Let's Employ the Pantry Principle!

**aylasmommy** · 02-28-2002, 01:13 AM

yayyyyyyyyyyyyyy i love this idea..i've wanted to do this for quite a while!

**justGina** · 02-28-2002, 01:18 AM

Let's see if we can live off the food supply we already have built up and reduce grocery spending drastically for one month (to begin with).

Dh loves shopping for bargains, so this will not be an easy one for me.

Starting in March, let's build up our pantries by buying as many loss leaders/good sale items and staples as possible. Then in April, we will try to live off this stock, and will have a certain dollar amount to spend for unforseen items.

Does this sound like a good idea, and if so, what should be the dollar amount?

**mustang80** · 03-01-2002, 10:53 AM

I've been stocking up already, so I think March will be pantry month for us. Except for some meat loss leaders I need and formula for the baby, I pretty much have everything. I'm up for this challenge!

**MicheleMomof3** · 03-04-2002, 09:21 AM

Gina,
Ive read of another way to do the pantry principle. A gentleman whose name escapes at this moment, came up with this idea. He also offered an "ideal" list. When I find his name & info I will post it. Each shopping trip (weekly)you set aside $10 for your pantry. Using that $10 to buy things just for your pantry. The idea is to amass what you think is a good supply of food. Some say to amass enough for 1-2 months. In these times right now Im shooting for 6 months (economay and world woes got me a bit on edge, lol). I dont know how much this varies from your challenge. Maybe we could do a "Make a pantry challenge" where ladies who dont have a well stocked pantry or ladies like myself are trying to amass a huge pantry can post. Let me know your ideas on this! Thanks!
~Michele~

**justGina** · 03-04-2002, 10:27 AM

That's a great idea, Michele. I think we can make that part of the challenge for those who want to do it.

Uh oh...I used the "c" word. I forgot it's copyrighted.

**MANDERS** · 03-06-2002, 12:28 AM

ok I love this idea,an have actually done it for the past 3 years.So actually I didn't get the pantry princible from anyone but myself.Just a way we have always done things and that my parents did.You should see all the canned veggies my mom has.And you should see mine,i got 50 cans of different veggies,fruits,beans etc for $5 at a moving sale.I need a bigger pantry.Anyways I'm up for it,there are tons of good deals this week.

**MicheleMomof3** · 03-13-2002, 12:53 AM

I have a question......how do you store your flour? I recently bought a huge 25 lb. bag of flour. I have it in the freezer for a couple days to kill any lil critters in it,lol Now I wanted to store it in a 5 gallon bucket (new never used). Do you think this will be ok? I know the critters will stay out. Im just wondering if its airtight enough. And heres a weird question.....does flour actually go bad?
~Michele~

**QuilterMom** · 03-13-2002, 09:30 AM

Michele~ I keep my flour in the freezer all the time. I have never bought a bag larger than 5lbs. though. I got a great deal on 5lb. bags and stocked up (was cheaper than buying a 25lb. bag at Sam's). I know on all the bags I have purchased that there's an expiration date listed, but you have a good question - does flour really go bad? I hope someone can give some insight on that.

**justGina** · 03-13-2002, 11:01 AM

I keep my flour in a Rubbermaid tote under the counter after freezing it for 24 hours. I've never had a problem, and it's not airtight.

I have friends that have huge pantries full of those 5 gallon buckets. They keep wheat berries, split peas, beans, etc. in them and have never had a problem, either.

**CountryMom** · 03-13-2002, 07:51 PM

I keep mine in an empty popcorn tin. You know the ones people give for Christmas and cost about $5.00. I'm not sure if the bucket would work or not. I don't see why it wouldn't.

I think living off of our pantrys is a great idea. It will help me clear out my freezer for the summer produce.

Christy

**MANDERS** · 03-14-2002, 12:03 AM

Funny thing about the popcorn tin.We use one to keep 10lbs of unpoped pop corn in.I think it will last us a few years.LOL

**Lori Biever-Launder** · 03-15-2002, 10:32 PM

Gee, I thought that my sister and two of my friends and I were the only ones who lived off our pantries any more! I always get a kick out of people who make a mad dash to the store whenever the weatherman predicts snow. I just grin and tell DH and kids, "Hey, we could be snowed in for a month and not need anything from the store." I can barely get my pantry doors shut right now. I also have cereal stored in an extra dresser we have and my laundry room! Geeze, I have a large laundry room and it's getting tight in there too. I have my pet food stored in there--dog food in a 32 gallon garbage can, cat food in a five gallon bucket. I have extra cat litter, cleaners, paper towels and my freezer in there too!

I grew up on welfare and food stamps and this is the way our mom taught us to make the $ go further. Mama always knew to send sis or me to the store with her list, NOT Papa, because he'd come back with steaks with our last $20.00 being spent on one meal! Sis and I would look at the cost per ounce and get the best price every time. We are still doing this--can you say "story problems from Hell"? LOLOL

**mom2matty** · 03-15-2002, 10:57 PM

I love the pantry idea!!! We had a closet in our hallway that was basically used to throw stuff into because everyone was to lazy to put the stuff where it actually belonged!!

I got tired of having stuff fall on me everytime I opened the doors so I cleaned it out and had dh put up shelving. I turned it into a second pantry and I am trying really hard to fill it up!!

I really like the extra $10 deal for pantry stocking that Michele posted!!