We are always looking for ways to save money and one of the easiest ways is to stock up on supplies. Even if you don't realise it, using coupons along with buying in bulk can actually save you money when you go grocery shopping. Below are a few tips to help you stock a pantry on a budget without overspending.
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The Best Way to Stock a Pantry on a Budget
There is nothing more pleasing than opening up your cupboard and seeing a full stock of food, but it can be difficult to get there. Being familiar with the best ways to maximize your local grocery store trips is a great way to buy pantry staples on a budget.
There is one lesson history has repeatedly demonstrated to us. That is the importance of having food on hand in the event of hardship. It is challenging for us all when panic shoppers clear out store shelves and disrupt the food supply chain when an epidemic threatens.
While having a full pantry is not a sign of being a Doomsday Prepper, it is an excellent way to ensure food security in addition to improving your financial situation. If you are able to save money in one aspect of your life, then you can use it in another, whether it is paying back debts or investing for the future.
First things first: Know your likes and dislikes
If you dislike beans, buying 20 cans of white chicken chili on sale for practically pennies each is no bargain if you found them on sale for practically pennies a can.
For your pantry to contain products that you would actually consume, you need to be brutally honest about what you like and dislike.
You may find it helpful to make a list. These are the items you should put on your shopping list. This means you have a surplus of twenty things more than before, even if it is only twenty items long.
Work your store selling cycle
There is a selling cycle for everything in your local grocery store. The result of that is an alternating high and low price over time. It is important to capture those low prices on the items you want, and if you can combine them with a coupon, all the better!
Getting the right cycle for your particular store can be challenging. However, if you save the weekly sales ads for about two months, their pattern will be obvious.
It is not unusual for staples like pasta and cereals to go on sale every six to eight weeks. By watching for the lowest price before you add anything to your list, you can take advantage of the best deals. Store a list of the lowest prices so you can stock up when the rates drop.
When you eat a pasta meal every week, and it normally costs two dollars a box, buying ten boxes of pasta for a dollar per box saves you almost ten dollars.
Now consider everything else in your pantry, from canned vegetables to macaroni and cheese. It is easy to see how simple working your store's selling cycle can pay off for your budget in a big way.
If you use this trick with pasta, grains, ready-to-eat cereal, crackers, cookies, and more, you will never run out of options.
Check the clearance aisle
Scrape 'n Dent has changed over the years. It's not unusual to find items that have been pulled off the shelves because the company changed the packaging. The item may have been discontinued during the store reset.
It is possible that sometimes things are about to expire. You should keep in mind that dried beans and rice were found in the Egyptian pyramids, which are still safe to eat today. If kept properly, the beans and rice can last longer.
Depending on how well they are stored, rice, sugar, salt, and honey are practically indestructible.
Still Tasty - www.stilltasty.com is a great website for determining whether something is safe if it is past its expiration date.
Clip Coupons
Since almost everything has gone digital, doing this is a little different from five years ago. Begin by getting a loyalty card from your favorite store. You can benefit from some advertised specials only if you have a loyalty card.
Find out if they offer digital coupons related to your store card on their website. With these additional discounts, you can save money without even getting out your scissors.
In spite of that, paper coupons are still widely available. There are some in your store's ad circular, and some are in the neighborhood papers you get for free each week.
Is it possible to stack a printed coupon with a digital coupon? What a great way to save!
Jump at National Canned Food Month
National canned food month takes place in February, and there are plenty of sales specials and coupons to take advantage of. February is the ideal time to stock up on those canned meats, beans, vegetables, vegetable juices, fruit, fruit juices, and even canned milk!
What if you missed canned food month? The store selling cycle for canned tuna and pasta meals is the normal one we discussed already.
You may want to consider buying dried beans and lentils instead of canned if February isn't here yet. Their price is much better, plus they will last longer. For longer storage, they can be frozen as soon as they're cooked.
Buy in bulk
When you calculate the cost per ounce of a product, pre-portioned convenience adds up quickly. Let's consider Doritos as an example. When you buy single serving packs, you can buy a full bag on sale for $2.50, or buy three to four bags for $0.75 each. You can easily have six to eight bags of snacks instead of just three to four if you break down that large bag into smaller ones.
There is no point in getting the jumbo cans of baked beans, but all those pudding cups, fruit cups, and cookie packs that require you to break them down really add up.
Learn to can
The process of canning your own vegetables will only take you time if you have free produce or a garden. By checking out your local thrift stores or Facebook groups, you can save money on supplies that you need when you are getting started. If you are new to the concept, don't be scared: you can learn almost anything via YouTube these days.
Once you have the tips and tricks down so you can do it, filling a pantry on a budget, and maintaining it, isn't terribly difficult.
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