After a four-week-long hiatus, Super Savings Saturday is back! Only I have nothing to report on the shopping front because I didn’t go shopping this week.
I was planning to go in the middle of the week, since we’d been gone for almost a week, but I challenged myself to make the milk and produce stretch until Saturday–and it did! We didn’t eat the most varied meals ever, but we didn’t go hungry by any means.
(But lest you think I was really being heroic for skipping shopping this week, I confess that I had a rather selfish motivation: I was trying to avoid having to take three children out into the bitter, bitter cold we’ve been experiencing here to go shopping!)
We’re stopping by Aldi later today to snag some of their produce deals and also to pick up some milk and cheese. I’m hoping to spend about $25 total and make that last for another week and a half. The rest of the food will come from our pantry.
I have to tell you all that I really appreciate the encouragement you’ve been for me in the Eat From The Pantry Challenge. Your blog, Facebook, and Twitter updates have kept me going this week when I really wanted nothing more but to pick up carryout. It was just one of those kinds of weeks and had I not had your inspiration, I am pretty sure I would have given in to the temptation.
So thank you. It was a good exercise in self-discipline for me–something which I feel like I’ve not been as good at recently.
I had planned to write a detailed update this week on what we were eating and how we were pulling off the Pantry Challenge. But it just didn’t happen. The children have been cranky and fighting colds, Silas has been teething, and I have just been plain tired and uninspired, so blogging has gotten shoved to the bottom of the pile.
Here’s to hoping for warmer weather, cheerful children, and a little uninterrupted sleep this next week. 🙂 And look for an Eat From The Pantry update and link-up here bright and early on Monday morning.
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melissa says
i have not wanted to get out in this cold either so i sent a list with my husband this week. unfortunately i’m terrible at sending a list. i like to go and compare prices and use coupons which i know he won’t do. to that end, we have 2 diapers left and are at the bottom of the formula can. so i have to go tonight.
Martha Artyomenko says
I didn’t go shopping this week either. I fell and broke or bruised my tailbone and people have been bringing us meals, the fridge is somewhat empty, but it has been a blessing to just eat what we have and what people bring us!
Vanessa says
I hope all your children start feeling better fast.My family of six has had a virus ever since December 28.I too did not get out this week because of the cold weather.My children though are a variety of ages though.I have a 2year old,3year old,8year old& a 18 year old.It is no fun when they are all sick.The 18 year old is a great help though.We homeschool too.I’m not doing the pantry challenge.I am trying to keep my pantry & freezers stocked because with my husbands work you never do know when it will decrease.When we need to eat from the pantry I will be ready because of all your frugal advice.Thank you for this great blog.
Brooke P says
I”ve had a great time wtih the pantry (freezer)challenge! Tonight we ate Curry chicken with peas, onions and rice, Couscous with Feta, almonds and oranges, and wonder “7 layer” bars with the bits and pieces of nuts, chocolate, graham crackers, etc. We’re eating like kings with a little creativity. Thanks for inspiring me to clean out the freezer!
Kristen says
I’d like to hear more about the grocery prices, too! I moved to San Francisco from Dallas four years ago, and remember being shocked at how much more expensive things are. I assumed things would be cheaper since we’re so close to where so much food is grown and raised, but found the opposite to be true.
I could NEVER get by on $40 a week for food, drug and household items! I pay much more attention to prices now that we have four in our family and live on one income in the second most expensive city in the states – totally possible! – but I can’t seem to get out of Safeway without spending $40 in one trip!
Thought I will say that for produce – you can’t BEAT the prices at the Asian grocery in my neighborhood!
Cathi says
I am secretly doing the eat from the pantry challenge….Im afraid if I annouce it outloud I will jinx myself. LOL. So far we have been doing well with eating out the pantry, freezer and fridge after being out of town for New Years. Ive only had to go to the store for produce, milk and bread. I did an inventory of all the food I have stockpiled and Im so proud of myself! I have some good stuff. 🙂 And we really need to eat it before it gets old and goes to waste…Its hard NOT to shp though. Its been such fun since I found this blog and learned some of the tricks of the trade. Well there are always Walgreens sales! 🙂
Ellen Drake says
Between the encouraging eating from the pantry challenge you’ve initiated and the frigid temps (I, too, didn’t want to drag the kiddos out in the cold!), this week’s gone by in a flash and I haven’t had to buy groceries! We, too, are living off of freezer meals and I feel so EMPOWERED by knowing that I’m serving my family healthful delicious meals and not letting food go to waste. I think I will also hit the sales this coming week and/or stock up on produce and milk if needed, but otherwise we will continue to eat from the pantry primarily. Thank you for this awesome idea and for showing us first-hand that it can be done!
Yvette says
Thanks for the Pantry Challenge! I am amazed (once again!) at how much a mental shift changes things. My pantry this week was the same one I had last week, but knowing I was “limited” to what I had on hand changed everything. I went from thinking “there’s nothing in here!” to making 5 meals this week- amazing!
Suzanne says
Crystal,
I just wanted to say thank you – I just found out that I won the couponmom.com December giveaway of a whopping $500 prize! I found the link on your website, so THANK YOU! Now what to do…
*******************
Money Saving Mom here: Yay! So excited for you!
The Working Home Keeper says
We saved this week by going back to our Dave Ramsey Total Money Makeover roots – cash envelopes for groceries!
Adrienne says
I was wondering if you usually know what the deals are at Aldi before you go. I don’t use many processed foods (none really) and try to use all natural cleaning products so we usually just use Aldi for miscellaneous canned goods and produce –but I’ve found it almost impossible to know what the produce deals are before going there. Any tips?
Thanks in advance!
Erin says
I am not officially joining the challenge but I’m definitely making an effort to use up the things in the back of the cabinets and pantry. It’s good to rotate out that stuff so it doesn’t go bad and clear the way for more great deals! When I inventoried my pantry last month I discovered that I had 10 boxes of crackers! I was buying them when they were BOGO and then they never got used up. Luckily now I am down to 5 boxes (I used a lot during holiday entertaining). Thanks for being an inspiration!
Roni says
I know you’re busy, but I’m still interested in hearing of what you thought about the grocery prices in California. You mentioned that you saw some good deals….I live here and find it hard to find the deals in the land of “no double coupons”.
Heather says
Isn’t it great to not have to go shopping one week? I only shop every two weeks and it’s really taught me how to plan my meals out. You’ve inspired me to eat from my pantry this month (and perhaps next month too!). I’ll post an update on Monday with my progress.
Karissa Naslund says
MSM,
Thanks so much for linking all of these GREAT deals! I love to have a place to share my findings to new readers.
Thanks again! Have a great weekend!
Karissa (Couponaholic)
http://www.ConfessionsofaCouponaholic.com
The Prudent Homemaker says
It’s important to have a well-stocked pantry. You never know when your financial situation can change (be it a major repair, a hospital trip, or a loss of income) and having a pantry that is well-filled can really help stretch your savings further (since you don’t have to spend money on food).
This month, our income decreased significantly. It’s been such a blessing to not have to go to the store this month. We will most likely continue to eat from our pantry in February as well, and possibly March. I don’t want to have to go into debt to buy food, so we won’t be buying any food for January.
Anjanette says
Just got back from shopping and saved $13.59 after coupons! Don’t have time to blog about it today unfortunately, but will on Monday for the EFTP update! My HyVee (Lee’s Summit) Is doing a fill-a-sack and get 10% off deal in the Health Market! That helped a ton! I did feel terrible getting my toddler out in this though!
The Thrifty Mama says
I’m with you Anna. I like stocking up a little each week and eating from the pantry regularly.
Unfortunately I’ve been doing the eating from the pantry thing for the last couple of months and it’s time again for me to stock up. I’m sad I can’t participate in the challenge this time around. Maybe I’ll get to do the next one!
Dawn says
Thanks for your Inspiration!
Allison V. says
I need to make a little shopping trip for dairy and produce and some odds and ends. I’ve been stocking up the last few months with coupons, and it’s great! I had to completely rearrange my pantry space, because I was using a bookshelf in my laundry room to hold all my excess, and it was just in the way! It’s so nice to know I have a least a week’s worth of interesting meals, plus easy stuff like cans of soup.
I decided against an Eat-from-the-Pantry challenge, because that would pretty much deplete the stockpile I have, and I’d be back to huge shopping trips with my kids (mine are about the same ages as yours, Crystal). It’s been much easier just hitting the sales and using the pantry for the rest! I like this routine SO MUCH! And now I have my grampa saving his coupons for me too, so let the savings increase!
Anna says
I just did a big shopping trip last Monday after weeks of limited shopping. It’s nice to know it’s normal to have a lull. We’re also mostly eating from the freezer. It has helped a lot not having to shop for a few weeks. I just hope everyone is okay with soups and sandwiches for a few more days!
Bethany says
I know what you mean — my kids are sick of looking at ME as we just came off holiday break now a snow day. BUT I was inspired by your Eat from the pantry initiative and did NOT order pizza just now but decided to thaw what’s in my freezer which will feed us over this weekend. I have plenty of stuff in there and it needs cleaned out anyways. Thanks for a great blog and here’s hoping for a small thaw