I have a meal-planning addiction.

I have about 30 meals I make that we like - and I like to try and make a new meal every month. It used to be 10 meals and a new one weekly, but once I got into the swing of meals we liked then it became easier.

I also factor in "meal deal from supermarket" or "take-away"; two meals at least are freezer/cupboard food (not fresh) so I can substitute for a take-away if I need to. Also there's the odd week when I don't plan that well so there's a couple of meals I can easily do in the freezer for that (like this week - but then DS is ill so that is a take-away/meal deal/slow cooker week!).

I'm another one who plans meals so that ALL the cream is used. Or two cheese sauce meals are on consecutive days so I don't have to cook more than one batch (eg roast beef with all the trimmigs inc cauli cheese, followed by lasagne).