~ from my home to yours ... ~
I love our little home, it's perfect for us! There's warmth and love within its walls and yes, mason jars, home preserved foods, herbs, books, WIP projects, lots of snuggly quilts, a swing on the front porch and a rocking chair nearby! We call it home and we call ourselves blessed. We give God the glory for He has had and continues to have His hand in it all!

Monday, July 6, 2026

2026 Summer Series: Building a Pantry with $5 a Week ... #1

      THERE SEEMS TO BE ENOUGH INTEREST SO, LET'S DO THIS ...   
It's been a while since I've done a $5 weekly pantry challenge.  The last time I did one food prices were lower than they are now.  Recently, I found myself wondering what such a challenge would look like with our current food prices.  Would $5 a week make a difference?  Could I build up my pantry and or help restock it with just $5 a week?

This summer, I'm taking up that challenge, what can I add to my pantry that we will eat and or use that will build it up and or restock it?  Here are my guidelines ...

Total must be $5 or less each week not including taxes.

Must be a separate purchase ... in other words it cannot be hand-picked items from our weekly grocery haul that totals $5 or less.

All items must come from a grocery store, farmers market, etc.  In other words they must be purchased.  No running out to the garden and putting a grocery store price on items harvested or shared with us.  This challenge is meant to stretch us in utilizing a small amount of money to help build up and or restock our pantry.

Must be items we regularly use.  This will keep us from seeing a good deal on something 'we might like' and spending our 'challenge money' only to never get around to trying it or finding out we don't like it at all.  This challenge is for our tried and true pantry building basics.  Think mid - long term pantry stocking.

This challenge includes all things in our pantry:  food, toiletries, cleaning supplies, etc.

One more guideline ... no rolling money over from week to week.  We have to spend it or lose it!

This challenge will end on September 21st, the last day of summer.  I'll try to post what I've been able to do each Monday,  I hope you'll join me in this challenge.

Meet me back here for the first $5 pantry building challenge entry next Monday!

Until the next time ...  

mrs. patsi @ A Working Pantry  

~ quietly holding the home front ~

She looketh well to the ways of her household … Proverbs 31:27 

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28 comments:

  1. I got a 12 pack of Irish Spring Soap for $2.93. They were 75% off on the clearance rack. One corner is crushed. I also grabbed 3 bottles of arm and hammer body wash for my son. It was $1.24 a bottle. They had gotten wet and the labels are messed up.

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  2. I am looking forward to trying to participate. I am recovering from a hysterectomy but I will do my best to do most weeks and share on Mondays. Thanks for the challenge. Blessings.

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    1. Chrissy, do what you can as you feel like it, but please put your recovery ahead of this challenge. Your successful recovery takes priority! Thank you for commenting!

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  3. This is going to be a real challenge!! Seems like everything we would add is over $5.

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    1. Lana, maybe after the first week, seeing what others are doing will inspire you. You are a master bargain shopper, you've got this!

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    2. Lana, I agree, the things I was looking to top back up are dairy, and they’re all over $5, butter is $7/500gm pack, cheese is $11/kg, milk powder is I think $10+ a pack which makes 7 litres but I generally use it for cooking and bulk mixes. Might have to think hard about it.

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  4. Hmmm... this might be a challenge. I'm looking forward to it!

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    1. Wendi, it will indeed be a challenge and stretching!

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  5. Looking forward to seeing if I can do this with today's prices.

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  6. I'm already thinking of what i need to add to the pantry that's $5 or under. I'm thinking about gravy mix packets and canned evaporated milk. Both of which I can source for under $1/ea. Leah G...

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    1. Leah, yes! That's the way to think! You got this!

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  7. Gardenpat in OhioJuly 7, 2026 at 4:28 PM

    Flashfood deal today- 5 packs of center cut pork chops (around 4-1/2 pounds each) for 25 cents a pound! I spent $4.88 for over 22.5 pounds - 30 chops! https://pin.it/6kjoPogmL https://pin.it/4V9gLtD7g https://pin.it/1ZJPwEsF4

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    1. That is incredible! Great deal!

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    2. Gardenpat, if anyone can do this, it will be you!

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  8. I'll join in as well. I went into the local store today, but I didn't pick up pantry (or freezer) items. I needed fresh ones. I'll check in again later and we'll see what I can find!

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    1. Terri, I can't wait to see what you hunt down!!!

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  9. Yes $5 a week would also be enough in Australia. Especially when we pick items on half price deals. Which still exist, just harder than before. But certainly possible! And of course there are many ways to get free food too. I am going to post this to the Tue club and Bluebirds. xxx

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    1. Anonymous, thank you for sharing and yes, it will be more of a challenge, but one we can do.

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  10. I m in. I purchased 2 large bags of fresh broccoli for $5.00 I am working at blanching then freezing it Excited

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    1. Anonymous, now that is the kind of thing I am talking about!!! You go!!!

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  11. I just returned from my weekly grocery shopping. It was hard to think about what would bring the most value to my pantry and is something that I will a) use and b) will keep long term. I seriously thought about a bag of gourmet dark semi-sweet chocolate chips, but in the more "gourmet" small squares. They were on clearance for $4.49/bag, down from $6.99. But, do I really need those for the kind of baking I do??? I took a pass, as much as I wanted them. I already have 3 bags of regular chocolate chips, so these would be an add-on where I really didn't see the need. Instead, I opted for 4 packages of instant mashed potatoes (3-4 servings) for $1.09 each. Ilike to have these on hand for using with dinner, especially meatloaf. They store nicely flat and are easy to make in a pinch. As a single-person household, I don't keep whole potatoes on hand -- they sprout before I get a chance to use them all, so these fit the bill. I got 2 loaded, 1 four-cheese, and 1 plain with butter. The loaded and plain have a best by date of 7/2029 and the four-cheese has a date of 11/2028, The total with state, county, and local sales tax came to $4.78.

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    1. Lori, your comment is the essence of this challenge! I love it!!! You did great!

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    2. For my $5 I purchased two one pound bags of frozen sliced carrots at $1.29 each and a pound of dried chick peas for $1.79 and. came in at $4.28oo The frozen carrots will be combined with fresh beets I have on hand and will yield enough no'mato sauce to last throughout the year in the freezer. The chickpeas will be cooked and frozen to have on hand for salads, and homemade hummus throughout the year. Cookie

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  12. I got 2 cake mixes (handy when busy) 2 for $5, 2 ,× 1.5 ltr ice cream for 5.00. Those will come in handy for birthdays later in the fall. Jean fro. MANITOBA

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  13. I'm in! I purchased 5 dozen eggs for $4.95.

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  14. Hi Patsi and ladies I’ve just found this 😊 anyway we don’t get as good markdowns here like many of you as our population is much smaller like our country is .
    I have recently put myself on a grocery budget and other spending as I have big dentist bills .
    Anyway for my $5 I got a plain pack of 100 teabags and a big bag of chicken flavour chippies which most of my grandchildren like ,
    I am using some of my prepared pantry at the moment and will restock slowly with the $5 challenge .
    Have a blessed week ladies , Maria.

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