Maintaining an Efficient Working Pantry
How We Stock and Rotate to Save Money and Eat Well Without Meal Prep
When I realized I was overspending on groceries and still ending up with takeout most nights, I knew there had to be an easier way to plan meals without breaking the bank. My simple, practical strategy keeps your pantry stocked, cuts down on waste, and lets you cook what you actually crave.
Start by taking a break from grocery shopping for a week. I know it sounds drastic, but it’s a great way to reset your approach. Forget about hunting for new recipes every day or piling up a long grocery list. The more often you shop, the more you spend. If you create a well-stocked pantry and treat it like your own personal grocery store, you’ll avoid unnecessary expenses and stress.
Next, take a pantry, refirgerator, and freezer audit. For the next week (or longer) pick meals that use 90% or more of the ingredients you already have. That way, you’ll only need to pick up a few extras, keeping your shopping simple and to the point. This small change can easily cut your grocery bill in half or more, while making it easier to cook at home.
This method keeps meal planning flexible, practical, and budget-friendly. No rigid routines—just more freedom to cook what you want, when you want, without wasting time or money.
What To Shop For
Hitting the grocery store for the first time after a spending freeze as a foodie is like letting a kid in a candy store. Before stepping foot in the store, stop first to check sales, coupons, and other promotions to guide your shopping!
Remember, the majority of the ingredients bought this month (with the potential for a couple exceptions and unless perishable) will feed you next month and beyond. The beauty is that you get to decide how long you want between grocery trips. set reasonable goals. Push back shopping 1 day or 1 week at a time until you’re happy with where you’re at. We are most comfortable at around 3
Look for products that are:
Larger or in bulk - Not only are they usually a better price but they also provide options for future meals.
Have a long shelf life or one that can be extended in the freezer
Pantry
Rice
Beans
Pasta
Canned Goods (vegetables, sauces, jams, etc.)
Freezer
Proteins
Vegetables
Discount Bakery Items
On sale, include digital coupons/other promotions (BOGO, mix & match etc.)
Where to Shop
I don’t know about you but it seems like you can’t get everything you need from one store.
No matter what, I always start my shopping at my local discount grocery store. Most regions have some type of discount grocery option. In the Midwest there is Ruby’s Pantry and the Amish bent n dents. On the west coast Grocery Outlet is a great option. A quick internet search will help you find what options are near you!
In Colorado, our favorite is Esh’s. They buy pallets of overstock, out of date packaging, or soon to be expired items and sell them at a discounted rate. This is my favorite place to stock up on junk food as well as grocery favorites for low prices while also doing my part to curtail food waste!
These stores, like thrift stores, require a willingness to sift through large quantities of items but the payoff can be huge. Rather than only look at expiration date, I consider the product itself. For example, I am willing to buy, store and eat dry beans, rice, or pasta past their best by date but will be suspicious of dairy products unless using them immediately.
Each month I do one major stock up here. I allow myself around $150/month and usually walk away with all the treats we want (~30%) and some great pantry items for longer term, like pasta, spices, and jarred sauces (~70%).
My next stop is generally Costco. Here long term storage produce items like onions, potatoes, garlic and carrots, as well as proteins, nuts, flour, sugar, salt, and sundries make great additions to the pantry as well as frozen vegetables, fruits, and seafood.
Azure Standard is an online grocery provider out of Oregon. We generally order our beans and grains through here as well as other baking and pantry items. Their bulk pricing is amazing!
Now, I know you’re saying, Kati! Where is our local standard super market? And I’ll be honest, Its at the bottom of my list. I spend the least amount of money in box stores like this. Mostly because I can get a lot of these products for a lot cheaper at Esh’s If I keep my eyes open for our favorite things. We usually reserve King Soopers for last minute missing items or specific cravings that no amount of planning would have helped with!
When I do shop the standard super market, I always shop the discount sections first. Most stores will have a section for produce, meat, dairy and bakery items respectively with discounted items. Some things like meat and dairy should be used immediately or frozen, but the produce and bakery can be assessed on a case by case basis!
I also regularly scan the weekly ad for exceptional deals on ingredients. Kroger brands have generous digital coupons, mix & match deals as well as BOGO deals on items like sauces, grains, and bottled water.
Facebook Marketplace is hit or miss but is one of my favorite places to connect with local farmers and home growers. I frequently find free fruit from inherited backyard orchards and bulk produce for discounted rates. Obviously, use your judgement when you’re picking up, if you’re uncomfortable, this may not be the option for you and that’s okay! Its also a great place to source bulk, locally raised meats.
A Note: Trendy stores like Trader Joe’s are so fun and a great way to include treats into your groceries but are hard to really stock a home on. Their focus is to fit the smallest item for the highest dollar ratio into their store which is the complete opposite of what I want. We love to use these stores as special treats or a make your own take out night when we both can’t agree on dinner.
Keep it Organized!
The easiest way to overwhelm yourself is to buy a ton of stuff and have nowhere for it to go. Make sure to start small, develop storage systems as you go, and only buy what your family actually eats, no matter how good the deal is!
Practicing First In, First Out, will help you keep on top of expiration dates and manage the rotation of your pantry stock! You can learn more about the FIFO method in my article on substack!
Do it for the snacks!
Planning your meals from what you already have is the easiest way to save money each month on your grocery bill while still eating exactly what you want when you want it!
We love to see and hear about your adventures on your property, big or small! Please leave a comment or tag me on Instagram with @TheFryFarmette and #TheFryFarmette so we can cheer you on!