Join us as we clean out the pantry & freezer....
and save some money in the process!!
Think spring cleaning meets money-saving marathon- LOL
Today is the start of my March budget-saving challenge: Eat out of Your Pantry & Freezer Challenge. Eating out of your freezer and pantry for a month (or even a week or two) will help you reduce waste, identify meals your family enjoys, spring clean your kitchen and save money!!
This Challenge is totally customizable to your family situation and yet challenging at the same time!!
Will you join me? You get to decide if you want to commit or watch on the sidelines! If you are not already in my FB group- I highly encourage you to join b/c we will be having fun, sharing our journey and supporting each other!!
Today I am going to share with you my 5 Rules for the Eat out of Your Pantry & Freezer Challenge!!
I already shared my 5 STEPS TO PREPARE FOR THE EAT OUT OF YOUR PANTRY & FREEZER CHALLENGE feel free to go back and check them out!!
So let's get down to business!! Here are my 5 Rules:
Rule #1: Plan & eat only what you have on hand
Now this should go without saying- I mean it's in the title of the challenge, lol. But it is a rule none less, so it must be stated in the rules. BUT don't miss the first part: PLAN. (I know, I stuck it in there) But the good news is that if you completed my 5 STEPS TO PREPARE FOR THE EAT OUT OF YOUR PANTRY & FREEZER CHALLENGE you have the hardest part done!! (if not- go do it)
Rule #2: Cut your grocery budget
You must spend less than you usually do. This is a deal-breaker also because this leads back to why you are doing this challenge. What are you planning to do with the money you saved this month? Are paying off debt? Saving for vacation? Planning a special purchase?
Rule #3: Allowed purchases
So this may seem like a contradiction from Rule #1, but in our home fresh produce and milk are staples and these items can't be stocked up on as easily. Oh, and I made the rules. lol. But I am strictly limiting what I am going to purchase for at least the first two weeks.
Rule #4: Additional purchases
Okay so more exceptions to Rule #1, once you have exhausted all your meal options, you may purchase ingredients needed to COMPLETE what you need for a meal. For example, if you have all the ingredients to make lasagna except the ricotta cheese- at this stage in the game I'd allow myself to purchase it to complete that meal.
Rule #5: Have fun, save, share, money and learn!
At the end of the day, I want this to be a fun, money-saving, and educational experience!! This is not the challenge that is meant to break you- we do the best that we can. Don't skip that middle word- SHARE- I want to encourage sharing in our group your wins, questions, and progress!! Community is so important!! If you are not in my FB group, what are you waiting for?? Click HERE to join today!
Join Faithful & Financially Free Families today!
Wait! I almost forgot...
If you join my challenge and invite friends to join too- you are entered to win a grocery store gift card: one for you and one for your friend!!!
Join us as we clean out the pantry & freezer....
and save some money in the process!!
Think spring cleaning meets money-saving marathon- LOL
In the month of MARCH, I am launching a budget-saving challenge, a challenge that is totally customizable to your family situation and yet challenging at the same time!! Will you join me?
Eating out of your freezer and pantry for a month (or even a week or two) will help you reduce waste, identify meals your family enjoys, spring clean your kitchen and save money!!
Today I am going to share with you my 5 Steps to Prepare for a Eat out of Your Pantry & Freezer Challenge!
You get to decide if you want to commit or watch on the sidelines! If you are not already in my FB group- I highly encourage you to join b/c we will be having fun, sharing our journey and supporting each other!!
HERE ARE THE STEPS!!!
Step One: Set Your Goal
The goal I am setting for my family is to cut my grocery budget in half for the month. Our family spends $500-$600/ month, so my goal is to spend $250-$300 (OR LESS) in the month of March.
Step Two: Define Your Why
The secret to sticking with anything new is to know your why. We need to know why we are doing something so that when its no longer fun or easy we stick with it! So what do you plan to do with the money you save this month?
Step Three: Accountability
How better to gauge our result and get accountability than to share before and after photos to the world!! (you know what I am talking about-lol) But this is the first ACTION step- you have to get up and move to do it!! This is a great time to get your friends to join you cuz everything is better with friends AND... you could win a grocery store gift card!!! More on that later ;0)
Step Four: Master List
Now we are ready to get to work!! You need to make a list of everything you have on hand- in your freezer and in your pantry. This may sound overwhelming, but it should only take you about 15 minutes- Set your timer and GO!! I promise this list will make the challenge easier and it worth the time.
Tip: This is a good time to though out anything expired or freezer burnt.
Step Five: Brainstorm Meals
Now we are REALLY ready to get to work!! Gather that list you made in step four and a fresh piece of paper or notes on your phone. Begin to make a list of meals you can prepare with what you have on hand. This doesn't have to be a day by day plan of meals. The goal here is not to overwhelm, but take steps.
Want to know more about the challenge? Want to join me for the March Budget Saver: Eat out of Your Pantry & Freezer Challenge?
Wait! I almost forgot...
If you join my challenge and invite friends to join too- you are entered to win a grocery store gift card: one for you and one for your friend!!!
Kitchens are tough to manage. Everyone uses this room, it is used for multiple functions and it often becomes the drop-off point for all the stuff! It is definitely one of the more difficult places in the home to keep clean, organized, and uncluttered.
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