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Decluttering Certification

Cleaning out my Pantry – and Hopefully Saving Money

December 28, 2009 By Dana White | 13 Comments

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Most of you know that I’m a coupon freak. I’m not as obsessive or on top of it as I was when I started, but I do have quite a freezer/pantry full.

I cleaned out my pantry a few weeks ago. As I expected, I found more than a few expired items. For a cheapskate, this is ultra-frustrating.

We’re also working on building up our emergency fund, step three of Dave Ramsey’s plan. The last few months have been difficult as we’ve started the month with great plans of the amount we should be able to save, only to have emergencies happen that keep us from saving. Garage doors break, and dogs have unexpected surgeries, and kids need ear tubes, but do all these things have to happen while you’re trying to save?

My husband and I have been discussing the need to really kick into high gear our emergency fund savings. In the fall we cut our eating out budget down by more than 50%. (And this is our favorite budget item.) I’ve been hesitant to cut down our grocery budget, but I’m going to give it a go with the pantry challenge that Money Saving Mom is hosting.

My goals:

Figure out what is in the pantry/fridge/freezer and EAT IT.

Get out 50 in cash each week and only use that.

Menu plan so we have balanced meals during this challenge.

Put whatever is left over in grocery budget into our emergency fund.

I’m hoping the 50 a week is more than we need. I have to buy meat, as we’re almost out, so that will be a big chunk of at least one week.

So I’m participating in the challenge. It’s the nudge to do what I already knew I needed to do.

As I work to change my slobbish tendencies, I have to accept that food (even free-after-coupon food), unless eaten, is just clutter.

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Filed Under: decluttering, pantry challenge | 13 Comments

Comments

  1. Bonnie says

    December 29, 2009 at 2:39 am

    Wow, $50 a week where I live would get me some veggies. Can't wait to see your menu plan. I know I spend way less when I have my meals planned.

    Reply
  2. Essa says

    December 29, 2009 at 2:59 am

    Ooh! I'm doing that challenge, too! I have a feeling that you and I read a lot of the same blogs!

    Reply
  3. Coupon Teacher says

    December 29, 2009 at 12:19 pm

    I could use some organization too, sometimes things actually fall out of my pantry! Good Luck with the challenge!

    Reply
  4. The Prudent Homemaker says

    December 29, 2009 at 6:26 pm

    Most of your expired items were just fine. Check out this site for information about expiration dates:

    http://www.stilltasty.com/

    January should have some good meat sales. Another way to stretch your budget is to eat lots of potatoes. Have a baked potato bar one night a week.

    Have soup several times during the month to stretch your budget further as well.

    Reply
  5. Brooklyn says

    December 29, 2009 at 7:04 pm

    I'm doing the challenge also but I have my concerns also. But you can do anything you set your mind to! Good Luck!

    Reply
  6. 2 kids and a cat says

    December 30, 2009 at 3:41 am

    WOW! $50 a week sounds lovely, but impossible for me. Granted I usually forget my collected coupons at home, and with a toddler I don't chase the sales as much, but I wish I could get my budget that low. Please share with us your secrets and how it works for you.

    Reply
  7. mom2priceboys says

    December 31, 2009 at 5:00 am

    While reading your blog I start thinking this woman is living my life, she gets my brain. Girlie, I hear ya on the clutter thing!!!!!!! I am so disorganized and to top it off I am having to homeschool a bipolor child – more shelves, I need more shelves books are everywhere. Papers galore do you struggle with papers?? I gave up getting the newspaper because well, well, we don't want to go down that path lol Nice to find you…..Julie

    Reply
  8. Nony says

    December 31, 2009 at 5:09 am

    Yes, papers most definitely make me crazy! I'm trying the new file box, we'll see how that goes.

    And 2kids, the 50 a week is only because I have such full pantry. The budget is just to cover any extras I need to make meals out of the main things I already have.

    Reply
  9. JusFrugal says

    December 31, 2009 at 7:05 pm

    Good luck with the challenge and great goals! It drives me nuts too when I find expired items. I'll be tackling the pantry clean out this weekend. I'm ready to dive in starting tomorrow… Happy New Year!

    Reply
  10. Anonymous says

    January 2, 2010 at 9:39 am

    There is a blog called The Grocery Cart Challenge that you may be interested in looking at. She has 4 kids (I believe at least one is a teenager) and spends around $60 a week.

    Reply
  11. McLisa says

    August 30, 2012 at 6:00 am

    Fellow Dave Ramsey follower here too! We’re still on BS2, but knocking it out as fast as possible. Are you on the TMMO boards?

    Reply
  12. Cassie Lee says

    April 30, 2014 at 8:20 pm

    Super awesome that you are doing things Dave’s way!!! I’ve been reading your blog for a few weeks and, as a newly-wed, really admire what you are doing. My excuse for being a slob was always that I wasn’t married yet so it didn’t matter yet. It turns out that getting married does not make you a cleaner person. I’m thinking that my new excuse of “we don’t have children yet” needs to kick the bucket… it is truly inspiring to read about your struggles and successes as I try to get my rear in gear.
    God bless!!!

    Reply
    • Dana White says

      April 30, 2014 at 8:25 pm

      Yep! I know that “it didn’t matter yet” excuse so well!!

      Reply

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A Slob Comes Clean is the completely honest (and never-ending) story of my deslobification process. As I find ways to keep my home under control, I share the truth about cleaning and organization methods that actually work for a real-life slob. And I'm funny.

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