2 MONTH GROCERY BUDGET CHALLENGE // My Experience with Shelf Cooking + What is Shelf Cooking?
Vložit
- čas přidán 6. 09. 2022
- I am half way through my 2 month grocery budget challenge and am sharing my experience with shelf cooking as well as explaining what exactly is shelf cooking! I challenge YOU to take on a grocery spend challenge and low buy to work through your fridge, freezer, and pantry all while saving some money!
xoxo Sophie
Looking for more of my favorites? Check my Amazon Store: www.amazon.com/shop/sophistic...
THE SOPHISTICATED SHOP
Daily and weekly planner pads, custom labels for organizing, cleaning supplies, printables and more!
www.sophisticatedorganization...
CONNECT WITH ME
Instagram: bit.ly/2zmXIql
Email (business inquiries): sophisticatedorganization@gmail.com
My Website: www.sophisticatedorganization...
P.O. Box:
Sophisticated Organization
139 S 144th St., PO Box 253
Boys Town, NE 68010
VIDEO EQUIPMENT
Camera: amzn.to/2NdncNK
Tripod: amzn.to/3cTtNaF
Microphone: amzn.to/36Xz9Op
Microphone Pop Filter: amzn.to/36WjSNJ
SD Card: amzn.to/2MO2pjF
External Harddrive: amzn.to/3tI0X2S
ABOUT ME
Hi! I'm Sophie. I live in Omaha, Nebraska and I share videos on cleaning, organizing, motivation, productivity, and more! Subscribe to my channel and click the bell so you never miss a video!
DISCLAIMER
Please note some of the links may be affiliate links. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. All opinions remain my own.
Don’t forget you can freeze things like onions. So if you don’t think you’re going to use them before they go bad, chop them up and just put them in a freezer safe bag and they’re good to go in the future when you need them. I also do it with fruits like peaches and bananas. I just look up how do I freeze …… And something will usually pop up.
Yes! I try to keep chopped onions in the freezer for when I'm in a hurry.
Yes. I heard about this on TikTok and did this. Saved a lot of money
I agree and freeze onions that I won't have time to use but you have to be so careful the container you put them in or else they will stink up your freezer and in my case...the ice. Mmmm oniony iced tea! Glass jar or double, triple plastic bag, lockdown plastic containers, vacuum seal, etc. Is better than lesser quality containers.
I sometimes forget that other people have pantry and forget what they have in it. My husband and I don't have much room in our apartment so we don't even have a pantry, let alone stock any extra food in it. 😅 Every weekend, I meal-plan, and then go to the grocery store to buy exactly what's on my list based on that meal plan. I don't buy extra of anything. My husband buys snack but all the snacks are finished within the week. So by the end of the week, our kitchen is completely bare, and we start the process over. 😅
same! never any extra crap...sunday is bare bones
Make your own cocktail sauce with lots of horseradish and just a dab of ketchup. It's sooo good and you will never want to eat shrimp differently after this!
I need to try that!
You can use horseradish and make horseradish Mayo and use it on paninis or regular Turkey, roast beef sandwiches 😋
Ooo that sounds good, great idea!
I also follow on CZcams Frugal fit mom. Lots of food recipes being frugal yet yummy. Grocery shopping on a budget and eating from your pantry and freezer. I love your channel also❤️
I'll check it out!
Perhaps viewing it as not money saved, but money not lost.
Great way to look at it@
I am totally the person with the calculator in the store...lol. I would like to see the grocery haul you do to replenish your pantry. A couple of ideas: barley is good in any kind of soup; Walnuts can be eaten plain with fruit and cheese or added to baked goods; horseradish mixed with Ketchup is basically cocktail sauce for shrimp or Breaded fish..
Where I live this is the norm. Grocery stores are always near housing estates or within 10 minute drive and open 24/7 so it’s rare people do a monthly shop. We go food shopping 2-3 times a week to buy fresh. We do have some items that last weeks and months like bags of chips (fries) or pasta but mostly we buy food, eat it then go buy more. Seems mental to do it any other way but I understand from my visits to USA your country is huge and it’s sometimes an hour road trip to the store so makes sense to stock up while you’re there.
Completely depends on where you are located within the US too! You're right that in much of the country it many not be feasible to go to the grocery store every few days, especially with gas prices now! Many of us buy pantry or freezer items in bulk as it saves money which leaves a pretty stocked collection of dried goods and freezer items.
Valuable advice, this can be a new trend for person's and also a form of control, love it. Thanks Sophie
❤️
Exactly! Thank you!
Great video Sophie!
Even though I have been doing this for years, I really enjoyed how you explained the process. If I was a newbie at this method, I would definitely understand how to do it from you.
Beef and barley soup is fantastic and there are plenty of recipes out there.
Walnuts get used up here in my house by adding them to banana breads and salads.
Looking forward to seeing your menu and progress.
Good luck.
I’m still working on my covid supplies in the pantry. Farmers market is the best place to buy your vegetables and proteins **fish, poultry and meats.
I learned to google what’s in my pantry, fridge and freezer. I’ve made some amazing dinners from all over the world. Bon appetite...
Great advice! I do many of these things already but picked up a few new tips!!! When you were talking about all your Asian spices my ears perked up! Chicken stir fry and egg rolls! If you've never tried making egg rolls you are missing out! They are SOO easy because your precook all of the ingredients (mostly) beforehand AND it makes a ton which you can freeze! You can bake them or fry -- I prefer deep frying. The egg rolls fry so quickly they do NOT absorb much of the oil. Years ago I tested the theory -- I used less than 2T of oil from the deep fryer for 2 packs of egg roll wrappers (about 40 wraps)!
I tend to "eat the pantry" about every 3 months. It does help on the grocery bill for sure! 😀
This was an awesome and interesting video with great help and tips. Thank you Sophie.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Loved this video!
Glad you liked it!!
There is, in fact, an option to "save" when you are eating meats for the month. Replace a monthly quantity when it's on a weekly sale. Every week the meat/seafood options change. Just buy 4 weeks worth.
Yes those foods you are using up and stuff in your stockpile need to be replaced! You aren't saving by not having to buy them again. You are saving by using things creatively that might not last if they keep sitting. Eating your future garbage to be precise which is really...everything in the kitchen. If you are doing that instead of eating new foods you just bought then there's the savings. And then you have money to buy in bulk, buy according to sales and stash things to plan with for later.
You can offset the pantry challenge spending a few ways. First is to set aside what you didn't spend when you aren't shopping, earmark it in your budget. So if your budget is usually 200 a month try to spend 50 during your use up, and leave the 150 in place instead of giving it back to the family budget. When you get to that first big shop, replenish with staples, versatile tried and true, mix and match elements at big sale prices only! Get mostly things that last or can be frozen or preserved if you have time. Meats, bulk cheese, and day old bread....also cases of canned tomatoes, bulk baking supplies, basic favorite only condiments, spices. Etc. Then your perishables for the week in just the right amount. The first big shop after a break can be lots of fun but need to exercise control and remember the things that were such a challenge to go through before...specialty mixes, spices, sauces. But using the 200 month budget...2 month challenge at 50 per month instead...gives you 150x2 a $300 topper for the first big shop. That's 500 (with the next full budget) to get everything filled back up again, minimally spend on perishables. If you make the rule only great sales, clearance, etc. You will fill in every hole.
Second is to use your whole budget as planned (in the illustration above 200) but keep your weeks plan to the tiny amount (which for the illustration is 50) and do all that as you go every week. Not the smartest if you aren't disciplined to stay out of it while you are in scrounge mode. Requires the strong mental game and cooperation by the whole family. But maybe keeping food in the house is better than your spouse seeing a diminishing pantry and ordering door dash because "there's nothing to eat". It dep what you call cheating. 😮
Third idea is to use your savings on a "use up month" to invest in things you want for your kitchen that make prepping easier and make future savings more likely. Things like a dehydrator, instant pot, freeze dryer, canning jars, better knives, better containers, workhorse blender, convection oven, air fryer. Practical items that allow you to, and make it easier to cook at home more.
Barley is a great regular old side just like mashed potatoes or rice...serve it seasoned for the meal. You can use it as a bed, under a stew or chili. I like to cook mine with carrot coins and chickpeas and serve it as a side, add any type of meat for a full one pot meal. Barley can also thicken any soup in place of noodles. Or add half and half with rice and or lentils. Dump and go....barley soaks up liquid, stretches meat dishes, and is filling for a good price.
For future, those asian items can be used in anything. It may not be the "ideal use" for these fine specialty ingredients from different cultures and it would probably leave more authentic cooks from those countries shaking their heads, but if you'd just throw it all away, that would be a shame too. So let's look at all food as just flavors and textures and nutrients. If you need a neutral carb, some heat, a protein, some acid, something fruity, something salty, a crunch, an oil...look at all your difficult ingredients to fill the holes. Also remember justst like every other cuisine there are basics and more specialty items in Asian products. Different price points too. Man soy sauces, olive oils, etc can be as fancy as the best wine! But for everyday cooking mostly are overkill. For future you can learn to make dressings and marinades etc without buying them premade. Ginger, limes, chiles, sesame, horseradish...all have universal appeal. When you need them for Asian food, combine them in an Asian way for that dish. Then you still have ginger for your juice shot, peppers for your taco bar, etc.
Great video!! I’ve been trying to make it a point to use up things before they expire too. I’m also trying to do this with personal care products, instead of buying new things all the time!
Me too!! Great way to feel like you are using up all the "stuff" in your house whether its food or personal care!
Beef, leek and barley soup by smitten kitchen is delicious and can use up your barley. It’s a very flexible soup, instead of leek you could use your onions. I love to add kale or spinach and carrots to the soup as well. This is a fun challenge! I’m excited to follow along.
Sounds great, thank you!
Thanks Sophie
I never deplete my pantry because you never know when an emergency is going to happen, where you cannot go to the grocery store learned that from COVID.
I rotate my older canned or boxed food in the pantry forward put the newer in the back. I also do not put too much in my freezer or refrigerator if possible so that way there would not be any spoilage if the power goes out. I have been learning how to not overbuy on produce so I buy every three or four days so there's no waste.
Horseradish-sandwiches, mash potato and meatloaf
That sounds pretty good!
My goal with shelf cooking is to use up food items that have been languishing in the fridge, freezer, and pantry, not to save money. I used up all the meat last week, so my grocery bill was much larger this week.
Love that! Great perspective, and yes, it often results in a higher bill later.
I’m headed to Europe in 5 weeks and been working on my fridge/freezer/pantry for the past month. When it’s out it’s out. I haven’t had eggs in 2 weeks but have other things to use up. It’s nice to see empty areas in my pantry and freezer.
You can do it! I'm feeling the same thing, some of my favorites are gone but I am working through stuff and finding empty areas as well!
Great video. I reallyy need to go through my freezer to use up things. I'm the worse at not doing that.
You got this!!
Barley? Yum! You don’t even need a recipe! Make a soup, use some of your onions and some pork or beef and frozen veggies. Then add your barley and cook till done. Delicious and nutritious!
This is the type of thing that I need to do. I'm really bad about buying items (having good intentions), but they end up forgotten in the freezer where they die a cold and lonely death. Obviously wasteful. This would help!
How do you calculate your household items into your budget?
Horseradish coleslaw is delicious.
Oh that sounds great!
Can I assume we are just talking food items? I purchase a lot more than food at the grocery store. Did you separate out paper products and cleaning products from that total?
Yes just food! I actually didn't purchase any paper or cleaning products last month. We have plenty of cleaning products and paper we buy in bulk so we don't need it every month.
I have tried very hard to meal plan... To no avail. I'm more of a spontaneous person sometimes I'm in the mood for something quirky or sometimes something spicy or sometimes I change my mind. I've tried to keep my meal planning kind of spontaneous by having things that I could change my mind with but it doesn't work for me.
I know there's a lot of people and moms that the meal plan and with success. I'm not one of those. LOL 😂 when I meal plan food goes to waste and never gets eaten. When I go to the store and buy two or three days worth of food at a time I'm much better less waste.
I wish you would have shown your pantry more because most of the time these CZcams videos that show what they have in their pantry are things I do not eat or buy because it would be wasted.
All these CZcamsrs that say they only spent $30 for their whole family I'm thinking yeah right. I could spend that for a whole four people and for one day. LOL 😂
Also I don't make homemade bread or cookies because I don't have the time.
Is this $25 per person per week?
Because groceries are expensive right now... I could buy that for one day or a day and a half. We have four people living here right now. 🤪
Lots of onions,make french onion soup.
Great idea!!
$25 per person a week?
Serve th horseradish with ham, steaks,any cold cuts even sandwiches. Yu m 😎
Ooo on a sandwich sounds good!
I use my grocery store's scan/checkout app when I shop. It allows me to use my phone to scan and bag items as I go through the store. (Handheld devices are also provided for people who don't want to use their phone.) I see all of the prices as I go, and it automatically applies coupons that I have "clipped" from the app or the store's website. I take 10 minutes every Thursday (when the new weekly ad is available) and look for specials and clip my digital coupons. The best part is that it only takes me about a minute to checkout. I scan the app on my phone at the checkout, my items come up on the screen and I pay with my phone.
Cranberry Horseradish Sauce!
Yum!!
Don’t laugh… but I love to dip my broccoli in horseradish. I know that sounds so weird, but sometimes I actually crave it.
That actually sounds pretty good!
@@SophisticatedOrganization if you try it, but the really good horseradish.