Happy Thursday all. It is a wet, wet day here - lots of flooding going on around the city streets and in mine and the neighbors back yards!!!!! The lake is back. Oh boy!
Today we continue on with the pantry posts. Now that we have got you thinking "where" to put your pantry and "why" you need to stock - today we give ideas on actually packing your pantry!
Get yourself in the mindset that you need to store EXTRA food supplies and even non-food items. Get your mindset on what you NEED not what you necessarily WANT. BIG difference!
Get with your family or your friends or even here or other sites to gain simple yet yummy recipes. That is important. Now that you are starting your pantry - you need to cook at home and stay away from fast food (it really is important). What you spend on a fast-food meal - will add a lot of supplies to your pantry which will provide MANY meals, not just one. SERIOUSLY!
Second - store lots of basics! Keep items for baking and keep simple foods (that you like) like pastas, rice, beans, veggies, canned fruit, peanut butter, proteins like canned tuna or other meats - also fresh potatoes! A baked potato with toppings can be a meal!
Start out with adding $5 a week in goods to your pantry - above your normal purchases. I know in these days of inflation, $5 isn't a lot - but it can buy more than you think. Watch the sales and use your $5 wisely. I can still from time to time find store brand peanut butter for $1 a jar (great protein). I can still find pasta for $1 or less a pack. You can get a good size bag of rice for $5. Watch, watch, watch sales!!!
If you know someone that has a Sam's or Costco membership - think about looking for bigger packs of pasta, rice, dry beans, baking supplies there. (split with someone if you need to, to stay on budget)
I watch the ads, and I never enter the store without going to the clearance sections! You can sometimes find some great deals there.
Think about stores that aren't totally grocery stores - Big Lots, Ollies, ethnic stores, discount stores of all kinds.
Once you get things rolling along - IF you can add a little bit more to that $5 budget - do it!
As mentioned yesterday - Ruffle's aren't needed - they are wants. Stay away from snack foods - make popcorn or make cookies or cake or brownies at home if you need treats! Don't be buying pop/soda - drink water or Kool-Aid or tea. Soda is super expensive now and if you are having troubles with money - that is not the place to spend!
Now many of us make our cookies and cakes and such from scratch - but IF you can find super cheap (less than a $1) mixes that is ok too. It can provide a few days worth of snacks and that is for a cheap price.
Popcorn can be a great evening snack and you can add all kinds of toppings to make it fun. Now I am talking about bags of popcorn you pop in a pot - not microwave popcorn (that is still too expensive if starting out).
Seriously know that the dates on packaged goods does NOT mean EXPIRED! Those are 'best if used by dates' that manufacturers must post. (they never used to, and we survived!!) It means best quality - not bad. Many canned goods are good for many years past the date. Ask me how I know!!!
If not dented, rusted or swelling canned goods are good for a long time. Best advice - always use the older items first - put your recently purchased items to the back of the older stuff.
If you buy freezer items (especially meats) - repackage in smaller portions. A vacuum sealer is wonderful if you can find one at a thrift store or maybe as a gift - BUT if not - just make sure you squeeze or all the air you can from those meat packages!!!! Air is not your friend in this case.
One thing I do, which keeps my freezer and frig in good shape is buying even if I have plenty - when I see a great sale! IF I find ground beef on sale for a great deal or markdown I buy it! ALWAYS. I use it a lot and it is very versatile. Also eggs! If I find a great deal - I buy them. They can be frozen (cracked and in muffin tins and packaged) for cooking.
So think about things you like and use a lot of - and IF you see a deal - get it.
I know this is a lot of information to process. Get yourself a notepad and write down things you have read. Use these notes to help you make a plan on stocking.
It CAN be done a little at a time for a little money at a time. It isn't going to happen overnight.
Slow and steady and planning and thinking WINS the race!
Keep watching for very simple and basic recipes. Ask family and friends for recipes. If you have leftovers - USE THEM! They can be lunch at work the next day or fancied up a little for a new meal. You can also freeze leftovers for later.
Don't waste at all.
Hope this helps someone - we have all started at the beginning at some point. We understand. Ask questions if you need to. Keep watching and reading and learning.
Next pantry post (next week) will be about growing a little and freezing or preserving things for the future.
Have a splendid day to each of you!
SMILES!!!!!
What I love about Big Lots is sometimes they get just what I'm looking for at a great price. Also, I do GREAT at Aldi - though that's more for fresh fruit and veg. When we move, a home freeze dry machine is on the menu. In other news, there's a new Grocery Outlet that opened recently. Haven't been yet. Have a yummy week. Cheers, Ivy.
ReplyDeleteYes, Big Lots is a place to find the unique. I love Aldi too.
DeleteI would like a freeze drier, but they are mighty pricey! Too much for me.
Yay, on the Grocery Outlet.
For me, I bake and using a freeze dryer at home is 100 percent worth it. I also like the better job home freeze dry machines do on berries when compared to non-commercial dehydrators. Though I get for you, it's not worth it. For me, boy, I can't wait!
DeleteFast food, packaged food, soda......so many complaints about food inflation and this is what they buy, that they call food! I spend less on food than I did a few years ago. Fresh foods have gone up but packaged crap is horrifically.
ReplyDeleteSuggestion I have to offer folks new to this:
1. start a list of meals you make and do it for 30 days. Are there repeats? Stock up more of those items.
2. Do you buy a mix? Try scratch recipes for pancakes, muffins, cakes etc if you like these items. Add whole wheat/whole grain to add some nutrition. (I sub 1/3 of the total flour w/WW even in chocolate chip cookies and nobody notices). You can blend whole oats into flour as well and sub it.
3. Stretch ground beef in casseroles by using less and adding lentils. So many ideas for that online.
4. You can grow 6 heads of leaf lettuce in a 14" basket/bowl. On a balcony ledge if you're in an apartment. 1 basket per person for a daily salad-simply pick enough leaves each afternoon for that dinner salad.
Fast food and sodas are sooooo expensive. Much better ways to spend.
DeleteGreat ideas. I love scratch too. Lentils are a great idea. Menus are a great idea.
Next week I am going to talk some more about growing. Hopefully we can expand on your idea of lettuce!
Thanks.
Boy, we did get the rain! 3.5 inches according to our rain gauge. Chickens are mad, well, as wet hens. ha!
ReplyDeleteFolks who have been preparing for a while could offer advice (if asked) to a newby. One thing I have learned is to go to your stash and use some of it, then replenish. Rotate your goods! It sure is nice to go to the "garage store" and pull things off the shelves or out of the freezer. Summer supplies us with fresh veg and fruit.
Stay dry! I'm taking Erin to work later and hopefully the rain is finished for a while.
Yep - we got a bit of rain. OK - enough of the wet!!!
DeleteRotation is huge. Using what you have instead of going out and buying something else. It is so nice to have our own 'grocery' - it saves money and time!
I sure wish my local grocery had a clearance section. Not on canned goods, fresh vegs, meats, nothing. I check what's on sale, but it's always scattered throughout the store - in hopes that I'll buy the expensive product instead. I've noticed that my grocery is discontinuing lower priced or store brand items and replacing them with more expensive name brand. Discouraging.
ReplyDeleteThank heaven for my backup supplies, at least I can usually hold out until I get near a Walmart.
MaryB
Dang - that is a bummer. Most stores here have a general clearance are, one in baked goods, one in meat and then other areas have marked down too. We are fortunate.
DeleteI love buying store brands, as they are cheaper.
Glad you have your storage!
Great suggestions here, that I have used for awhile. I'll add, you don't have to stock up by the case. If your store has canned vegetables on a sale, get a variety of what your family likes -- one each of corn, green beans, and peas, for example, and if you use more green beans, add two more. When pasta goes on sale for a great price, stock up on an extra of the kind(s) you use most, maybe one or two at a time. It all adds up. This one or two at a time is especially beneficial for those who live alone or have a small family, and you can monitor how quickly you open that "back-up package".
ReplyDeleteGreat tip. Buy what you can afford and smaller quantities add up over time. I like having variety. It makes life easier.
Delete$5 doesn't get a lot - but it can sure add a bit of this and that each week!
I think it's helpful to price out what is bought by the pound. $2, 3 or 4 might seem ok for a package of something until you realize that it prices out to $20 or 30 per pound!
ReplyDeleteI once read a suggestion several years ago to try to buy food for no more than $1 per pound. That's getting harder and harder. But for many things I can still do that. Rice & pasta. Produce. Apples. Beans. Oatmeal. Flour. Some canned goods.
I think your suggestion to start with $5 for stocking up is great. Or even a dollar! If there's a canned good on sale for 79c instead of regularly $2 then get 2!
If you just buy one extra item a week in one year you will have 52 items! And can I say that once you start on this stocking up it does seem at some point to grow on its own and then I have to make sure I'm using it in a timely manner and not get over run with too much of something!
I remember Amy at the TW Gazette always talked about meat less than a $1 pound. I did that forever, then raised it to $2 lb. and so on. I still won't spend a fortune of meat per pound - I just won't do it.
DeleteYes, anytime you can get something cheaper than normal - it is a bargain - especially today.
Slow and steady really does win the race.
Thanks!
You know how Tommy is, so this story makes me laugh. He had to have the bags of popcorn to microwave even though I told him how expensive and horrible it was for his health. Well, one day he brought me popcorn, not the yellow stuff from bag to microwave.
ReplyDeleteHe said, excitedly that he found some popcorn on the table and popped it. Did I want some?
What he found was what I always buy--a jar of Orville Redenbacher's air pop popcorn. He had figured out how to use top of popcorn air fryer and a bowl. He loved it with no salt or anything. No butter. This is very expensive popcorn, but lasts forever. Now, I buy it very seldom and he eats it very seldom. But, we enjoy every bite and cheaply.
He does learn. But, before he accepts things, he fusses and refuses.
I am trying to get him to at least cut back on Pepsi. It seems I drink a lot of Diet Coke, but if he is out, he will drink my Coke.
One thing I have learned to respect the date on--Jello. It is not good after the use by date.
Sometimes, he asks me don't we have an item already. I remind him this cheap price won't be wasted. He is learning. He goes through ads and tells me what is on sale.
It takes some people a long learning process. each at their own rate. But as long as there is learning going on - that is good. I like diet pop - but it really is bad for us. I try to not do it too often.
DeleteReally - you have had a problem with Jello? Gosh I have made Jello that is years old. I find it a fun treat!
Nice he looks at the ads.
Slow learning is one thing, but yelling and stomping about is not necessary. The Jello gets into hard jelled chunks. We eat it, but it is not fun.
DeleteTo add to the date thing, I've enjoyed canned green beans that were dated 2020 several times in the past month. Perfectly good and tasty. This was hubs' boo-boo, not mine 😂.
ReplyDeleteI'll make more rice than I need for a single meal and then freeze it. Its always handy to have done since brown rice takes almost an hour to cook.
Here in Kansas, bacon has been regularly sale priced at $3.99#. Our cheapo meal is pinto beans and chopped bacon in the crock. I grew up on pintos. Soak 1# dried pintos overnight in the crock with 4 cups cold water. In the morning, turn it on high. Add 1/2# chopped raw bacon, 1tsp. Garlic powder, 1/2 tsp. Black pepper, chopped onions, and 3-4 more cups of water. Your seasoning preferences may vary. I use more pepper. Cook all day. With a pan of homemade cornbread, this makes several hearty meals for about $3.25. Leftovers are freezable. If you have a meaty ham bone, it's even better. Our pantry is never without pintos.
Soak the beans overnight WITH THE CROCKPOT OFF.
DeleteI have eaten canned goods that are plenty old too! They are always fine. Good price for bacon!
DeleteI really like your idea of making extra rice and freezing. Good idea.
I love soup beans or beans and rice. Thanks for your instructions.
Good ideas.
Wow, there is so much great information here for those just starting out. I wish I had read this when I first began my pantry ( HAH, who am I kidding, computers were as big as rooms and nobody had one in their own homes)
ReplyDeleteI love that everyone has offered their ideas freely, what a wonderful place!!!!! Louise.
Thanks Louise! I sure hope it helps those starting and there are great tips and reminders for all of us.
DeleteI remember those room size computers!! Things sure have changed.
Glad to be of service!
I had an unexpired can of tomatoes squirt out when I started to open it. The can looked fine. No dents. The lid wasn't perfectly flat but it wasn't bulging either. I thought it was just how the lid was as it had ridges molded into it.
ReplyDeleteThe can will tell you if it's good!
Yes - you are right. I think I have had that happen too. They can will let you now - lots of pressure if bad.
DeleteGood reminder.
I would most times hold up a package of meat and ask Harvey what he thought I paid for it..... Usually he guessed way under and was always surprised when I showed him the price. And that was the sale price!!!!
ReplyDeleteHe now understands how I shop and only purchase on sale meats. I am hoping for some good sales on meat very soon (namely pork chops, whole chickens, ribs and if I am really lucky steaks). Sales have been terrible here lately.
Stocking up a pantry with items one can make simple meals with is perfect.
God bless.
Meat is probably the most expensive item we buy. It is crazy. You are very smart to buy only the sales. It seems prices are much worse in Canada than here too.
DeleteHope you get a good sale soon.
I'd like to add to Jackie's comment about buying only on-sale meats, because I do that, too. I do not ever buy full-priced meat!
DeleteFirst, you need to know the usual prices so you know when you are getting a good deal. Then, look for the loss leaders in supermarket ads. You will know them by their low prices and because they usually are printed in red type. When you see a loss leader, stock up to the extent that you can. Do not assume that buy 1 get 1 is a better deal until you compare the price per pound and reduce it by half. Sometimes markets increase the price per pound before a sale. If I am buying a pork tenderloin--one of my favorite cuts--I always look for a price per pound of $5, so that it's $2.50 lb by buying two. Also, if you are buying anything B1G1F, you will be charged the full price on the first one, but the second, SMALLER one will be free. Look for two items of approximately the same size/cost.
When you get home, you may need to repackage the meat into smaller meal-size packages. I make 1/2 lb. packages of ground meat. Occasionally, I will make a few patties for hamburger. They thaw very quickly, which is a plus. My top price for 80/20 ground beef is $3 lb but sometimes it is a little less. Depending on how I am fixed for money, I will buy 5-8 lbs or so.
I look for boneless pork loin roasts for $2 lb. I partially freeze it and slice some into boneless pork chops. It slices easier if it is really cold.
If TOP sirloin steak is on sale for $4 lb, I'll buy two family size packages and have half of it tenderized for cube steaks ("please run it through the machine twice") and use the rest for steak, kebabs and occasionally stew beef. You cannot buy any other cut of meat for these purposes at this price. Top sirloin is the tender cut. Bottom sirloin (sometimes called petite sirloin because it is smaller) tastes about the same but is not as tender.
I like boneless chuck roasts for pot roasts. Actually, I prefer the bone-in, but I rarely see it anymore. The bones make wonderful stock. I also make stew beef from chuck roasts.
At Thanksgiving, when turkeys are the cheapest, buy an extra turkey. Every time you cook a turkey, strip all of the meat off the bones, cut it into pieces and freeze in 2 cup packages, or whatever amount works for your family (1-1/2 cups works for us). The reason to freeze it in 2 cup packages is that is the amount that most recipes call for. I also made turkey stock with the bones and the meat that cooked off the bones. I got enough for 4 big batches of turkey soup.
Ditto for hams under $1 lb. Buy a butt unless it is a LOT more expensive than the shank. The butt has a lot more meat. I paid $7 for a ham at Easter and here is what I got: 1 baked ham dinner, scalloped ham and potatoes, lots of thin-sliced ham for sandwiches , 5 packages of cubes for the freezer, plus I made ham stock for a huge batch of bean soup. All this for 7 bucks! I bought an extra ham for the freezer, too.
It will take awhile, but eventually you will acquire a freezer full of meat bought at the lowest prices. I always plan my dinner menu around what meat is in the freezer. Tonight it is a meat pie using leftover pork roast for the meat.
Here is a quickie on beans. No one is going to drum you out of the Frugal Corps for buying canned beans, but cooking dry beans is 3 to 4 times cheaper. This is a no-brainer if you have an Instant Pot, pressure cooker or Crock. Soak the beans overnight in 2X the water, pour off the soaking water, cover with fresh water, and cook according to directions. Don't salt until after the beans are cooked. Now here is the cool part--beans freeze beautifully. 1-1/2 cups of cooked beans plus liquid is equivalent to 1 can of beans.
Do I enjoy doing all this stuff? HECK NO! But we eat meat almost every night for dinner and my food budget for 2-3 people (my daughter lives with us part-time) is $300 month.
Oops, that was me--Maxine aka mikemax. Meant to say I usually buy an extra turkey at Thanksgiving for the freezer.
DeleteWhat a wealth of information Maxine! Great tips and ideas. I pretty much do the same. I haven't bought much beef other than ground for ages - it is so pricey around here and when it is a good price it is fatty looking!
Delete$300 a month food budget is fantastic - that is remarkable for 2-3 people.
It is amazing how fast a flattened 1/2 pound of ground meat or hamburger patties thaw! No time at all. If you forget to get it out - throw the bag in a sink of cold water while propping other things, and bingo-bango it is thawed!!
Great info. Thank you!
I rarely use fresh lemons but need 1/2 of a lemon for my french dressing recipe. I got a marked down 2 # bag of lemons which had 1 bad lemon in it. I knew I wouldn't be using the lemons for ages so I washed them and popped them into the freezer whole. I took one out to thaw yesterday and today made the dressing. It squeezed very easily and the shell of the lemon went into my water glass to flavor my water for a few days. I suspect that oranges could be used in the same fashion and would juice very readily after freezing. I froze cut up pineapple too and just thawed a small container for hubby's Hawaiian pizza which is on tomorrow's menu.
ReplyDeleteJackie, I see that my local Food Basics has whole pork loin for $1.91 a pound this week. Unfortunately, I won't be shopping but this is definitely a stock up price for boneless pork. I would be making sausage if I got pork at that price. I hope you have a Food Basics in your province. I'm in Ontario.
I have a vacuum sealer which I don't use. I prefer to wrap food in cereal box liners and then into zip lock bags. Never an issue with freezer burn. yes, Cheryl, the key is to get the air out.
Raining here and that will bring on the green for sure. Yay.
That is a good idea for the lemons. Always have them on hand and for that marked down price. There are just so many tricks we can use and learn to make life a lot more enjoyable and frugal.
DeleteThat is a good price for pork loin.
Good way of sealing too. Air is not our friend in the freezer!
Great (and timely for me) post, Cheryl. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteWhat about storing whole wheat flour ... I've read it goes rancid very easily, and so am nervous of buying it because I don't know how long it's been on grocery shelf. All the bags in my small store are almost right up to the "expiry date"
Thanks. I would probably store in the freezer if I were worried about it turning quickly. Bring it out to room temp (amount needed) before making a recipe. That is what I would do, maybe some of the other gals have another idea.
DeleteThat is where I keep brown rice, which can go rancid fairly quickly. Hope that helps.
I buy 25# organic WW flour at a time. I keep it in Tupperware cannisters (the big yellow ones from long ago). I estimate it takes me 18months to use it up and it has never gone rancid on me. (I've done this for decades).
DeleteThanks Elle - good to know - hope that helps XOXO
DeleteThe monthly grocery spend hasn't varied much over the past 3-4 yrs. I attribute that to a well-stocked pantry/freezer. I buy items on sale, stock up & shop from home. I would encourage folks to total the amt spent on eating out, coffee shop purchases, $ spent on soda & "junk" food for just one month. I think they would be surprised. Use that money to start stocking up on nutritious food. The big shop happens monthly on the 10% off promotion day at the local grocery.
ReplyDeleteYES, YES, YES! I agree 100%. So much money wasted on things that just aren't necessary. A meal out today (even fast food) can be a large amount and could do a lot of stocking up.
DeleteMy budget/spending hasn't really changed either - actually I have been spending a lot less lately. Being prepared is really the reason. cooking from scratch helps too.
Thanks
For those who have Kroger/Fred Meyer: shredded cheese in 2# bags goes on sale for $4.99 or $5.99 every 6-8 weeks. It's on sale right now if you buy 5 bags and yes, you must have the rewards account. I stock up every other sale. The great thing is there are many varieties from which to choose.
ReplyDeleteI take advantage of Kroger good cheese sales often. I generally buy my cheese at Aldi - has they always have a great price.
DeleteIt is nice because they not only sell their shredded but bar cheese at those prices here.
Thanks.
Another great blog post, Cheryl. I wholeheartedly say yes to "buy what you will eat and eat what you buy" There is no reason to stock up on something you will not eat. And like you. I always check the clearance sections first too. It's one of my favorite places to check out.
ReplyDeleteYes - if you aren't going to eat it - you just wasted money and product.
DeleteI love the clearance section and always check it. You never know what you might find.
Buying the limit of butter this week to stock the freezer.
ReplyDeleteYou go and get it girl. It seems someone has had really good prices on butter for the past few weeks here. Get it while you can.
DeleteThis is an excellent beginner friendly post. Thank you for writing it, Cheryl. You're a great mentor.
ReplyDeleteLaura
Thank you very much Laura. I appreciate your kind words. We all help when we can.
Delete