When it comes to hours in a day, it never seems like there are enough to get everything done that is on the schedule. Whether it’s running the kids to soccer practice or meeting friends for happy hour, we could all use a few more hours in the day to get things done.

While you may not be able to actually add more hours to the day, there are certainly ways that you can manipulate your schedule to free up your time. For example, one thing that may be taking hours out of each day could be cooking food and making meals. After all, have you ever added up the amount of time that you spend in the kitchen making food for yourself or others? Now think about what you could do with that time if you better planned for your meals.

Many people choose to plan their meals out each week in order to save money. However, there are also plenty of time saving reasons to consider this route as well. In fact, here are some reasons as to why planning your week’s meals will save you time.

Always A Plan

Whether you are eating for one or you have an entire household of mouths to feed, think about how much time you waste planning what you’ll eat each day. Will you go for yogurt or cereal at breakfast? A sandwich or sushi for lunch? Pasta or hamburgers for dinner? The list goes on when you think about the amount of people you may have to accommodate for, or the simply the mood you’re in when hungry.

When you meal plan, this won’t be an issue. Instead, you will have a set plan as to what you are eating each day. When you can eliminate the need to have to think about what you’ll eat each day, but rather just plan it out in advance, you’ll save up hours that will add up over the week that can be used for more exciting things.

Food On The Go

Taking the time to cook a meal can be tedious – especially when you have to do it three times a day, every day. But when you have your meal already made and packed, all you have to do is grab it and go. For those that have a short window in-between work and the gym, a premade meal will help give you the energy you need to finish your day strong. Or if you have children, those premade meals are also ideal for in-between soccer practice and right before they start doing homework.

Better Budget Awareness

How much money do you spend on food each month? For some, your food budget may be through the roof simply because you don’t have a plan. When you don’t plan for your meals, you’ll end up going with whatever fast food options are available. However, making your own food will not only keep things speedy, but it’ll help you save money each month as well.

Meal planning for the week might take time out of your Sunday, but you’ll notice that you make up for it with the hours you save Monday through Friday. Keep these tips in mind for keeping motivated as you plan your week’s meals in an attempt to save time.