A pantry challenge is a great way to use up what we already have, think through how I want to shop in the future, and of course, save money.

Today’s the first check-in for the Pantry Challenge over on my food blog, Good Cheap Eats. We’re spending the month “shopping our kitchens” before we go shopping elsewhere. This is the 4th time I’ve done an extended pantry challenge; January 2010, January 2011, and July 2011 were past challenges. It’s a great way to use up what we already have, think through how I want to shop in the future, and of course, save money.

I was stunned how many people are joining in. Yeah for using up whatcha got! I’ve been updating our daily log to share how we’re making it work with what’s already in my pantry, fridge and freezer, and other folks are sharing their experiences on the log, too. Talk about your camaraderie.

It’s not too late to join in — because you get to make the rules. Check out the goals we all shared last week and join in!

Are You Shopping Your Kitchen? is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

I used to think that I had to do a big grocery trip in order to do batch cooking. I learned differently recently. On Friday I shared my recent cooking plan. To prep a variety of foods to store in the freezer was the goal, but I was going to do it without grocery shopping.

My pantry had these items:

• dried beans
• a #10 can of tomato puree
• rolled oats
• flour and other baking ingredients

• 3 dinners worth of Seasoned Pinto Beans that we’ll use for Bean Tostadas

• 18 cups of Crockpot Red Sauce that we’ll have on pizza and pasta.

• 20 hamburger patties that will serve for 2-3 dinners.

• 4 big batches of Pancake Mix, 30 Instant Oatmeal Packets, and 6 cups of Cranberry Orange Granola  for quick breakfasts.

Truly, I am flabbergasted over the benefits of a well-stocked pantry. I spent less than three hours putting these meal components together and felt ready to take on quite a few meals. Now, if only I could figure out how to keep up with the appetite’s of six growing children.

How did YOUR freezer cooking go?

Freezer Cooking from the Pantry is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

At the end of last month I knew that I had a ton of food in my pantry and freezer. So, I set upon a Pantry Challenge, trying to make the most of what we already had instead of “shopping as normal” at the grocer’s. I didn’t make any hard and fast rules or make a spending limit. Rather, I tried to be mindful of my purchases and not to let things go to waste.

Well, the month is up, and I’m still finding treasure at the bottom of my freezer. Most of the items are of the quick lunch variety, like individual soups and calzones, but there’s also a turkey and several packages of fish, burgers, and brats. That turkey is got to go this week!

Come back tomorrow for a peek at my meal plan. And you can read what we really ate during the Pantry Challenge over on Good Cheap Eats.

I think I have the basics for another month’s worth of meals! So, unless there’s a screaming deal on meat or pantry staples, I’m going to try to stick with my dairy and fresh produce lists.

Grocery Geek This Week:

In addition to random trips to CVS ($3 gallon of milk), Trader Joe’s ($15 sunbutter and misc dessert items chosen by hubs and 2 boys) and Costco ($5 just milk!) these are the food purchases that entered the house:

Walmart is not necessarily the cheapest when it comes to dairy (Costco has that title), but it is a close second. Since I know the more I shop, the more I’ll spend, I’ve been avoiding Costco like the plague. I know I will be tempted to stock up on other things that we’ll use, but that will prevent me from using what we already have.

I’ve been baking a lot of Artisan Bread this month, but buying sandwich bread. Costco is cheaper on that, too. Hmmm…. maybe I need to rethink my Costco strategy?

I ended up spending $40 on groceries at Walmart this week on dairy and a few dry goods.

At Henry’s I loaded up on produce, eggs, cheese, and another gallon of milk? For a total of $52 I got organic lettuce, broccoli, tomatoes, bananas, and celery as well as conventional grapes, mushrooms, cilantro, green onions, potatoes, cuties, carrots, and onions as well as a few dry goods and dairy products.

I also made an Amazon coffee order. I told you awhile back how much I loved the convenience of having a coffee machine thingy. With sales and Swagbucks I was able to get this big box of 50 K-cups for only $5!

My grand grocery total for the month is $445.

I’m actually quite stunned. I used very few, if any, coupons, and just focused on adding (mostly) whole foods to our household. I’m not sure what this means for the coming month, but I’m amazed that I spent so little on food costs. We ate out a few times during the month, but that totaled only $115, much lower than most months. So, I’m going to say that this challenge was a success!

Plus, I lost a pound or two. Which, at my age, is priceless.

How did you save this month?

Grocery Geek: Ending the Pantry Challenge? is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

I’m coming off the heels of a month-long pantry challenge. I learned a lot. And I’m glad it’s over.

It was a great exercise in making do with what we had as well as a wonderful reminder to be thankful. My cup overflows, for sure.

Build a Frugal Pantry

Spending a month scrounging in my pantry and freezer also reminded me to be a little more deliberate in what I choose to fill my pantry with. Many nights as I was throwing together a soup or pasta dish, I would say, “If only I had….” And quite often it was the same “if only’s” that I was wishing for.

Like last year, I have a renewed desire to build a frugal pantry, to take some time and money and methodically stockpile the items that best suit our family’s dietary habits and best fit our budget.

I spent some time putting together a checklist of pantry staples that are building blocks of my go-to meals and I’m going to be on the look up for stock-up opportunities. When I finally busted out at the grocery store, I was amazed to find pasta for amazing prices — from 50 cents to free, after sales and coupons. Pasta plays a major role in my frugal pantry, so I bought about 24 boxes.

Yes, yes, I did.

But, I only paid about ten bucks for all of it.

A Staples Checklist

It took a little time to put together my Pantry Staples Checklist, but I’m so glad I did. It’s going to save me some thinking later in the month as I go about restocking. And restocking on staple items on sale is going to save me some money, too.

(I’ve made the checklist all spiffy with interactive checkboxes and a few fillable fields. It’s available to subscribers and Facebook friends during the month of February.)

What do YOU do to save money?

Budget Pantry Staples (Frugal Friday) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

As you know, I decided to tackle a Pantry Challenge. My goals included to spend the first four weeks of this month, using up what we had in the cupboards, refrigerator, and freezer, as well as reducing my grocery spending. There were some good things about this challenge and some not so good things. But, all in all, I think it was a success.

Here are some of the things that I learned or was reminded of over the last month.

To be thankful

My original goal had been to reduce our grocery spending by $50 a week, from $150 to $100. I had a lot of meat already stockpiled in my freezer, so it wasn’t a huge sacrifice, but at the same time, that extra $50 a week gives me a lot of freedom.

Three years ago I spent $100 a week to feed a family of seven, with some very small children amongst them. This month I attempted that with eight hearty eaters, including one teenager. Need I say more?

While we certainly ate fine, it was a little more challenging and I missed that margin that the extra $50 gives me. Three years ago we were grossly in debt and I didn’t have a choice. Today I am very thankful that God has allowed us to pay off those debts and allow us some margin.

To manage my freezer better

I found some pretty strange things in the depth of my freezer, including three bags of chicken bones, meat dated last July, several unmarked sauces, and a handful of stray blueberries. How the berries escaped the bag, I’ll never know.

I am reminded to keep better inventory, to label, to make chicken stock right away instead of freezing the bones, and to rotate the stock more often.

I also have a renewed appreciation for my freezer alarm. It went off a few times in the transition of emptying and refilling. The idea of a full freezer melting strikes fear in my heart. And while it is certainly not foolproof, a freezer alarm is a nice back up to have.

To not obsess when it’s not necessary

Near the end of the challenge I found myself getting really frustrated about not having the fixings for easier meals. And whether it was “internet accountability” or my own sense of determination, it was humbling to just “give in” on Day 27 and go shopping early.

I realized that it wasn’t necessary to obsess over this fact. As Cheryl pointed out after last year’s challenge:

… the challenge offered a fun and creative way to take my menu-planning skills up a notch. But when it started feeling like we were in survival mode, and there was no natural disaster or financial emergency to force us into this mode, my husband asked me to stop the self-imposed challenge and return to the nearest grocery store.

I get this. And this post kept coming to my mind to relieve any qualms I might have had in shopping early. I did a happy dance all through the store, let me tell you.

Will I do a Pantry Challenge again?

Absolutely. In fact, I’m already thinking that July will be good since my freezer will most likely be full of cookbook creations by then. But, I’m going to leave some of me for later, and make it a two week challenge this summer.

How did you do?

I’ve heard some wonderful stories via facebook and my daily posts on Good Cheap Eats. So many of you have jumped in, given your pantries makeovers, and otherwise made the most of what you had.

This is so exciting — and encouraging to this mama who was feeling like I wimped out.

So, share how the pantry challenge went for you. Link up your post below or tell us in the comments.

Meal Planning: Wrapping Up the Pantry Challenge is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

I’m entering the final week of my pantry challenge. I’m making it an even 4 weeks and ending on Friday. Carry on until Monday if that’s your druthers.

It’s been harder than I expected in some ways. We’ve run out of milk and produce more often than I thought we would. Side dishes have been dwindling as well.

This challenge has been easier than I thought it would be in other respects. My freezer was pretty well stocked with proteins. In fact, I think I’ll still have a turkey and several roasts when this is all said and done.

Overall, it’s been good. I’ve been more deliberate in thinking through what’s left in my grocery envelope. But, I’ve also been a little more stingy — or felt that way — with my family. But, more on that next Sunday when I share a wrap up.

It’s never too late to start your own pantry challenge. To check out the details and join in, go here. And to read what we’ve really been eating, pop over to my food blog.

Meal Planning the Easy Way

This month, meal planning was pretty easy. Each week I used a fillable planning page, page 95, to be exact, from my planner. On one side I listed all our breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. On the other side I listed the groceries that I didn’t already have to complete those meals. This was essential to making the Pantry Challenge work since I needed to focus my grocery spending on our “needs” first.

Here’s the plan for this week:

Breakfasts

• Oatmeal
• Maple Granola
• Pancakes
• Muffins
• Scones
• Coffeecake

Yes, I know the Chargers are out of it. But, one can always dream of next year….

Lunches

• Hot Dogs and Brats
• Cheese and Crackers
• BBQ Pork Sandwiches
• Chili
• Garlicky Chicken Noodle Bake
• Leftovers

Dinners

• Roast Chicken and all the fixins
• French Dip Sandwiches
• Beef and Barley Soup
• Pizza
• Tacos
• Spaghetti with Homemade Ragu

In comparing last week’s plan to what we actually ate, I see that I didn’t exactly follow our plan. But, we had a target to shoot for. And that’s better than aiming at nothing.

How does Meal Planning help your daze?

Don’t forget to pop over to Organizing Junkie for more meal planning inspiration.

Meal Planning: The Final Week of the Pantry Challenge is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

I’m entering week two of the pantry challenge. And you know something? I haven’t told my family. And I don’t think they’ve noticed anything different.

We also haven’t run out of milk. That could be part of it. Only time will tell for sure.

But, even though I made some grocery purchases this past week, I spent almost half of what I normally spend. Which has me thinking…. what have I been buying?

There’s a growing list on the fridge of things I’ve run out of, but haven’t found a good sale to justify buying more.

As I think of this Pantry Challenge, here are some of the benefits I am gaining from it:

Spend Less Money

I’ve set the grocery budget at $400 for the month, for groceries for our family of 8. This is $200 less than we normally spend each month on groceries. (We have a separate eating out budget that covers 2-3 meals of take-out per week.)

This past week, I went under budget, but we are rich in food. I have 10 pounds of potatoes, 10 pounds of bananas, 3 chickens, 5 pounds of butter, 6 pounds of cranberries, 6 pounds of apples, and other random items to show for it.

I think we’ll do okay on “less.”

Renewed Enjoyment of Bargain Shopping

Since I have less to work with, I seem to be more excited about the challenge of stretching what I do have. Great finds like buck twenty-five butter and 69 cent cranberries can do that to a girl.

I look forward to the hunt in a way that I didn’t back in December. Since I “don’t have to have it,” I don’t feel pressured to buy.

Increased Creativity in the Kitchen

While last week’s meals were rather plain, they were still tasty. And I enjoyed getting creative with  different dishes and making sure we enjoyed the meal — even if it was missing a standard ingredient or two. I felt like an adventurer making things I’d never made before like Cheesy Chowder with Butternut Squash.

More Intentionality

Thanks to the Challenge, I am making sure to plan better, to pull things from the freezer in advance, to count the hours before dinner and do I need to start the bread machine? Normally, I can get neglectful about those things.

The boundaries of my budget and the commitment I made not to go over help me not to just rush to the store for convenience items or to run through take-out. Plus, having an audience keeps me on the straight and narrow.

That said, here’s my meal plan for the week:

9. Beef Enchiladas, Beans, Rice, Salad

10. Pasta with Red Sauce, Green Beans, Cornbread

11. Beans and Rice

12. Shredded Beef, Mashed Potatoes, Gravy, Green Salad, Biscuits

13. Soup Night, Popovers

14. Grilled Chicken, Rice Pilaf, Green Salad

15. Tamales, Rice, Beans, Salad

Are you taking the Pantry Challenge?

How do you make the most of what you have?

For more meal planning inspiration, visit I’m an Organizing Junkie.

Meal Planning: The Benefits of a Pantry Challenge is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

This month, I’m working to organize my pantry, refrigerator and freezer. Part of doing that is to use up what we have and do a major stock rotation. I’ve set some goals for the month and am trying to be diligent in how I cook and how I shop.

Each day, I’m recording on my food blog a diary of what we eat and how I’m making the most of what we have in the house already.

But, that doesn’t mean I didn’t go shopping. I’m also trying to be mindful of good sales and to build a better pantry. I’m not going to pass up screaming deals, but I’m not shopping like normal, either. I’m using up the old stuff and happy to welcome some new sale items.

Out with the old and in with the new, as they say.

Here’s my process to build a better pantry while staying under budget.

1. Take the long view.

Rome wasn’t built overnight. And if you’re just starting out to build a pantry, don’t think you’re going to go out and stock up in one fell swoop. At least not on a budget.

Instead, realize that this is a process. You will add to your pantry overtime, based on what’s on sale.

2. Check the sale ads.

Consult the grocery ads and buy only the items that are a really good deal or those that you truly “can’t live without.” This week was a perfect week at my local Ralphs (Kroger) to demonstrate what I’m talking about.

Here are a few items that are on really good sale this week.

whole chickens – 59 ¢/pound
bananas – 39 ¢/pound
Special K cereal – $1.99 each when you buy 4 boxes
Yoplait yogurt – 10/$5
Quaker Instant Oatmeal – $1.99
Sargento cheese sticks – $2.99

These are basics in a house with children, and items that I can build a number of meals around. Plus, they fit my definition of a Frugal Pantry.

3. Match with coupons.

Use coupons when you find the item on sale. Redeeming a coupon for an item at full price really doesn’t save you a ton, unless you really “can’t live without” that item. But, matching the coupon with a sale helps you significantly lower the price of the item, making it a stock up-portunity.

I found coupons in the recent newspaper inserts and online that match many of these items. After coupons, my prices were this:

whole chickens – 59 ¢ (limit 3)
bananas – 39 ¢ less store produce coupon
Special K cereal – 99 ¢ each when you buy 4 boxes, using this coupon (thanks, Money Saving Mom)
Yoplait yogurt – 10/$4, using an insert coupon, I also got back two catalinas for $1.25 each, making them 32¢ each.
Quaker Instant Oatmeal – 99¢, using an insert coupon
Sargento cheese sticks – $1.99, using an insert coupon

I also had several Ralphs store coupons that further reduced my bill, such as “Save $1 when you buy $4 in fresh fruit.” I made sure that I bought enough bananas and markdown produce to make this work.

You don’t have to use coupons. The prices I’ve listed in Step 2 are still good stock-up prices, but coupons make them better.

Wondering how to get started with coupons? Read my Adventures in Couponing series.

4. Scan the clearance.

The section of your store that holds the marked down items is a storehouse of treasure!

Shortly after Christmas, my Ralphs was selling organic pumpkin for 50¢ a can. I stocked up. At Henry’s a few weeks ago, I found oat flour, turbinado sugar, and Bob’s Red Mill baking mixes for $1 a bag.

This week I scored major big time on several fronts. At Target this week (not a grocery trip), I cruised down the grocery aisle just in case, looking for clearance items. I found butter for $1.25, the lowest price I think I’ve ever bought it for. I bought five pounds.

At the above mentioned Ralphs trip, I got the following items on markdown or really good sale:

pumpkin spice instant coffee $1.00 each – $1/2 coupon, making them 50¢ each
frosting for birthday cakes $1.25 each
fresh cranberries 69¢/pound
chocolate covered cranberries $1/bag
apple slices 99¢/box
baby carrots 79¢/bag
10# potatoes $1.98

While I won’t use five pounds of butter or six pounds of cranberries this week or this month, I’ll have them frozen for later when I will use them, saving a significant amount of money by not paying full pop at that later date.

I can build my pantry easily and economically with items that the store has marked down.

Remember that manager specials are not bad food, just items that the store wants to move quickly because they want the space for something else or they don’t want to take a loss if it goes past its sell-by date.

4. Allot some budget toward pantry building.

For many people this is tricky. How do we make ends meet for this week and still buy ahead for the future?

Part of the answer is found in doing a Pantry Challenge. Make do with what you have in order to have extra funds for something else. It’s the age old secret of don’t spend money you don’t have. But spend less on one thing, so you can spend more on another.

So, since I’m mostly using what we have in the freezer, fridge, and pantry for our meals this week, I have wiggle room, even in my reduced Pantry Challenge budget, to buy things for the future at a greatly reduced price.

If you don’t have much in the pantry to begin with — though I bet you do with a little creative thinking — then plan some budget meals for a few days each week to allot yourself extra funds to put toward stockpiling.

Beans and Rice and Pasta with Red Sauce are two of my quick budget meals that cost less than $5 to feed my entire family of 8!

Here’s what I spent on groceries this week:

Target (butter) – $6.20
Ralphs (pictured) – $46.79, after catalinas
Henry’s (produce, eggs, plain yogurt) – $23.25
CVS (dental items) – $5.27, after ecbs

I spent a total of $81.51 during the first week of January.

Obviously, we’re not going to eat all these items in one week, but I spent a total of $81.51 and I’ve stocked my pantry with items that we can use over the coming weeks. I made sure to check expiration dates before I bought and I’m stashing on a top shelf the items that I don’t want the kids to inhale in a mere five seconds.

It makes for an odd looking cart to see bulk purchases of a few mismatched items, but once you do this over the course of a few weeks, you will have a well stocked pantry that you paid less for than if you had bought “a coordinated cartful” every week.

5. Store wisely.

Once you get your purchases home, think about how you will store them to make your investment stretch. Untimely expiration dates, bugs, rodents, and just disuse can kill your investment in short order. Avoid this at all costs!

Some things might need to be repackaged for the freezer or stored in special ways to extend their shelf life. Flour, nuts, and other baking products can be stored in the freezer to keep them fresh. Even cheese and yogurt can be frozen. Keep your stock away from excessive temperatures or moisture.

As for my purchases this week, the butter, cranberries, and the chickens went directly into the freezer while the cereal and dried cranberries went on a top shelf. The cheese and yogurt obviously headed to the refrigerator. The oatmeal went to the pantry and will probably be consumed by the end of the month. Ten pounds of bananas? We’ll eat as much as we like before they turn brown, and then I’ll freeze the rest or bake a banana chocolate marble cake.

6. Go back to step 2 and repeat.

If you do this every week, soon you will have a well-stocked pantry. Not only does this prevent you from running to the store at a moment’s notice for something you “need,” but you will see your grocery bill diminish. Or, at worst, your costs will stay the same, but you will have much more to show for it.

Having a well-stocked pantry also allows you to take time off shopping for a season to use what you have and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

How do YOU build your pantry on a budget?

Don’t forget to visit Super Savings Saturday! I have learned so much about how to save on groceries from that weekly carnival.

How to Build Your Pantry on a Budget (Grocery Geek Presents) is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

The other day I mentioned how I am going to give my pantry (and my grocery budget) a little makeover this month. I hope to lower our January food costs and make the most of what we have.

And I want YOU to come along!

Don’t worry; I’m not asking you to eat yourself out of house and home. Promise!

Make the Most of What You Have This Month

• For some that might mean digging deep into the cupboards and using up those odds and ends.

• For others that might mean building a frugal pantry, scouting for good sales, and starting to stockpile items that you regularly use.

• Still others might want to give the pantry an overhaul and remove unhealthy items and replace those with more wholesome alternatives.

Make this challenge fit YOU and YOUR life!

As for me, I’m going to attempt the following:

• Spend $100 (or less) a week on groceries. (I currently average $150 per week for a family of 8.)

• Focus on fresh produce and dairy.

• Bake from scratch.

• Eat up what’s in the freezer.

• Build a better stockpile (healthier and more plentiful).

I’ll be posting daily updates on how it’s going over on my food blog, Good Cheap Eats.

(Since I’m busily making sure we empty our freezer, I won’t be filling my freezer this week. But, if you’re doing freezer cooking this month and would like to share you plans and progress, we’ll be talking freezer meals on Friday later this week.)

If you’d like to participate in the Pantry Challenge, just say so in the comments or link up your own blog post about taking the Pantry Challenge.

Remember: this is NOT a no-spend month. This is a month to get your ducks in a row as it concerns your pantry. Use it or add to it — it depends on what YOUR family needs most this month.

We’ll have another link up at the end of the month to share how we did and what we learned.

Join the Pantry Challenge is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.

WARNING: THIS POST IS ABOUT MONEY, FOOD, AND A PANTRY CHALLENGE. Oh yeah, and there’s a meal plan, too.

The Money Part

About a week ago I loaded updated Quicken software on my computer. The old version was from 2002, so it was due for an upgrade, especially considering that the computer it came preloaded on was threatening to kick the bucket. Seeing as every photo and financial record is stored on that computer, it was time to make a change.

So…. I balanced the books for our year-end status report. We didn’t save as much as we made — we had to eat and all that, but we didn’t go in the hole, either. I’m thinking that that is a good thing.

I like the color black.

One thing I learned from all my number crunching was that we spent an average of $612 per month on groceries. Not too shabby considering that I think we’ve been eating like kings!

We also spent about $150 per month eating out. This brings our monthly food average to $762 which is still less than the $966 that the US Department of Agriculture says food for a family of 8 on a “thrifty” meal plan should cost. Heavens! We could definitely eat like royalty if we spent that. WHAT are they thinking?

It gets better. The “liberal” plan sets my food costs at over $2000 per month. Oh! That makes me laugh!

Food

All that to say I’m feeling pretty good about how I shop and how we eat — at least by government standards.

One of the things that helps us to have such low food costs is to keep a frugal pantry. Last year I explored this in more detail in the Build a Frugal Pantry series. If you haven’t checked it out before, I recommend doing so as there was input from many great bloggers in that series on my food blog.

The short story: I regularly buy items on sale that I know we will use so that I’m not paying full price when I need or want them.

Currently, our freezer is still really full. It’s also growing a protective coating of ice on the inside walls. Must be time to defrost. But, in order to thaw, we need to empty. So, this month we’re digging in and using up what we have.

Here’s my meal plan for the week:

2. Hot Dogs on Homemade Buns, Veggies, Potato Salad

3. Roast Chicken, Quinoa Pilaf, Green Salad, Biscuits

4. Pasta with Red Sauce, Green Beans, Cornbread

5. Beans and Rice, Leftover chicken, Chips

6. Soup Night — even if it kills us

7. Pizza Night

8. Lasagna, Green Salad, Garlic Bread

A Pantry Challenge

I am also going to do a little pantry challenge. Last January I did this and it went pretty well. I cut our budget for the month and tried to make the best of what we had.

By the time I was done, the cupboards were bare, but I think I’d shaved a good chunk of cash off our expenses, too. And as I mentioned above, we did okay on food costs this year. I think this helped. And since it’s in my mind to keep our costs low, I figured I’d do it again this year. And I want you to join me!

Don’t feel like you need to eat yourself out of house and home this month. I’m not putting you to that kind of challenge.

Instead, I’m thinking of this:

Make the Most of What You Have This Month

• For some that might mean digging deep into the cupboards and using up those odds and ends.

• For others that might mean building a frugal pantry, scouting for good sales, and starting to stockpile items that you regularly use.

• Still others might want to give the pantry an overhaul and remove unhealthy items and replace those with more wholesome alternatives.

You get to decide what best fits your family and your life. Shop till you drop or work toward using what you’ve got. This isn’t a “no spend” month — unless you want it to be. It’s a “be mindful about what you have and what you need” month.

We’re working on our kitchen pantries to make the most of the resources at our disposal.

I just hope you’ll join us in talking about money, food, and the pantry challenge.

My personal January challenge

• Spend $100 (or less) a week on groceries.

• Focus on buying fresh produce and dairy.

• Bake from scratch.

• Eat up what’s in the freezer.

• Build a better stockpile (healthier and more plentiful).

Ya with me?

I’ll have a link up on Tuesday if you want to “formally” commit. And I’ll be posting daily (or close to) updates on GoodCheapEats so you can see “a month in the life.”

Don’t forget to pop over to I’m an Organizing Junkie for more meal planning inspiration.

Meal Planning: A Pantry Challenge is a post from: Life As Mom. © Jessica Getskow Fisher - All rights reserved.