Hello all - happy Tuesday. I hope all are well this morning. It is a very chilly morning here, in the 30's. So far it has not gotten to freezing here! YAY! I hate seeing all the buds freeze after things start really growing. The first moments of sunrise were really something to see this morning. It was like a giant hug in the sky. The sky turned pink in all directions! Granted it was brightest in the East - but the pink spread 360 degrees. Just so pretty.
Now that the holiday is over, it is time to get back to normal and back to doing all things frugal again.
Here is my question or challenge to all.
Can or could you go all week cooking meals using ONLY what you have on hand? How about the next two weeks? I know many of us do this most weeks and it is a usual thing - but there are so many who shop every week or very often. Now I not talking about those runs in to see what clearance we can find - I am talking staying out of the stores completely!
CAN YOU?
So there you go - my little challenge to you all. Use only what is in your pantries and your freezers to fix all meals this week and hopefully next week.
WHY you ask? I say why not! It will save you money you can use for something else or save, it is being mindful of what you have so that nothing goes unused, and it is good practice!
Practice for what?
Well, if you shop every week and only keep enough provisions on hand to last just the week or two - you may be very sorry one day. If deliveries can't get to stores - they will be empty in a couple days. PERIOD!
If grid would go down - there will be no transactions - as there will be no way to sell or record those transactions, without reverting to pen and paper and cash! (also would affect deliveries)
If supplies are in short supply, you need to be prepared at home.
If YOU have an emergency - such as loss of job, illness, or natural disaster - $ will be tight and you will need to rely on why you have.
There are many reasons to keep supplies on hand for the 'just in case' scenario.
It is just a smart move to at least give this a trial run. Use what you have ONLY for a good week - hopefully two and see what you can come up with. Get creative. Not only is this smart to try, but it can also be fun. If you have kiddos at home - get them involved too.
This is pretty much normal for me, and several others that read here. I love my special deals I find, but I often stay out of stores for weeks. I always have enough milk, eggs, and even fresh goods to last for a good while. I can keep fresh produce a long while with a little prep. Once summer gets here, it will be even better, with my own 'grow'ceries. I learn to substitute things as well.
So, what do you think? Can you do it? Willing to try?
I hope many give it a try and play along - then you can report back each week on how well it went. You can find holes in your inventory and figure out where you need to step it up.
Have fun!
Have a super day and be blessed and bless others.
I always have enough to go 2-3 weeks if needed. Milk, yogurt, cottage cheese, fresh fruit and eggs are what doesn't stretch. We are still eating last year's CSA veggies that I froze. I bought fresh cauliflower and mushrooms 3w ago because I wanted fresh and oh did we enjoy those.
ReplyDeleteSo can I? Yes. Will I? Not this time. I have to pick up my farm fresh eggs today (every 2 weeks), and we're out of fruit and I don't want to go without for a full week.
It is great that you are still stretching out last years CSA produce. Fresh does taste good.
DeleteThat is the thing - you CAN! You chose not to and that is a choice to add more. You can do it as you have enough to get you through - and that is a good thing. It is good to have extra.
I could go quite a while without needing anything. This is a good challenge though. A stocked pantry saves not only money but time and makes things easier for me.
ReplyDeleteI think everyone should investigate their area too and see if you have farmers, dairy farms or ranchers that sell. It's often cheaper than the grocery stores and definitely healthier and tastier.
Yes and yes. It sure can save time and money.
DeleteYou are so correct that everyone needs resources to have food that isn't 'store' bought. Those are generally small businesses and our using them, helps support a family.
I wouldn't have a problem with this. In fact, the food prepared in the past 2 wks was from the stock on hand (even a company meal) - roast chicken, pea soup, roast pork, roasted veg (potatoes, sweet potato, carrots, onion), berry crisp (rhubarb, blueberries, strawberries), quesadilla (chicken, peppers, mushrooms, cheese). I appreciate that there's only my palate to please but I think I could do this even with more mouths to feed. The quesadilla filling will be transformed into a pasta dish today. I'm making zucchini muffins w/ the zucchini that was frozen last fall.
ReplyDeleteGood for you! You should be proud of that. I can cook a big meal for a crowd often if I choose. It would just take a little thawing. I am like you and basically only have to satisfy my tastes, and that makes it easy. Some days I just don't want to cook.
DeleteAll the food you have fixed sounds wonderful to me. Good going, keep it up!
Yep, I do this all the time. My shopping is usually for bargain groceries. I made split pea soup yesterday with everything I already had. I also prepped beans & some vegs for big dinner salads for the next few days. I got one of those big tubs of spring greens for 99 cents a week ago and it's still fine. Well covered it will last over a week. If I don't use it all before it wilts (though unlikely) I'll use it to make stock.
ReplyDeleteThe only fresh thing I'd desire is produce. But I only buy from the bargain bin so I can go without if I need to. Not a fan of canned or frozen but do keep some of that on hand for when I want to stay out of the store.
YAY! Glad to hear it. It sounds like you shop like I do. Anymore there is no 'real' shopping runs - just going to look for deals. I get my produce marked down as well. Great minds!!!!
DeleteIt sure pays to know how to keep things and stretch them in various ways.
Excellent challenge! I was rooting around in the freezer in the house refrigerator and found all kinds of things stuffed in there. Hmmm, think we'll start there! Found two all beef sausages/wieners and that will be good with sauerkraut for lunch. Citrus and onions are on the Costco list but other than that, we are pretty well set. Yes, eager for grow-ceries!
ReplyDeleteDebating about going out to run limbs and such through the shredder. The sun is pretty but I imagine that is just a teaser...ha!