Pantry Month

A friend of mine used to say that if she lived near a Whole Foods it would be terrible because she would be so very poor and fat.  I have to say that is how I am feeling right now and with no help from Whole Foods at all.  The holidays have done a number on both our budget and our waistline, and there will have to be some form of intervention.  Thus my family will be experiencing Pantry Month for the next several weeks.  Having employed it before, I'm confident that Pantry Month will cut both dollars and pounds in short order.

How does it work?  Simple.  When we go to the store for groceries, the only things we will be buying are perishable items.  That means milk, eggs, bread, veggies, fruit, etc. are fine.  What is not fine is prepackaged processed "pantry" food.  If it can stay on the shelf for weeks, months, or even years, we do not want it!  Why?  Because the pantry foods are the ones that usually cost the most and are often worth the least.  Chips, cookies, and candy all live in the pantry, and look at what they will do for you!

Of course there are some good things to be found in the pantry, and you should feel free to work through your supply of those.  Dried beans, peas, pasta, rice, and other staples are almost always hidden in my pantry, but I don't often use them because I have more convenient foods to use instead.  Let's get back to cooking more from scratch and less from a can or bottle.

I know this works because last year I saved quite a bit of money.  A normal grocery shopping trip costs between $70 and $80 (plus whatever my husband spends on "luxury" items).  When we buy only perishable items, the total is more like $25-$30.  That means by the end of the month we will have saved $150-$200!  That will certainly help to offset our Christmas splurges. 

The plan: buy only fresh items for the next month, use up all the extras in your pantry, and cook healthier meals from scratch.  The benefits: save money, have a tidier pantry, and maybe even lose a holiday pound or two.  Give it a try!  You'd be surprised at how easy it can be.