Penny Pinching Pantry Raid
Happy 4th of July! I hope everyone has a great holiday. We are at the Dewey's for the weekend. A bbq, lounging by the pool, and fireworks are all on the agenda. Should be fun!
As most of you know, I am a bargain shopper. I LOVE a good deal, especially on food. I love looking at the ads and shopping the sales. When Susan from "She's becoming doughmesstic" announced a $100 Food Challenge on Twitter, I knew I had to join in on the fun. Check out her blog for details. The Challenge is titled: "Penny Pinching Pantry Raid."
The challenge is flexible, but the goal is to only spend $100 TOTAL on food for the month of July. That is for me AND Josh and includes going out to eat. We can use what we already have in our pantry, fridge, and freezer. The challenge started on July 1st. I am late in getting my post up, but I have been participating. Don't worry I haven't been cheating:) Here is a list of what we started with in our pantry, fridge, and freezer:
Pantry:
Baking items (the usual-flour, sugars, salt, extracts, etc.)
Spices/herbs
Canola/olive oil
Vinegars
Oats
Boxed cereals-a variety of kinds, we love cereal:)
Pretzels
Tortilla Chips
Raisins
Craisins
Homemade granola
Brown rice
Quinoa
Whole wheat pasta
Bow tie pasta
Pasta Roni and Mac and Cheese-eww! Josh likes that stuff!
Popcorn
Dr. Krackers
Wheat Thins/Triscuits
Canned Beans-a variety of kinds
Diced Tomatoes
Veggie Broth
Tomato paste
Canned beans/corn
Whole wheat cous cous
A couple cans of soup
Hot chocolate mix
Canned Tuna
Agave nectar
Almond butter
Bag of potatoes
4 Roma tomatoes
Garilc
1 onion
Almonds
Coconut
Fridge:
2 gallons skim milk
Hummus
Feta cheese
Colby cheese
String cheese
Greek yogurt
Fresh spinach
Apples
Peaches
Nectarines
1/2 watermelon
Pom Juice
Salsa
Salad dressings/condiments/jam, etc.
Smart balance
Firm tofu
1/2 green pepper
Celery
Natural PB
Bread-only a couple slices left
Ham-for Josh's sandwiches
eggs
Artichoke hearts
Limes
Cucumber
FF Cottage cheese
Freezer:
Chicken-for Josh
Gardenburgers
Whole wheat tortillas
Mozzarella cheese
Unsalted butter
Chocolate chips
Berries
Edamame
Buckwheat pancakes-leftover
Roasted peppers
Lentil soup
Tuna steaks
Frozen yogurt
M and M's
Corn
Salmon
Ok, sorry to bore you. I think that is about it. So far I have spent $8.28. I bought another gallon of milk because I had a 75 cent coupon. Josh drinks a ton of milk! I also bought 2 containers of cottage cheese because it was on sale for $1.00 and a tub of Greek yogurt, again I had a coupon:)
We are at our friends' for the weekend and most likely we won't spend any money. They are providing everything for the bbq today. I will try to do an update at least once a week. Our goal is to spend $100 on food for the month. Wish us luck!
1/2 green pepper
Celery
Natural PB
Bread-only a couple slices left
Ham-for Josh's sandwiches
eggs
Artichoke hearts
Limes
Cucumber
FF Cottage cheese
Freezer:
Chicken-for Josh
Gardenburgers
Whole wheat tortillas
Mozzarella cheese
Unsalted butter
Chocolate chips
Berries
Edamame
Buckwheat pancakes-leftover
Roasted peppers
Lentil soup
Tuna steaks
Frozen yogurt
M and M's
Corn
Salmon
Ok, sorry to bore you. I think that is about it. So far I have spent $8.28. I bought another gallon of milk because I had a 75 cent coupon. Josh drinks a ton of milk! I also bought 2 containers of cottage cheese because it was on sale for $1.00 and a tub of Greek yogurt, again I had a coupon:)
We are at our friends' for the weekend and most likely we won't spend any money. They are providing everything for the bbq today. I will try to do an update at least once a week. Our goal is to spend $100 on food for the month. Wish us luck!
Labels: Pantry Raid Challenge
posted by Maria at
1:41 PM
41 Comments:
What a great challenge!!! I wish I had known about it at the beginning of July!!! Good luck with it and can't wait to follow the posts on it!
I'm sure you'll do well with the challenge... Especially with so many healthy and tasty options in your pantry/fridge!
Looks like you keep a well stocked pantry! Good luck!
What fun! Good luck with the challenge and I'll be watching.
What a great challenge. I think I want to try doing something like that soon!!
What a fun idea! I will be watching to see how you do! I totally should do this, as my pantry is overflowing...
That's a great challenge...love that you are taking part in it! all the best Marie...& have a great 4th!!
Best of luck, dear Maria!! :-)
that sounds like a very fun challenge. have fun with it!
Good luck! Actually, going over that extensive list I think you'll be just fine :) I was a little worried that you should be eating MORE! :)
Thanks everyone! I hope we can do it!
Manggy-You sound like my dad and hubs:) They are worried this challenge will get in the way of my weight gain. I promise, if I need to buy food I will:)
Wow! I'm not sure if we could manage it being a family of 4. Possibly if we had an extra fridge/freezer in the garage permitting us to stock up on things during sales, but we just don't have that much on hand due to space. Good luck and looking forward to your reports!
Katie-The challenge is flexible, if you have more people in your family you are allowed to add money on:) It is just the two of us so we are trying for $100.
Happy 4th! Fun challenge!
Sounds like a great challenge. I just spent $179.00 on groceries yesterday. I'm going to see if I can stay away from the store for the next 3 weeks except to pick up milk or eggs. I have 4 people to feed.
Happy 4th!
Sounds like a great challenge. I just spent $179.00 on groceries yesterday. I'm going to see if I can stay away from the store for the next 3 weeks except to pick up milk or eggs. I have 4 people to feed.
Happy 4th!
Uh, you have more in stock in your house than we do AFTER a trip to the grocery store!
Good luck! I can't wait to see how it all turns out. I'm scheming something similar to use up a bunch of stuff that's been sitting in our pantry for longer than I care to remember :) Have a great holiday weekend, Maria!
good luck! that sounds like a real challenge!
HAPPY 4TH!
I did one of these a few months ago. Over 6 weeks, I saved $79! (You're right--milk KILLS you!) I was able to make some fun new recipes from all the stuff I found in my pantry. Good luck and have fun finding new recipes!
Happy Independence!
Good heavens! That is a challenge. I am happy when we spend $100 a week.
Good luck to you!
That looks like a lot of fun but tough to do if you are a larger active family.
I have a family of 5. Two of which are teenage boys adding to that their teenage friends! I probably spend $100 in Gatorade....a lot of the baseball fields will not allow you to bring in coolers and certainly not for non players which means concession food and drinks!
Can't wait to see how you do.
~ingrid
Oops, meant to wish a you a Happy 4th of July!
~ingrid
Ingrid-Happy 4th to you too! If you have a larger family or boys, you can set your own budget, the idea is to just try and save and see how it works for a month. So the challenge is a little flexible. I chose $100 and hope we can do it!
Wow cottage cheese for a buck! What a score!
Great challenge!! Good luck!
Good luck on the challenge, I'm afraid if I told my hubby and kids we were only spending 100 dollars for one month on groceries they'd think I was trying to starve them!! LOL!!!
Good luck, I think you can totally do it! I'm the same way with coupons, it keeps people our age afloat food wise I think :)
Good luck and have fun! A family of six here, Hmmm. Too lazy to play the game right now. ;)
What a great challenge. We've always stuck to a tight food budget so I'd totally be up for it if I were in the US. Here it would be unfair with the exchange rate and access since I can get about two weeks worth of fresh produce for about 15 USD. Darn lucky, I know. :) Good luck!
Only $8 so far, not bad at all! :-) Hope you had a great Fourth of July weekend!!
Good luck with the challenge! I should do the same thing since I am moving soon and need to empty the cupboards.
Have fun!
yikes!!! good luck! :D
Very interesting! I love a good bargain too - I live for triple coupon days. :)
I may have to give this a try too. Good luck to you guys!
looks like you are off to a great start.this has already been so fun to participate in!
Good luck!
Great going! Keep up the coupon clipping! (me, i am jus trying to stay away from the grocer store in general, but I'll HAVE to go get Sev some milk this week! (I'll just put on blinders & try to get in and out quick!) heehee!
Love the challenge! Coupons make it so easy to spend less, but I didn't even think of using them til two years ago. Great job!!
I heard about this challenge - and what a challenge it will be! I don't think I could do it - seeing that I just spent about $60 today at the grocery store!
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