Take the Pantry Challenge to Save Money

If you are like most thrifty shoppers, you have a pantry full of staples from all the shopping trips that you "stocked up" on sale items.

So, this week instead of going to the grocery store to to purchase all the items that are on sale, only purchase necessities like milk and bread. For the rest of your weekly needs, take the Pantry Challenge as described below:

  • Evaluate what items you have in your pantry, cabinets, refrigerator and freezer. Check expiration dates of perishable items to determine what needs to be used soon.
  • Based on the items you have, plan your meals for the week. Be creative with ingredients or use the internet to help search for recipes to match the ingredients you have.
  • Only visit the grocery store to buy essential perishables such as milk and bread.

If you take the Pantry Challenge once a month, you will be sure to save money by not allowing your staples to go stale and using what you already have to make meals. Not to mention, this is a great way to clean out and make some space for new groceries on your next big shopping excursion!

Check out a great recipe to make with nearly stale bread and cereal remnants at

http://www.wilmingtonparent.com/articles/cereal-encrusted-french-bread