A well-stocked pantry does a lot of things. It can give you a few weeks worth of meals in the aftermath of a bad storm, or it can save you a trip to the grocery store for one ingredient. Whatever your situation looks like, a well-stocked pantry can be a blessing to you!
I pride myself on finding quality ingredients for my family for a fraction of the average price. It’s addicting!
And as a one-income family during a 19.6 percent rise in inflation in just for years – every dollar counts!
Let’s say we weren’t facing back-breaking inflation. What if it was a job loss? What if my husband was injured at work?
A well-stocked pantry can do everything from getting you through a personal rough patch to saving you a trip to the grocery store for one bottle of ketchup for tonight’s dinner.
So whether your need is great or small, a well-stocked pantry is certainly worth investing in.
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How Much Food Do I Put Away?
It’s worth knowing where you’re going before you invest a ton of money into food storage.
Our family relies on two things when planning how we stock our pantry.
First, what is the weather like in our area? We are prone to storms. And we have seen resources and food redirected in the past to help out with other area storms. So when we prepare our pantry, we aim for at least two weeks’ worth of food.
Two weeks of recovery and cleanup is the average time it takes for severe weather in our area.
Second, we consider my husband’s job. You can learn more about what he does on my About Me page.
Because my husband is in a dangerous line of work, we have a higher likelihood he could be injured on the job. So we aim to have more than two weeks’ worth of meals and snacks on hand so I can focus on the needs of my family in a crisis and not running to the grocery store.
Do You Have a “Food Insurance” Plan?
Planning a well-stocked pantry can be difficult. Luckily, I’ve broken it down for you.
Get a FREE 6-page guide emailed to you NOW and get to planning! I’ll help you narrow down meals, create shopping lists, and review frugal grocery shopping tips.
Do you want to go deeper? I have an expanded version!
We answer questions like “How do I decide how much food to store?” and “Does food go on sale around the holidays?”
I have also created pantry, fridge, and freezer inventory sheets. As a bonus, I give you common substitutions for cooking and baking!
Check out “How to Stock a Pantry on a Budget! Plan, Compare, Prepare” in the Homemaker and Happy Shop.
Snag the free, 6-page version by providing your email below!
My Tips for How To Stock a Pantry for a Lower Price
Take advantage of seasonal sales and bulk buying to save money on stocking your pantry.
The tips that are listed in this blog post may not work for your area. However, I have found that they are tips that work for the majority of people, no matter where you live.
Buy in Bulk
I feed my family using my bulk store membership because bulk buying where I live is cheaper.
This takes diligence, though. I am dutifully remembering grocery store prices on things we consume regularly and researching prices across competitors.
Our bulk store is just 30 minutes away from us and we go once a month. For my family, coffee, block cheese, yogurt, toilet paper, and diapers are all cheaper to buy from my bulk store than they are from a grocery store.
Those products and prices may look different for your family based on where you live.
I also work with a local farmer to buy meat in bulk (I have tips for that on my homesteading blog! Check out this blog post for everything you need to know about this.)
Over on Instagram, I have compared prices for buying a pig and a cow in bulk. And it’s crazy how much money you can save!
I also have experience with bulk product companies like Azure Standard. Click on my Azure Standard affiliate link to check them out!
Buy Seasonally
Berry season is usually from late April to June. Winter is citrus season. Summer is a great time to find condiments and canned goods on sale.
Knowing these key things may influence how you stock your pantry.
During strawberry season where we live, I buy my strawberries by the flat from local farmers. The strawberries are huge, juicy, sweet, and such a welcome slice of summer!
May is when I know I need to set aside extra money in my budget to buy what I need to preserve strawberries. Just remember – working directly with a farmer may be more expensive, but the quality is going to be better.
But the principle is the same – buy your berries during the summer months to get a better deal on fresh produce!
When you pay attention to the seasons around you, you will start to understand what goes on sale and when.
Stock Up When It’s On Sale
Stocking up on items when they’re on sale is a great way to work with a tight budget.
After Thanksgiving 2023, a local grocery store was selling cans of pumpkin puree for 25 cents per can! I was able to get a whole case of pumpkin for just $3! Normally a case would cost me $12!
Buying items when they’re on sale may mean you pay attention to the seasons like we just talked about.
However, some grocery stores may discount products when they’re nearing their expiration dates.
Stocking up on almost expired or expired food is something you should conduct your research on.
Buy Store Brands
It’s widely understood that different companies package their products at the same facilities.
What does that mean? That means the crushed tomatoes you see at your grocery store may be the same crushed tomatoes. The only thing different about them is the label wrapped around the container.
That means for a lesser-known brand (let’s just assume it’s cheaper), you’re paying for the product itself, the cost to transport, and the cost to shelve that item.
For a well-known brand (let’s just assume it’s more expensive), you’re also paying for marketing and brand recognition.
If they’re all the same tomatoes (literally) why are you paying more for one over the other?
I’ll take the cheaper tomatoes.
Don’t get me wrong – some things aren’t the same. Cookies and snacks, for example, may be the same thing inherently but the recipe may be different. In that case, they may taste completely different!
However, for canned goods, you can usually expect that the goods themselves are the same, and different brands all label those products.
Pay Attention to Unit Prices
A unit price is the total cost of the product divided by the weight or volume of the product. This label will look different at each grocery store you go to. But it is a simple formula you can do yourself.
Knowing the unit price can help you determine which brand to purchase from. It can also help you determine whether or not purchasing in bulk is a good idea.
You can test out unit prices on condiments, cookies, baked goods, and bulk protein. Remember to compare prices across brands and sizes.
Pantry Items to Stock
Pantry essentials, or dry goods, are usually flour, baking supplies, dry beans, brown rice, white rice, oats, and other whole grains.
All of those goods are appealing as pantry essentials because we know they have a long shelf life.
I’m going to challenge you to expand your thinking.
What if we also looked at olive oil, maple syrup, nut butter, spices, and tomato sauce as pantry essentials? All of these ingredients are shelf-stable and can be used in easy meals!
When you’re considering what is a pantry essential for you and your family, consider what will last long term, what you can get the best deal on,
Creative Ways to Slash Your Grocery Budget
Learn to Make Pantry Staples
When you make food from scratch, you are paying yourself and saving money at the grocery store.
And that’s the truth! We pay for time and convenience in other places of our lives (have you ever noticed the additional fees in your grocery pick-up order?). You better believe you’re paying for convenience at the grocery store!
There are several things you can learn to make yourself at home to save your family money.
Chicken broth is one of my favorite things to make. I buy a whole chicken at a time, roast it in the oven, pick all the meat off, and then throw the bones straight into a crockpot.
Twenty-four hours later I have homemade chicken stock!
Granola bars and pizza sauce are also super easy to make.
Pay Attention to Sales Cycles
We have already talked a bit about this in stocking up when things are on sale.
The only thing I would add is knowing when sales are happening means you can budget for them.
Create Recipes That Use Common Ingredients
If you give me ground beef, rice, and corn, I can make you a meatloaf with sides, enchiladas with sides, or soup. Three different meals!
When you learn how to cook, you can create a bank of meals you can pull from that use similar ingredients.
Buy in Bulk and Portion and Freeze the Items Yourself
When you find a good deal on something you want to buy a lot! But knowing how to store it properly is what matters.
Meat, nuts, flour, and washed berries all freeze beautifully.
I have a vacuum sealer in my kitchen and use it to preserve everything but fresh berries (fresh berries will burst in a vacuum sealer. Freeze them on a cookie sheet first!).
Other items that will help you in your food preservation are plastic, freezer-safe, and dishwasher-safe containers. And this silicone butter mold! This mold is how I preserve my rendered animal fat and homemade butter.
I also love these plastic, food-grade 5-gallon buckets for bulk food storage. I use them for flour, wheat berries, rice, and sugar. I also purchase gamma seal lids for extra protection!
Other Benefits to a Well-Stocked Pantry
When you know what food items your family needs, you’re less likely to impulse buy. Which means you will see your grocery bill level out or even shrink.
Remember – you have a plan! You aren’t mindlessly throwing things into your cart.
Second, you’re reducing your food waste.
We are no longer going to buy food our family won’t eat. And since we’re keeping an inventory, we know nothing will go to waste!
Finally, your anxiety will go down. You won’t be relying on store shelves to feed your family.
Will a Little Planning Help Me Get a Well-Stocked Pantry?
A little planning will get you a well-stocked pantry!
This is where we can start to get technical about grocery shopping. Which seems like a nerdy thing to do.
If that’s how you feel about it, I want you to ask yourself – is it nerdy to know your family will be fed for 3 months if the grocery stores shut down?
What about a family emergency that keeps you close to home? Or a job loss? Is it nerdy to have the peace of mind, knowing you will be taken care of?
Taking care of your family isn’t nerdy. It’s necessary.
So don’t let someone convince you otherwise.
In our house, I take feeding my family quality food on a budget very seriously. And I take immense care to steward the finances we have the best I can.
You should, too.
Do You Like Frugal Shopping, Too?
I have more tips on the blog!
Everything from examining your insurance policies to tips for thrifting clothes – it’s all in Smart, Frugal Ways to Save Money as a Homemaker!
Perhaps you’re looking into frugal living because you’re trying to meet a financial goal, like getting out of debt. If you’re already shopping second-hand and not eating out, then you don’t need to hear that advice again.
That’s why you should check out 23 Tips for Living Off of One Income (Without Credit Cards). I share a few more of my grocery shopping tips, but I also give you a few ideas for making extra money and encourage you to make a budget for your current life stage.
For even more frugal living inspiration, check out my Pinterest page!
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