My pantry is very lean right now for baking and soup supplies. This month I want to focus on soups and stews and hearty casserole-items that I can make in batches. My plastic ware for freezing items is pretty much rubbish. I'll reuse containers as best I can, but I am going to invest in a few oblong and stackable containers this month for the hot dishes. While old cottage cheese and yogurt work well for soup as they hold two good size portions, they are space wasters in my freezer. I might buy more durable gallon size zip lock bags for soup instead, freezing flat and stacking. I'll wash out and reuse. We ate too many frozen pizzas in October. If I'm going to pull something out of the freezer, I want it to be wholesome and home made.
Can I keep the month to under $400? Can I keep our eating out to under $100-including lunches? It will be a hill to climb, but I'm going to push up my sleeves up and really try. Tactics this month include:
- Batches of low cost soup like vegetarian bean and pasta fagiole
- Stocking up on loss leaders early that we will use throughout the month
- Meal planning that intentionally uses up leftovers
- Low cost chicken for soups, stews, and hot dishes
- Portion control-intentionally setting aside portions for individual lunches
- Limit convenience foods
- Restock my baking supplies
- Buy household items in best price per ounce, item, sheet etc. We are a the end of the TP!
I'm following a similar plan. Cost is a factor, but I also really need to create some freezer space. We've done a great job of making additional freezer meals, but it's time to use some of them up, so we get the space back. It's freezer Tetris every time I need to add something, which is annoying.
ReplyDeleteOur November is going to be a financial whirlwind, so I am cutting back where I can. The freezer is stuffed to the brim and I plan on using it instead of the grocery store.
ReplyDeleteI have been using my stock pile and freezer and not buying anything but fresh and sale meats and I still have a fully stocked pantry. But I am going to buy flour and chicken stock.
ReplyDeleteI wasn't aware that we were supposed to keep the family happy too... ;) Back to the drawing board!
ReplyDeleteNo, just the opposite here- I plan on spending a lot on groceries/food the next 12 months and then I can cut down in January/February. I love the Thanksgiving/Christmas holidays and plan for them all year saving hundred dollar bills which I like to disperse LOL. I'm 71 and still work with no plans to retire unless I am physically not up to the job. I love my job. I don't like cutting out sugar coolies but that is on today's agenda- I have turkey cutters of all sizes. I'll freeze and GD can decorate.
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