This week’s topic/question comes from 2 different people …
My
major problem with pantry building is motivation. I will be motivated for a
month then forget to do anything for a couple of months. (Like I didn't shop
for the entire month of February, so nothing got added, only subtracted. Sigh)
How do
you keep motivated to keep your pantry filled, inventoried and rotated? (I work
full time, so that is part of my problem. But I USED to do "it all"
and now find very little motivation to do ANY of it. That doesn't negate the
need to have enough food to feed those I love however.)
Sometimes we have to do things we don’t feel like doing. The
key is to set up a doable plan that is realistic for the season of life we’re
in, and that will help us tackle those things we know we should do, but don't feel like or have time to do. Two tools that I use are my $5
weekly pantry challenge and another one is my weekly goals. These are small things, but they help keep
me motivated to keep on keeping on.
After you set your goals/make your plans, find a way to be accountable to someone to if you think you might have trouble sticking with them. My accountability comes from sharing both of these goals here on my blog.
Another motivation for me is the high prices in the grocery
stores. It brings me great pleasure when
I can wait for sales instead of having to pay regular price for items we use.
Not having to worry about how we’re going to eat when we
have to use grocery money to pay unexpected expenses, is also motivation for me.
The first two are small things that are doable and don’t
have to require a lot of time.
The second
two are constant reminders that fuel my motivation.
What about you, how would you answer these questions? What motivates you to keep working at having
a well-stocked pantry and how do you do it?
Until next time,
patsi
Sharing 42 years' experience of frugal living and pantry building (if you include my frugal childhood, well that would add a few more years to my experience!)
A Working Pantry
My second blog: From This Heart of Mine
She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27
A Working Pantry is a way of life, a lifestyle if you will!
My pantry is intentional, purposeful, simple, practical, frugal and what works for my family. It’s the food items and household supplies that keep my household running smoothly ready and available when they are needed. It’s my contribution to our family’s economy and my work-from-home ‘job.'
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My motivation is the shocking prices of food at regular prices. I really don't buy much at regular price so I know that when we run out we will be out until the next good sale. The final motivator is that my grocery budget is small since it is based on sale prices so if I don't shop the sales and keepy pantry built up the money will be gone way too soon each month.
ReplyDeleteLana, oh yes, that is a motivation for me as well!!
DeleteHi Patsy and wonderful advice.
ReplyDeleteWe go shopping once a month for all of our staples but I do also pick up any specials I see advertised in between when we are in town to stock our pantry with. Sometimes I don't see any specials in a month and that is okay as we have a stockpile to last us through until the next good sale. Other times I will see good specials and stock up for a year on a particular product. Our family gets a buzz out of shopping from our food storage room.
My main motivator to build up my pantry is religiously based from teachings from our church and also I keep in mind regularly that Joseph saved his people from a seven year drought in Egypt by storing food for everyone.
Another thing that motivates me is that we are trying to pay a home mortgage off as quickly as possible and by pantry building when we find items on special saves us money and with the savings we can pay more off our home each month. Sometimes we have to use something that we want to do to motivate us.
Being able to feed our family on a budget no matter what life throws at us gives me piece of mind. If my husband's back condition is bad and it can happen often sometimes, I don't have to worry as I know there is enough food in the home to not have to shop and I can look after him.
We also are motivated by knowing we can make anything from our stockpiled foods without going to the shop. Living in the country as we do it is a 46.5 km one way to the nearest supermarket to shop. We do have a corner store but it is really expensive to buy things from.
Finally my motivation is to not only feed my family but to help others around me if the need arises.
Sewingcreations15 (Lorna).
Lorna, Yes Yes! Yes! to all of those! You said it all very well!
ReplyDeleteMy motivation is to keep my family fed in hard times. I feel they are coming and even if they don't, they can 'shop' in my pantry if they need anything in the mean time. Knowing they can come here though is a good feeling.
ReplyDeleteBarbara, I like your motivation!!!
DeleteMy motivation came when we were experiencing financial issues several years ago. I needed to buy food at the best prices to ensure I could feed my family. Stockpiling food when on sale allowed me to ensure what little money I had stretched as far as possible, as well as building in a back up plan, had our finances deteriorated any further. It was a very stressful time in our lives, worrying about our money situation.
ReplyDeleteBecause of my efforts to be diligent with spending, our finances have significantly improved. Continuing to be careful with our spending has allowed us to do thing we really want to do (like a European vacation), as well as purchase things we need, without stressing about how we will pay for everything else.
I found a quote on Pinterest that I love. It said "Become So Financially Secure, You Forget It's Payday". That is exactly where we are today, and it's all the motivation I need to continue being a good steward of our money.
Rhonda, What a wonderful testimony! I love reading how people use frugalness and stockpiling to get to a better place financially. Thank you for sharing and keep up the good work! Your post is so very inspiring!
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