Organize Your Pantry to Reduce Food Costs

One of the areas that families have a lot of control of their budget is food costs. Your mortgage is typically set in stone, the utility bills are set by the company and your personal habits (layer up and lower the thermostat), but your food bill is well under your control. Having experiencing so many years of financial insecurities, I’ve developed some great saving strategies. I have found that one of the best ways to maximize your food bill is by keeping an organized pantry. Being able to easily see what’s in your pantry and keep it well stocked makes meal prep easier and reduces or eliminates the need for spur of the moment take out.

 An organized pantry has the following components:

 Appropriate infrastructure: Your pantry should make great use of its real estate: from lighting to shelving - the more, the better. Get creative! My current kitchen is small and cupboard space is at a high premium, so I’ve had to get inventive in other areas of my house. I have a pantry cupboard in my laundry room, storage shelves in the garage, and a storage shelves in the guest room. 

 Visible, stackable containers: Your pantry will be more efficient with clear containers. Keeping things in their boxes can make it hard to see when the contents are running low. Visible containers that stack and help keep track of contents make it easy to assess what you need when you grocery shop.

 Wide variety of contents: A key to meal planning is variety. Storing up on items that are canned, dried, or have a longer shelf life make it possible to create varied meals so families don’t get bored with the same ol’ thing. From pasta to beans to canned fruits and veggies, a well stocked pantry makes making soups, stews, and casseroles simple.

 Easy access: If your kids take their lunches to school, the pantry is a home base for lunch prep. Having bins or baskets full of parent- approved lunch items makes opening that sack or box a happier time. Encourage kids to be a part of their lunch planning by making their own lunches with the variety of food in the pantry.

 Note: Depending on the size of your pantry, you can add features that enhance the functionality. A chalk board to keep a list of items as they run out. Sacks for lunches or other items kids need to make their lunches all in one spot. Your family’s specific needs can dictate what items are best stored in your pantry.

Make a plan by coming up with a list of items you use most often and if you type the list on your computer, you can make categories (dried foods, canned goods, etc.) that are easy to check off before you go to the grocery store. Another tip is to tape the list inside of your pantry door or put it on the fridge...add to it as you notice items running low.

Another strategy is to keep inventory of what you have...including what you have stored in the freezer. I vacuum-pack my freezer items and write the date on the package. As a time-management strategy, I often do meat prep before I freeze; for example, I will cook all the beef, turkey, and pork meat that I will be using for spaghetti sauces, nachos, tacos, shepherds pie, dirty rice, etc. in one major cooking session, then freeze the individual packages. When it’s time for making a meal, I can use the precooked and seasoned meat as a timesaver. I also save money by buying larger quantities on shopping day.

Make sure to rotate your canned goods by putting the older ones to the front and newer ones to the back. Another tip that has saved me money, is protecting the food I open...bags that can be rolled up and closed with a clothespin stay fresher much longer than just rolling them up, so there’s less food wasted and thrown away.

Having a pantry that is organized and well-stocked can make meal planning easier and save you money in your food budget, plus the aesthetic is a bright spot in your home. Your family can enjoy healthier meals and take out can be saved for special occasions rather than emergencies.

Until next time...

Lisa

P.S. I'm hosting a 7 Day Random Acts of Kindness CHALLENGE and it starts TOMORROW, November 11th! If you'd like to join and LET KINDNESS RIPPLE, Join the RAK CHALLENGE Here!