~ prepper pantry inventory and menu planning ~

Can I stick to a $40 grocery budget for the month of January? I make a one month menu based on what I have on hand to maximize the contents of my pantry and freezer and minimize wastefulness! SCRATCH COOKING is the SECRET to stretching groceries.

"Easy Lemon", by Kevin MacLeod, and "Dog and Pony Show", by Silent Partner. Both selections from the You Tube royalty free audio library.

[mdeporres]

Hello Stef, Hope you are well on this beautiful Sunday morning. Sun is shining here in central OH and, like you, our weather has been quite mild. This week we are predicted to be in the high 40's and even low 50s. I've been taking every opportunity to walk on my lunch break. You are so right, there is beauty in nature even during Winter. I am all in with the "no waste pantry & freezer challenge". I actually began the 1st of January and I've declared 2019 a "no waste" year. I am going to also eliminate as much processed food from my diet/purchases as possible. I've also challenged myself to go beyond the pantry and freezer. I've turned down the thermostat, unplugged everything I am not using, etc. I not going to purchase anything I don't need and I am going to shop thrift shops as much as possible and, most importantly, save as much $ as possible. Thank you for sharing your monthly menu plan for January - it has given me so much inspiration/ideas. I am looking forward to your upcoming videos. Take care. ~kendra

[HumbleVoyager]

This is such a great idea. We all need to use what we have. I know I don't have to worry because God knows what I need.😀 My own challenge for January is to add food to our collection thoughtfully and avoid having too much on hand that could spoil. I would like to reduce our grocery expense in 2019 by about 20%. I shaved a bit off in 2018, but I'd like to do more this year. I feed 3 adults all meals (we eat out very rarely) at home. Convenience foods are nice, but not practical, given my budget. I hope the Lord will bless my efforts here. We'll see how it goes! By the way, you live in a lovely place. Thanks for sharing the drives. 😎

[LetsCookYall]

Oh my mercy, it's cold up there! You guys are getting a lot less snow than normal though, aren't you Stef? Oh, your African Violet is beautiful! I tried them for years and killed every single one of the poor dears :( Oh, HOORAY, I'm so happy that you are participating in our pantry challenge (and thank you for the lovely shout-out Stef, you are so sweet) :) Your pantry is so well stocked (and so well organized, mine is a bit of a mess!). You've got a lot to work with, and look at all the dried great northern beans (I just cooked some in my Instant Pot and was so happy with how they came out!). Great tip on freezing flour and those things :) I also freeze most all of my nuts too :) Aww, another great shout-out, thank you! You've got a great list of meals! I've sketched out a bunch of them too, but haven't typed them up (and need to, to share on the channel). I probably am going to continue this into February, my pantry & freezer is so well stocked, I think I'll have more meals than days in the month of January. OH wow, I wouldn't be able to do $40 for the whole month, but I'm so impressed you will be able to do that. Like you, I love LOVE LOVE to grocery shop, so this month is going to be very hard for me :) I'm so glad you are doing this with us Stef, and I absolutely cannot wait to see your videos, your meals and what all you make with your pantry and freezer. So fun! Thank you, my sweet friend, for the great video, and have a wonderful and blessed day ----Stacy 😍💚

[susiesprowl]

I’m praying for God to help me and be with me this year as I work through my goals physically, emotionally, financially and most of all spiritually. My husbands contract ran out one week before Christmas and the company he was working for decided not to renew it because they were already doing some deep financial cuts. Your idea of the cupboard and freezer challenge sounds like a great idea and a lot of fun so I’m going to do this too.

[FrugalRVGal]

Great idea! I am going to do the same thing! Working on my meal plan right now!

[ellatoler]

I love this! I love to grocery shop and it is all too easy, when living alone to over shop.

[Lidiasfamilylife]

I love these videos! So happy I found your channel!

[Juanelo]

The weather around these parts has been beautiful. I'm glad to see you taking advantage of it! I would lose the frugality challenge hands down! I need to get organized like you. Every week, I shop for my one cooking adventure, and every week I buy a duplicate of something I already have but had forgotten I had! Every week, I find myself throwing out moldy, green cheese or moldy low-carb tortillas! Your frugality is unmatched! I vote you the winner! Good show my friend! 👍👍

[donnasmith]

Enjoyed your visit! The chili looked delicious. That’s my favorite Glade air spray too! Maybe you’ll have a mild winter. Today in Northern Alabama it’s 65. We haven’t had any winter weather YET! We know it will be coming!

[stockingupspendingless]

What a nice weather! It's been warmer here, too(temps in the 40's over the weekend). You're pantry looks so nice and I just love your meal idea. What a great idea to color code in red what you need. That's a great tip. Thanks, for sharing.

[allthingshomeyt]

We are doing ours too. I wrote a meal idea too just to kind of go off of, but I don’t even know if I’ve made any of them yet or not! Pizza bagels sound so good. I need to add that to ours!!! I have some bagels in the freezer. Thank you for the ideas and good luck!

[homeschmomof]

LOVE winter and especially today...we are in the 50s here in Maryland!
What a great challenge, Stef. Thank you for your tips and tricks as you go about your meals!
Enjoy your week~ Jeanne

[emilielund]

I love driving around looking at houses and life outside 😊😊😊

[nancyosgood]

It surely looked like beautiful day! I lived in northern NY most of my life so I know how nice those warmer January days can be. Your day there is quite average here in the southern midwest where I live. Today (Monday) it is 65 degrees and sunny! I have several windows open and did a thorough house cleaning - it feels so good! Tomorrow will be back in the 40's but I will take it! I'm not doing a no spend month but, I am really trying to whittle my pantry and freezer down.

[gloriapeel]

Going to make my list tomorrow. I have lots of food that I need to use.

[oviedo]

Hi Stef! I live by myself and my freezer always seems to be full. I went through it tonight and jotted down several meals I need to make to use up what I have too. Thanks!

[carolsmith]

Super idea! I'm so looking forward to these upcoming videos.

[TheBabcocks]

I love being able to use up stuff I have and not need to buy more

[joy]

Great idea, I try this a couple times a year, I am in no way as organized as you. I meal plan only a week at at time.

[Boogerus]

You are so awesome Steff, Just got back from being at my daughter's and she was like..Mom..how do you create things out of nothing hehe...nothing goes to waste