Save Money - by "Going Shopping" without Leaving Home

Have you ever run out of something while fixing a meal?  

Don't hop in the car for a quick trip to the store. 

Shop your pantry storage instead!

Have you ever been in the middle of preparing a certain recipe only to discover that you've run out an item you need, and so you make a quick trip to the store to get it? Or, in the middle of the afternoon, you wonder, "What shall I fix for dinner?" You then run to the store for the ingredients.

It is those "Quick" trips to the store for an item or two that can wreck havoc with the food budget.  First, we pay more for the items we go pick up because they're usually not on sale at that time. Second, we often buy extra items while there.  Have you ever gone to the store for a bottle of milk and returned having spend $25, leaving you without enough money to get through the rest of the month? Don't feel bad. Most shoppers do it at least once a month.

Here's why: if you observe the layout of a grocery store, you'll notice you have to take the "grand tour" of the store to get to the milk.  As you tour along, you pass tempting displays that convince you that you just have to have some of this and a little of than.  before you know it you've succumbed and overspent your budget.  That's why these quick trips can really kill a food budget, to say nothing of the extra gas and car wear, and the time you have wasted.

These "quickie" trips can be done away with by planning ahead and utilizing a food storage cupboard, closet, pantry, area, or food storage room. It is simple if you can follow this plan (or your own adaptation).

First, after reading the ads and before making your shopping trip, plan the week's menus.  In planning menus, try to incorporate the store's "loss leaders" in addition to items you might have on hand in your food storage pantry. (Loss leaders are the items priced low just to get you into the store- they are usually on an end-cap)

Second, make the shopping list and include the items you will need in order to prepare the meals from the planned menu.

Third, in a food record, keep a running list of items your family uses regularly.  Make a note when you start to run low on them so you can watch for sales and replenish before running out completely.

Planning ahead this way prevents having to run to the store for a little of this and that.  Everything you need will be in your pantry or food storage room.  It's like having your own store in your home. Because of this you will be able to go to the pantry storage area and find the shelves well stocked with items you use year in and year out, and items you bought when they were on sale. If you can do it, buy enough to last six months to a year.  

This is better than having to rely on the grocery store every time you need something.  You can be independent - or self-reliant - or shelf-reliant.

Having a fully supplied food resources can also give you peace of mind knowing that you are prepared should a crisis arise.

Storage means Security and Savings

Remember these steps -

1. After checking the ads and your food storage, plan your menus in advance of shopping trips.
2. Make shopping lists including items from your planned menus.
3. Include on your shopping list items from your food record that are running low.
4. Stock your pantry storage with goods purchased in bulk or on sale.

Going Shopping Without Leaving Home is having your own store at home -- a great way to live. 


You may not want an empty pantry like this one, but it might be a good place to start.

 Context for this article

• Kirt and I owned a grocery store for eight years, so we have a pretty good idea of how stores merchandise their wares to entice shoppers to buy them.
• At another time in our lives,we had to live for eight months exclusively on our food storage, and then in the next few months we were able to add about $5 a month for some fresh produce. By having our own storage we were in a position where we didn't need to accept any church or government assistance.