Posted By FarmerJ on December 29, 2009

After a full year of diligently shopping by matching coupons to loss leader items, coupled with the enormous garden we had last summer, the food cupboard, pantry and freezers are bountiful.

I have been working on moving the location of my pantry, reorganizing the items on the shelves, and making a detailed inventory in the process.  It didn’t take long for me to realize that among the abundance are several items that are reaching their ‘best used by’ date.  Those items need to be used ~ not to mention all the garden-fresh vegetables needing cleared from the freezers in order to make room for the new harvest.

Beginning January 1st, I am participating in a challenge through an online community.  I will be challenging myself to make as many meals as possible using items we already have in the cupboard, pantry and freezers ~ challenging myself to spend as little as possible on groceries and other household items throughout the month of January.

I think I convinced myself yesterday that I should be able to do rather well in this personal challenge.  Darling Husbie and I planned to be in town yesterday, so it was also part of my plan to stop at the grocery store in order to take advantage of any good deals before they change on Wednesday.

Well, as it often does here in Nebraska, time slipped away and I didn’t have an opportunity to browse the ads and compile my coupons before leaving for town.  All the way into town, I was wracking my brain trying to come up with something we needed from the store.  I couldn’t come up with anything.  Sure, I thought of a few ‘wants’ and ‘nice to haves’, but no ‘needs’ that we just couldn’t be without.  [Thank you, Heavenly Father, for our plentiful blessings!]

Now, the goal of participating in this challenge is not to deplete our stockpile of supplies, but rather afford me the opportunity to use up the numerous tidbits that have accumulated over the holidays, the opportunity to use up items approaching their date stamp, and the opportunity to make room for new items.  This should also allow me to use a little creativity in the kitchen while shaving a little off the grocery budget.

And, as if all of that isn’t reward enough, there are two additional blessings that will come from this effort.  The first is the box being filled with food that doesn’t fit on the shelves in my new arrangement ~ we will deliver that to the food bank for those in need.  The second is the money I will save by ‘shopping’ from the pantry rather than the store ~ we will donate whatever that amount is to our local Veteran’s Home.

I will post once a week throughout January to update you on how it’s going.  We can chat about what is most challenging about the Challenge, what kind of meals I’ve been able to create, and share any tips or ideas for new recipes.  And, of course, at the end of the month, I will report how much we will be able to donate to our Veterans!

Would you care to join me in the ‘Eat From Your Pantry Challenge?’

Categories: Simply Saving
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