If you read my Suggestions for Lowering Your Expenses, then you know that I want to lower my food spending. I took the advice of several friends and colleagues and did a pantry purge.
A pantry purge is where you eat the food in your pantry and freezer instead of buying new. I don’t mean that you eat that and nothing else, or that you eat it in a big binge. It simply means that you don’t buy any processed or frozen foods until your panty and freezer are empty. You will purchase only perishable fresh fruit, vegetables, or dairy products.
I wasn’t always sure what to make with the foods I had on hand. So, I went to recipe sites online and entered the ingredients to see what came up. Some were great and I will make those again… others were not so great. I made some new kinds of homemade soups (that gave me extra to take for lunches), and I combined ingredients that I probably would not have otherwise.
Bottom line, I emptied out the food pantry as well as substantially cut my food spending. I learned that a little more planning ahead for the week’s meals, and less buying, is better for my budget. Buying something just because it’s on sale is not better for my spending. And yes, sticking to my list when in the store, and not impulse buying, was the biggest saver.
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