It's Pantry Time!

 Happy Wednesday.  Today is pantry talk.  By pantry - I mean food, freezers, health and beauty, pets, cleaning - whatever you stock and use.  

I know there are challenges all over the place this month about using what you have and spending no money.  Well, I generally do that every January and other times during the year.  January is a great time to go through and straighten and "inventory" what you have.  You can figure out what you are low on and what you need to use.  I have a lot of older stuff that I am intent on using sooner than later.  I mean, why should I go out and spend money when I have so much here?  DUH!

There are many that say this is a bad idea, as prices are going up and up and you will diminish your stock that you got cheaply.  It isn't sitting there to look pretty - it is to use.  

No need to buy stock if you don't use it!!!!!!!  I will use as much older stuff as possible (sure I got it cheap) and then when I do go shopping, I will look for deals, clearance and markdowns and replace.  Sure the price may be up a little - that is called inflation.  There is no real way to avoid that.  We can be mindful of what we buy and what we spend.  Look for every deal you can find.  Shop at outlets (if you have them), salvage stores (if you have), clearance aisles, manager specials, even different type stores.  Grow a garden if possible.  USE up leftovers!!!! DO NOT waste!!!!!!!!

Part of my main daily pantry.  Looks like chaos to many - I know what is in there and where.  Organized chaos in my world!!!!!!!

Dining table while cleaning pantry.  I found a lot of mixes and such that I got for pocket change or almost free - that need to be used.  I have those altogether and organized now.  Hmmm - I see some breadsticks in the future with pizza dough mix.

I have my daily use pantry - I have an overstock area - I have a freezer - I have home canned goods.  I can go a long time with no shopping.  That doesn't even count the big tote of dried beans/peas.  Yeah, I'm good.

Remember we have options - you can change things up when necessary.  For a good week or more in December I ran out of milk in frig.  I use some every day.  No problem - I have dry, evaporated, shelf stable and frozen cubes.  Actually, the frozen cubes came in super handy for my morning drink.

Out of bread - think biscuits, cornbread, muffins, tortillas or crackers.  Need a good filler - pasta, rice, potatoes - which ever you have.

So, Monday and Tuesday I spent my days getting the pantry (all areas) cleaned and straightened.  I know what I have.  I also worked on the freezer and got that more organized.

It is amazing what you can find when you really start digging!!!!!!!

Get those stocks straightened and somewhat inventoried.  Pantry, freezer, laundry, medicine cabinet - whatever you have.  If you know what you have you can USE it and save money.  

If you need to add items - always look for the best deals you can find.

It's winter - now is the time to do these projects.  Get creative with what you have.  Use things in different ways.  A rice mix can be made into a soup.  A gravy mix or jar to thicken soup.  A steak or pork chop can be cut up and used in stew or soup or in stir fry or fajitas.  Leftovers can be turned into soup, casseroles or stir fry.  A couple straggler potatoes can be sliced and fried/roasted or added to soup.  Chili can be a potato topper or added to a hot dog.  

USE WHAT YOU HAVE and SAVE $$!!

Most of all HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!!