Pantry Payday

Ready to make some money? What if I told you that you can make some money just by taking stock of your pantry?

Rosalyn's Pantry

You've heard it all before: 

• coupons can save you $30.00 - $100.00 off your grocery bill; 
  
• bulk purchases can save you money in the long term; 
• making double meals and freezing can save you from last minute 'take out' purchases;
  
• canning soups cuts your meal cost from 1.99 a jar to about .45;
• beef or pork purchased by the half or whole can bring your cost per pound down to about 1.93 per pound; and
• eat whole, nutrient-dense foods - you'll need less.
  

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Great deals from the local scratch and dent Amish store

I know you know all that. You're a savvy shopper. 

So what can I share with you that will really challenge what you already know?

Then I wondered: am I the only one that uses grocery shopping as a way to get out of the house, enjoy the feeling of spending money, and getting good deals?

If I am, I'm going to feel a bit silly. 

Here's the way my food shopping looks - I'm all about good deals. But because I shop at local scratch and dent grocery stores (and save up to 95% off the regular chain/specialty-store prices), I'm at the mercy of whatever is at the store that week. Instead of shopping for a menu, I shop first and cook from what I have on hand. But because I'm constantly shopping, I lose track of what's on my shelves.

So, where's the pantry payday, you ask? It's right there, on our shelves. What if we limited our grocery shopping to just staples? How much money could we save? 

By my calculations, if I only purchased my staples of raw dairy. I could save about $100.00 in two weeks. 

Ready for payday? Join me this month, as we eat local. Really local. As in, your pantry local. Your 'pantry local' won't look exactly like mine, but here's the challenge: shop the pantry FIRST. Make menus from what you already have, supplementing as needed to round out a nutritious meal. 

And here's an unexpected bonus - you'll quickly notice how your shopping may not include certain necessary items for well-rounded meals. Knowing THAT, you'll be able to save even more in the months ahead as you purchase in bulk and either can or freeze or dehydrate to meet that need. 

And don't forget - get your kids in on the fun. end them into the pantry with a mission to build a meal from what they can find in the house. Include them in the cooking. 

Enjoy lunch out with the girls or a latte on the way to soccer, and stash the rest... Then see where you're at. I'm excited to see how it goes!

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