How I’m Saving $400+ a Month (and My Sanity) with ChatGPT
Meal Planning with ChatGPT
How one small change to our weekly routine saved us thousands and made dinner way less stressful.
Before I started meal planning, our weekly restaurant spending looked like this:
$60 for takeout one night
$60 another night
$120 for a bigger order, usually on a weekend
Total: $240/week on takeout
Now that I’ve committed to meal prepping, we’ve eliminated $120 per week in takeout spending (we still typically go out once a week for a break). That’s a monthly savings of around $480 — and if we keep this up, we’re on track to save more than $6,000 a year.
What’s wild is that our grocery bill hasn’t changed. But instead of letting food go to waste or defaulting to last-minute takeout, we’re planning ahead and eating what we buy.
Financial Visibility Leads to Smarter Spending
This change started when I got curious about our budget. We weren’t overspending wildly, but when I looked closer, food was the one category that felt higher than it needed to be. We weren’t budgeting for takeout; it just… happened.
Having visibility into our spending helped me recognize the opportunity. Once I saw the pattern, it was clear where we could cut back without sacrificing quality of life.
How ChatGPT Helped
In our household, I carry the mental load of meal planning (my husband helps in other places - I’m just very particular about food). I was tired of making the same handful of meals, and the effort to find new recipes each week was wearing me down.
I needed ideas that:
Had enough variety so we wouldn’t get sick of the same meals
Took less than 30 minutes of active cooking (I’m running a business and raising two kids!)
Were kid-friendly and still enjoyable for adults
I’ve been using ChatGPT to create weekly meal plans that match our family’s preferences and dietary goals. It even generates grocery lists and suggests ways to reuse ingredients across multiple meals to reduce waste and simplify prep.
The Results: Simpler (and Tastier!) Dinners, Less Waste, More Peace of Mind
This change has saved us thousands of dollars (literally) but it’s also saved me hours of mental energy. Dinner isn’t a nightly scramble anymore. I’m not stuck in a rut. We’re wasting less food, trying new meals, and actually enjoying family dinners more often.
And the best part? We didn’t need a lifestyle overhaul. Just a clearer view of our budget, and a little help planning ahead.
If you're looking for ways to cut back, start with your budget and look for patterns. For us, food spending was an easy place to save once we had a little structure and support. And surprisingly, it didn’t take a major lifestyle overhaul. Just a smarter plan and a little help from AI.
P.S. Here are a few of the recipes we recently used and loved:
Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas – quick, flavorful, and great for leftovers
30 Minute Honey Garlic Chicken – sweet, savory, and a new family favorite