The Pantry Principle

**Jasmine** · 07-08-2005, 11:04 PM

On pgs474-476 of TWG (complete version, book II) Amy talks about "The Pantry Principle". It's where you buy loss leaders and sales to stock your pantry. Then make meals based on what's in your pantry. Does anyone else grocery shop this way?

I realized while reading that this is the way I've been shopping for the past year. My grocery buget when it was just DH and I three years ago was $250/month. Now with a 2 year old it's $100/month. I used to make my menu based on what we wanted for the next week. Now I just buy the loss leaders we use and stockpile them. I go through the pantry every weekend and make a menu based on what I've stockpiled.

**KimSecret** · 07-08-2005, 11:57 PM

I just finished reading this myself. I usually do this too. The only time we plan a meal as to what we "want" is about once a month...we will splurge for steak & shrimp to grill, and its usually enough to last for the whole weekend.

**kaykwilts** · 07-09-2005, 12:36 AM

I stockpile but I don't make a menu based on what's in the pantry. Maybe I need to start doing this and save money in the process.

**i.m.cheap** · 07-09-2005, 03:40 AM

I have been doing this for years. I do plan meals sometimes around that week's sales, not just what is in the pantry. I never just decide to make something like a pot roast, unless it is on sale that week, or there is one in the freezer that was purchased when it was on sale. Sometimes it is fun to read the weekly grocery ads to "find out" what we will be having for meals that week. If there are no good sales, we rely solely on the stockpile.

**Michelle** · 07-09-2005, 08:15 AM

I stopped buying loss leaders (unless it's a REALLY good deal and we need the item) because I was spending money I didn't really have just to save money in the short term. It wasn't saving me money in the long run because I was going over budget when buying more than I needed.

I do still try to plan my meals around my pantry and sale items though!

**cau** · 07-09-2005, 08:26 AM

Also watch dates when you stockpile.Anything thrown out is totally wasted money. cau

**QuilterMom** · 07-09-2005, 08:41 AM

This is exactly what I do.

**Amycvcc** · 07-15-2005, 04:39 AM

I think it is really great that you are able to feed your family on $100/month. How do you do it? You must havea reat stockpile!!

I need a better stockpile. My goa; right now is $200 for 2 people.
Amy

**canadian gardener** · 07-15-2005, 10:05 AM

that is how I do it too. I call it "shopping my pantry". Basically I try to look for something on a good sale when I break into the last case. I don't sweat it if I don't get the sale of the century, and if I run out of a pantry item before a good sale I will buy a small one of whatever it is, while I wait for a good sale. When I see the good sale I stock up and

I consider my freezer part of the pantry so I do the same with meat, produce etc.

Means I live at a cost of living from a few years back.

**homesteadmamma** · 07-15-2005, 10:35 AM

Originally posted by canadian gardener
that is how I do it too. I call it "shopping my pantry". Basically I try to look for something on a good sale when I break into the last case. I don't sweat it if I don't get the sale of the century, and if I run out of a pantry item before a good sale I will buy a small one of whatever it is, while I wait for a good sale. When I see the good sale I stock up and

I consider my freezer part of the pantry so I do the same with meat, produce etc.

Means I live at a cost of living from a few years back.

Me too!! I love my stockpile (although its pretty low right now). I've saved hundreds of dollars eating this way.

**annieacid** · 07-15-2005, 10:52 AM

I don't really do much stockpiling right now, because I don't have a lot of room. When we move, we will have more. The problem is that we're kind of fickle, and will not always use what we stockpile, and I hate to waste food. I have started trying to do this more, and I always buy what's on sale, and if it's something I need that isn't on sale, I buy the cheapest brand (within nutritional or useful reason). I do pretty good on my budget this way, and with eating lots of leftovers, and finding ways to stretch what I have. Not as good as $100/month, though! Wish I could get it down to that. If I could just figure out how to get my 5 year old to eat something other than chicken, cheese sandwiches, and apples, I'd be doing better. I just started being able to get him to eat pasta, and it still takes a lot of convincing!

**Emerald_Mommy** · 07-15-2005, 11:00 AM

This is an area I really need to work on. I've got tons of excuses but really, I just need to do it! We spend way more than we should on groceries, even though to most people it's not much money it's one of the areas we actually could reduce.

**Mamaw** · 07-15-2005, 12:44 PM

We normally buy a whole side of beef or pork and have a friend who does meatcutting butcher it for us so I dont shop for meat in the grocery store that often. Also buy chicken from him the same way. But I do stockpile everything else when it is on sale. So I basically shop the sales for perishables and items on sale to add to the stockpile. Also my DH is a manager at a Save A Lot store so I do alot of shopping there also. It really is cheaper than the chain stores. The downside of this is that I tend to waste too much by cooking too much at one time and having too many leftovers. My goal is to use up all the food that gets cooked, cook smaller amounts at one time and rotate the pantry!

**Kimberlina** · 07-15-2005, 01:09 PM

We definitely stockpile, mainly because I DON'T menu-plan, and I like to have enerything I might need for any meal I might want to make. (Not always possible, since produce doesn't last very long, but I can usually have most ingredients I need ready to go.)

My most recent stockpiling effort was salsa. They had 32 oz bonus-size jars for the price of 24 oz jars ($3) then they marked them down to $1 because the store will not be carrying that variety anymore. So I bought all 4 they had left, since I've yet to find a good salsa recipe. Did I need 4 large jars of sals right now? Nope. But DH loves the stuff and it is ood with chipc and as a topping, and also even as an ingredient in some soups.

I am also going to pick up some extra ice cream this week- it is on sale and I have some coupons. We still have some left, but I know DH/DD will go through it quickly and since I have an extra freezer, I am going to put it to use.

**Jerseygirl** · 07-15-2005, 06:19 PM

This is what we do too. It helps that I'm not much for planning a whole week at a time, so just buying loss leaders, stocking and using as we want keeps it rotating and I always know that there is a few weeks worth of meals in the house. I also will plan around loss leaders-case in point, eggs were 3 doz for $1 (medium) last week, expiration date is August 18, I bought 6 dozen and will be doing lots of omlettes, french toast and homemade pancakes etc to use them. At that price they will not be going bad!