Thursday, January 15, 2015

Pantry Challenge

One thing I had planned to do this month is a pantry challenge. I first learned of this through THIS blog that I enjoy reading. I've done it a couple of times (not necessarily in January) and decided to do it again.

One of the upsides to being sick is that it makes this challenge REALLY easy! Esp. since DH doesn't shop.

I wanted to eat from our pantry, freezer, etc as much as possible for this month. I decided I would only buy the necessities and then anything not a "necessity" ONLY if it was a huge bargain that wouldn't make sense to pass up. So, since the first, here is what we have bought so far.

Things we were out of and needed:
gallon milk 3.89
chili pdr 1.00
salami 1.50 (minus $2.00 coupon from Dollar General...with the coupon it was a one day deal and you had to spend at least $2.01...so my salami and chili pdr only cost 50¢)
buns .88 (these were on sale)
baking soda .65
cooking spray 2.18
cocoa 2.68
parmesan 3.00 (needed for recipes for alfredo sauce)
cottage cheese 2.73 (something I could eat and not make me sick the first part of the month)
eggs 1.45
canola oil 2.50
crackers 2.50
chips .99 (didn't really need these, but DH likes them and they go easy with a sandwich and on sale)

Great Deals
case (12 pk) of REAL cranberry juice 99¢/case! We bought 4 cases 1.96

Things we've eaten that I already had on hand (these don't include breakfasts which has been mostly toast, pop tarts, and cereal. We have LOTS of cereal that I got last year with great buys with store bargains plus coupons)

fried egg sandwiches
peaches/cottage cheese
French dip sandwiches
chili & grilled cheese sandwiches
chili baked potato
beef and noodles over mashed potatoes
chicken and noodles
deer steak, mashed potatoes & gravy
hamburgers & chips
salami, crackers, and cheese
oranges
French toast
bacon, egg, & cheese "tacos"
cream cheese chicken chili (what we are having tonight with cornbread)
breakfast pizza (sausage and bacon)
pumpkin bread
pancakes

So if I figured it all up, we've spent $27.91 for 15 days. Not too bad. I'll check in at the end of the month to let you know what the total has been.

Do you do a pantry challenge? If so, what have been some of your best bargains, or deals?

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