FRUGAL FRIDAY

The Pantry Principle, Part Two

I have continued to plan and organize the stocking of my pantry in preparation for Fall and Winter. This is the shelf located on the wall adjacent to the pie safe shown last week in The Pantry Principle, Part One, where my canned goods, etc. are being stored. This shelf is a work in progress. The bags hanging on the pegs will contain pastas, beans, and various other items. Its a great place to display home canned jars of pickles, jelly or tomatoes. I would like to place a bench on the floor underneath the shelf. I can think of so many ways to take advantage of this little pantry nook I have started!

My plan for this week’s pantry stocking was to purchase the following:

2 boxes lasagna
2 more 2 lb bags rice
2 ten lb bags sugar
2 five lb bags flour
2 large fat free creamers
2 bags navy beans
1 bag black eye peas
1 box of 100 tea bags
1 large canister of hot cocoa mix
2 boxes shells and cheese
3 boxes corn muffin mix
1 more large canister of coffee
1 box coffee filters
1 3lb box macaroni

These are some of the strategies I am using to continue stocking up:

I hope to buy extras every week for the next 2 or 3 weeks until I feel we have enough supplies on hand to make the fall and winter easier. One good way to stock your pantry is to set aside a small amount of money each week for this purpose. With only $5.00 or $10.00 a week you could make progress over time.

Any time I see a really good deal on a staple item I try to buy several . I recently bought 10 sixteen oz packages of spaghetti marked down to 25 cents at the grocery store with a year still left until its sell by date. Also not long ago Tetley teabags were on sale at my grocery store for $1.50 and right underneath the shelf was a coupon dispenser for $1.00 off the Tetley tea bags. I bought several .

Don't forget to use CVS's extra bucks or Walgreens or Rite Aid's rebate program. A drugstore is not the best place to buy groceries, but if you watch the sale papers and use coupons and take advantage of each store's promotional programs, you can get some really good deals.

I especially enjoy not having to buy everything every week at the grocery store. Usually I only have to buy a few things each week and this allows me to have money available to stock up on what’s on sale and/or with a coupon .

I have been working in my pantry area to make it more organized doing things such as placing small boxes of pudding mix and corn muffin mix in a plastic basket and placing bags of rice and beans in a plastic bin to prevent them from sliding around. I ‘m also working in my kitchen food cabinets to throw out old food and organize everything. When the pantry is organized it reduces waste simply because you are aware of what's in there.

It’s a good idea to place flour, rice and pasta in the freezer for 2 or 3 days as soon as you get it home to make sure any little critters and their eggs have been killed. I plan to store my flour in the freezer.

This coming week my husband is planning on getting two bushels of sweet potatoes for our pantry and I plan to purchase sale meats in bulk to freeze. Taking advantage of what ever is in season is one good way to stock up. For example, n July and August, freeze or can tomatoes.

I also want to start purchasing some of the things I’ll need for Thanksgiving and Christmas cooking. If you purchase 1 or 2 items a week it won’t be such a huge undertaking to buy groceries for holiday baking.

Also last, but not least, I plan to purchase some food for our church’s food pantry. The same principles apply when buying food for a food pantry. Use coupons in conjunction with sales and buy store brands if they are of good quality. Its nice to remember something an old friend once told me: "You can’t out-give the Lord". Give to a food pantry for the needy and I’m sure He’ll bless you twice as much!

There are many great Frugal Friday Tips at www.biblicalwomanhood.com/blog.htm . Be sure to check them out!