Have you ever thought about challenging yourself to not spending anything for a week? Or to using up certain things in your pantry before shopping again? Just those two challenges can save quite a bit of money, if you take them seriously.
Think about it... and keep yourself on track by joining the threads on the Dollar Stretcher forums:
No Spend* December 13 - 19th
Clean out for Xmas Pantry Challenge! Dec 8th to 15th,2009
Pat, I've actually done both at the same time. One day after getting home from work and feeling hungry I decided to cook something for dinner just like I would any other day. Well, after looking in the pantry I noticed that I had tons of food but nothing that I wanted to eat. I'm sure there are tons of people out there that know exactly what I mean. You know, there were all sorts of random canned goods and various other items. I made a decision to clean my pantry out but not like most people do. I decided that I wouldn't spend another dollar on food until everything in the pantry was gone. The food lasted almost three weeks. I had some of the most random meals and many weren't very good at all but it was a great experience and allowed me to save quite a bit of money in at the same time.
ReplyDeleteI think you've got the idea, Lawrence! :) Sounds like you had a good learning experience. I struggle with using what's in the pantry myself.
ReplyDeleteThis is a bad week. I have to pick up food and stuff for Christmas day. And taking my son ice skating at Rockefeller center as a Christmas present.But i'll do it starting December 26 for a week. I love these challenges.
ReplyDeleteMs Hen, December 26th is the perfect day to start! I know it's tough right now, just before Christmas - I couldn't do it this week, either.
ReplyDeleteI have just shopped and will (hopefully) not be needing to shop again for awhile! I stocked up on most of the items I needed at Thanksgiving time having planned what I would be serving at Christmas. I decided on Christmas Eve to serve butternut squash soup and potato soup with a salad and crusty bread. I ended up buying the bread off the day old bread rack at Walmart thereby saving money! The bread is in the freezer! The potatoes were on sale for .99 cents for a 5 pound bag so I stocked up on those and the butternut squash was also on sale so I stocked up on those. I bought an extra turkey for Christmas and I still have one pumpkin left to cook into pies!
ReplyDeleteI have made my cookies and homemade candies with things bought at Thanksgiving sales. It seems in my area that this is the best time to shop and stock up as I have seen prices rise since then! I also bought cocoa mix and peppermint sticks so it seems I won't be needing to shop for a while!
One thing I do try to stock up on is squash as it can be kept for a long time and cooked in many different ways! I have acorn squash which I will stuff with rice, cranberries and walnuts for a meatless dinner.
Hopefully we have stocked up for awhile and can get creative with our meals. I also tend not to buy cold cereals but cook oatmeal, grits, cornmeal and pancakes as our breakfast meal! This way we are full and then we eat a light lunch! I am hoping not to have to shop again until sometime in January! We will see!
Sounds like you've got it well under control! I agree about the squash and it's good for you, too.
ReplyDeleteOh, what a great idea!! Our pantry is full and overflowing, home canned veggies are stored under our bed due to lack of room in the pantry, large freezer is full, baskets of taters & onions are stored from the summer harvest... yet I'm doling out money at the grocery store every week. Huh??!! Definitely need to reverse this hording mode and move into the consuming mode for awhile!! It's official, I'm starting TODAY! Thanks for the nudge!!
ReplyDeleteGood, Bette! :) It can be hard to move from storing up things to using up the things we've stored, but that's the whole purpose of storing it!
ReplyDeleteWhat a coincidence that I just found this blog!!! Today I decided that I will not buy groceries until after the new year...Since I will be alone for Christmas I didn't go buy all the trimmings either and being diabetic means no goodies ( well... just a few found their way into my house but I swear after Christmas I WILL be good). Anyway, I'm all for joining the pantry challenge.
ReplyDeleteLoiuse, have you gone to the forums yet? It will definitely help you stay on track, although it sounds like you're doing quite well!
ReplyDeleteU.N. Warns Food Shortage Will Continue Up To 2010 | AHN
ReplyDeleteDon't mean to be a gloom and doom person but I was checking this and other articles on the internet about the looming food shortages.
Really it is of concern because this together with the economy is creating a disaster for many! I know in 2010 I will continue practicing frugality even more and really tightening my budget. Every penny will count now more than ever!!!!!
There's a difference in being "doom and gloom" and in being practical. I will look up that article... this has been a long time coming and I don't expect it to get better in a hurry, either.
ReplyDeletePat,
ReplyDeleteMe either! As the saying goes batten down the hatches! Seems we're in for a rough ride!!!!
I have a full pantry and will not shop for awhile BUT I am afraid next time I step into a grocery store I may be in for sticker shock!!!
Actually, right now the prices don't seem to be too bad. I think we're in for some super inflation soon, though.
ReplyDeleteI agree! Although I did go to my local store the prices seemed to have inched up some! I will see in a week or two what the price are like! I am hoping to still be eating out of my pantry by then!
ReplyDeleteI cooked our last turkey on Friday and have made soup, hash and two turkey pot pies and sandwiches also!
We will be turkey-ed out by the time we are finished!!!! But it is good while it lasts!!!!
We're stretching the turkey here, too. :) Shop the sales and keep your pantry stocked that way, so you won't have to pay full price for anything.
ReplyDeleteSo far I haven't had to shop except for milk. I have checked out prices at the store though and I am not happy!! Prices on many items have shot up to double what they were before Christmas. I have enough in my pantry and freezer to get me through for a while but I know it's going to be tough when I have to shop again. I am really vowing to stick to my shopping list and budget. I am probably going to substitute a lot of beans for meat which is healthier anyway I just hope steak doesn't go through the roof!!!! I don't really know if I could live without it. I haven't tasted a bean yet that has taken the place of steak (especially cooked on the grill)
ReplyDeleteMaybe you could experiment with a cheaper cut of beef? I don't eat much steak, but I like a roast now and then. Any roast becomes tender when cooked with coffee and vinegar (no, they don't taste).
ReplyDeleteWhere I live the State is so desperate for money that they want to start charging 2-3% tax on food!! If this happens I'll be eating rice and beans every night!!!
ReplyDeleteCan you grow at least a little of your own food? Every little bit helps. Beans and rice are good food, but not every day! :)
ReplyDeleteOK January 14th and all I have spent so far on food this month is bread! I found a bread store that sells organic bread (day old) for a buck! I have made a big dent in all my leftovers and stored items both in my freezer and cupboards. I am even using the powdered milk in my cupboard. My son is having a sleep over this weekend with a house full of kids so I will bake up the last of the cake and brownie mixes and foist it on them (shouldn't be too hard to do!)
ReplyDeleteI have 6 packages of chicken left and a half of ham that I'll cook on Sunday! I have a few bags of potatoes that I can also work on cooking up. I am not looking forward to eating the six packs of chicken because that is too much chicken for one week so I'll do some chicken in between other stuff I'll cook. The chicken legs cost $161 a pack!! Plus they last in the freezer so I don't really have to eat them all up at once! The ham should last so I can make ham soup and ham sandwiches and ham everything. My local store is having a sale on ground beef so I am tempted to buy that and roast beef so I may just buy that only because the price is too low to resist! I figure if I can stock up a little on those than maybe I can cut my grocery spending down in Feb as well!! But so far so good!! How is everyone else doing on this?
Wow, sounds like you're really doing great! I've been to the store a couple of times, mostly to buy medicine. I did get some almonds marked down from Christmas, but everything else has been from what's on hand in the pantry and freezer.
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