Previous entries can be found HERE.
In this final entry for this series, I’m going to share miscellaneous ways I stock my pantry. These things don’t really fit into any of the other categories we’ve talked about so I just combined them all into this one.
80. I started out small. When my husband and I first got married many
years ago, I didn’t have a well-stocked pantry … I didn’t even have a pantry …
and on top of that we were poor college students with little to no money to
work with. But over time, using the
principles I saw my mama use, little by little we began to accumulate a small
amount of pantry items. We had to start
at the beginning and work our way up to a well-stocked pantry.
81. I start with
the basics … the foundation/building blocks of a pantry such as butter,
flours, milks, etc. (Everyone’s ‘basics’ will look different.) This is the foundation of my pantry and is
what I focus on stocking first.
82. I stock comfort foods. Comfort food for me begins with chocolate so
I watch the after holiday sales … Christmas, Valentine, Easter, and
Halloween. When I find chocolate candy
on sale for half price or less I stock up. Them I vacuum seal it in jars until
needed in baking or as a comfort food.
(Yes, even on a low-carb lifestyle there are times when nothing but
chocolate will do!)
83. I don’t give up.
Many times there has been a lack of money to help stock our pantry but
where there is a will there is a way and I’ve been known to get pretty creative
with what I’ve had to work with.
84. I set goals for my pantry. I take
keeping a well-stocked pantry very seriously and make it a priority.
85. I only stock what
my family will eat. While there is
nothing wrong with trying new things, make sure someone in your family will eat
it before you add it to your pantry.
Otherwise it’s just something that’s going to sit in your pantry taking
up valuable space that could be used to stock something your family will eat.
86. I stock a variety
of foods. Variety is very important when
you’re eating exclusively out of your pantry.
87. I also stock a
variety of spices. Spices can turn a
mediocre dish into a dish that everyone looks forward to.
88. I never turn down
‘free’ food. If someone offers to bless
me from their abundance, I say ‘thank you,’ and bring it home and preserve it.
89. I take advantage
of ‘free samples.’ I accept all free
samples whether we use them or not. If
we won’t use it, I find someone else to bless with it.
90. I read and
research to keep up-to-date on new ways to keep my pantry stocked.
91. I keep my pantry
rotated making sure not to let anything in it expire or ruin.
92. I write the date
purchased on store bought items and the date preserved on home-preserved items before I add them to my
pantry and use the oldest first.
93. I consider water to a part of my pantry and stock
accordingly.
94. I stock homemade convenience foods such as freezer
meals that are ready to thaw and cook.
95. I build up my
pantry by knowing what’s in it. Knowing
what’s in my pantry will keep me from adding too much of an item.
96. I build up my
pantry by not wasting what I’ve worked so hard to put in it.
97. I work on
building up my pantry all year long not just when the ‘garden’ is ready to
harvest.
98. I take care of my
pantry items by keeping storage conditions suitable to each item.
99. I use and accept
the knowledge that this is my ‘job’ and one way I can contribute economically
to our household budget.
100. Last, but
certainly not least, I use a positive can-do attitude to help me keep a
well-stocked pantry.
There you have it, 100 ways I build up and stock my pantry.
I hope this series has been helpful and shown you why
everyone should have a well-stocked pantry as well as given you information
that you can use to build your own.
Yes, you can have a well-stocked pantry!
Your comments are
what will make this series more helpful so please share your wisdom.
To see how I
incorporate all these ways in my daily life, join me at A Working Pantry.
Patsi
Sharing 42 years' experience of frugal, prudent living and pantry building
My second blog: From This Heart of Mine
She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
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Patsi I learned so much from this series.I think now a big difference for me is that my pantry is on my mind all the time so I am just watchful for every opportunity. Also I think the prayer factor ... to pray to build up your pantry and when you shop.
ReplyDeleteI am really loving seeing the pantry pictures the ladies are posting on facebook! Oh my goodness some are amazing!
I cant wait to see whats next. Thank you for all the work you put into this! xxx
Annabel, I call that having a pantry mindset! I agree, some of those pantries are amazing!
DeleteHi Patsy; I am sorry to see this series end! It is informative, creative and inspiring! I shall review often. We have some very serious and creative women in the world. Keepers of the home! Thanks for sharing this series!! Keep warm Hugs, Nana
ReplyDeleteThank you Nana! I'm working on another series which I'll be sharing more about in the next few days so stay tuned!
DeletePatsy, this was a very helpful series, and I like the idea of having a "pantry mindset". I've never heard it put that way before, but it's so true. Blessings, Marsha
ReplyDeleteYour ideas have helped think outside my box. Thanks for the inspiration!
ReplyDeleteYou gave me so many new ideas in this series! I can't wait for the next one. Thank you Patsy!
ReplyDelete