tricks?  Any favorite casseroles or dishes to make ahead and freeze?

I have thought about it but I also have never gotten past that point.

There are certain things I make that I always double to have some in the freezer for later.

I am hoping at some point I can get it together enough to plan that far ahead.