10-Weeks to a Well-Stocked Pantry

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

Stocked Pantry

A few posts back I wrote about how a well-stocked pantry can save you money and time, while adding to your homestead’s ability to weather situations that may prevent you from getting to town for supplies. You can read “Creating a Well-Stocked Homestead Pantry”, here.

It’s one thing to have a stocked pantry. It’s quite another to “start” creating and paying for a well-stocked pantry. My larger pantry happened over time, but the smaller “starter” pantry took just a few weeks. For many, building a pantry in a few weeks is thought of as an expensive proposition. But it doesn’t have to be. The tips below will help you get started on building a pantry for only a few dollars each week.

Want to build a homestead pantry on a few dollars a week? Here’s how.

Pick a day of the week to be your starter day, like Monday. Beginning on Monday, and every day after that, put away $2.00. Put it in a jar. Put it in an envelope. Put it in a drawer. Just, put it away.

At the end of seven days, take your $14.00 a go shopping for the staple items that will make up the base of your pantry. You’re only going to spend $14.00. Any change remaining after your purchases will be put back into your collection to use the following week.

Remember…these categories are based on those in “Creating a Well-Stocked Homestead Pantry”. You can reread it here to refresh your memory.

A little note:  There is no right or wrong way to supply your pantry. In my sample I tried to cover several categories of what I felt were the most important and would be used more often. You could easily concentrate on just one area until it is filled, or create your own. You know your family and what they will eat better than anyone. If you have to, make your own list.

 

WEEK 1:  Starting Amount – $14.00

  • All-purpose white flour (10 lbs.) – $5.12 – Wal-Mart
  • Sugar (10 lbs.) – $5.74 – Wal-Mart
  • Table Salt (4 lbs.) – $2.77 – Wal-Mart
  • Amount Remaining: .37

WEEK 2:  Starting Amount – $14.37

  • Old-Fashioned Oatmeal (5 lbs.) – $3.95 – Smart & Final bulk section
  • White Rice (20 lbs.) – $8.92 – Wal-Mart
  • Sea Salt (1 lb.) – $1.00 – Big Lots
  • Amount Remaining: .50

WEEK 3:  Starting Amount – $14.50

  • Pearled Barley (5 lbs.) – $3.95 – Smart & Final
  • Spaghetti Noodles (4 lbs.) – $3.59 – Smart & Final
  • Egg Noodles (2.5 lbs.) – $6.39 – Smart & Final
  • Amount Remaining:  .57

WEEK 4:  Starting Amount — $14.57

  • Dried Great Northern Beans (5 lbs.) – $7.99 – Smart & Final
  • Corn Meal (5 lbs.) – $3.99 – Smart & Final
  • Baking Powder (12 oz.) – $1.89 – Smart & Final
  • Amount Remaining:  .70

WEEK 5:  Starting Amount – $14.70

  • Split Peas (5 lbs.) – $4.29 – Smart & Final
  • Flour Whole Wheat – (5 lbs.) – $4.59 – Smart & Final
  • Yeast (2 lbs.) – $4.79 – Smart & Final
  • Baking Soda (1 lb.) – .89 – Smart & Final
  • Amount Remaining:  .14

WEEK 6:  Starting Amount – $14.14

  • Brown Rice (5 lbs.) – $4.29 – Smart & Final
  • Tube Pasta (4 lbs.) – $4.00 – Smart & Final
  • White Vinegar (1 gal.) – $2.04 – Wal-Mart
  • Cider Vinegar (1 gal.) – $3.79 – Wal-Mart
  • Amount Remaining:  .02

WEEK 7:  Starting Amount – $14.02

  • Bread Flour (10 lbs.) – $7.29 – Smart & Final
  • Dried Pinto Beans (10 lbs.) – $5.99 – Smart & Final
  • Amount Remaining:  .74

WEEK 8:  Starting Amount – $14.74

  • Olive Oil (1 qt.) – $7.99 – Smart & Final
  • Arborio Rice (2 lbs.) – $3.99 – Smart & Final
  • Fine Salt (1 lb.) – $1.00 – Big Lots
  • Coarse Salt (1 lb.) $1.00 – Big Lots
  • Amount Remaining:  .76

WEEK 9:  Starting Amount:  $14.76

  • Butter (3 lbs.) – $7.79 – Costco
  • Brown Sugar (4 lbs.) – $4.00 – Smart & Final
  • Macaroni (2 lbs.) – $1.98 – Smart & Final
  • Amount Remaining:  .99

WEEK 10:  Starting Amount: $14.99

  • Vegetable Shortening (3 lbs.) – $4.39 – Wal-Mart
  • Walnuts, halves (1/2 lb.) – $4.25 – Smart & Final
  • Almonds, slivered or sliced (1/2 lb.) – $3.29 – Smart & Final
  • Sunflower Seeds, shelled (1 lb.) – $1.50 – Big Lots
  • Cornstarch (16 oz.) – $1.49 – Wal-Mart
  • Amount Remaining:  .07

 

In just a few short weeks you’ll be well on your way to stocking a full pantry. If you don’t want to spend 10-weeks gathering up your supplies, save a bit more each week, or save for a longer period of time then go shopping all at once. Be sure to take advantage of sales and coupons to make your hard earned money go even farther.

At the end, you’ll experience the luxury of walking to the pantry and pulling out what you need to make a meal. No more last minute runs to the grocery store. No more frantic trips ahead of winter storms only to find store shelves empty. Now, you can sail right through whatever life, and Mother Nature throws your way.



3 Responses to “10-Weeks to a Well-Stocked Pantry”

  1. Kelly Jackson says:

    I just had to write and thank you for this little article. So informative and helpful! I plan on sharing with my two daughters who are beginning their own housekeeping. I truly enjoy your blog!

  2. KIMBERLYS.JUNK.STORE@gmail.com says:

    Thanks for the info what if u get mice how do u store better

  3. jenn says:

    I use several kinds of containers for long and short term storage. 1) screw top containers for items like rice, noodles, oatmeal, sugar and flour that gets used weekly; 2) Quart & 1/2-gallon Mason jars for every day type stores, as well; and 3) 2.5 gallon food grade buckets for long term storage. Long term stores are sealed in mylar bags first, then put into the buckets. Some items I vacuum seal if I’m only storing a season’s worth, like split peas for soup, I use about 5 pounds per winter.

Leave a Reply