The July challenge is to stock up the pantry. According to the news food prices will be going up, and if you can have a well stocked pantry you will save money. A pantry also ensures that when money is tight and you can't spend alot at the store you can still cook from what you have at home.

Tips
1. Stock up on condiments and meat the first week in July from the 4th of July sales.
2. Only buy products you will use. I only keep 1 box of rice in the house because we rarely eat it. On the other hand the girls eat alot of instant oatmeal so I keep boxes of that on hand.
3. Can those fresh fruits or vegetables that are in season now.

Who is in for the July challenge? Describe where you keep your pantry or if you don't currently have one where you are going to start it at. Anyone have anymore tips as well?

I'm all in for this one!

I stock up on everything- from shampoo to ketchup! I have 1 tall pantry that has storage and 1 cupboard that I stock up on food. Above the washer and dryer I have cabinets to store bathroom stuff. If I run out of space I have 1 under the bed box that I can store stuff in.

Tips:
1) Plan- so many subcatagories to this one! I clip coupons, spend time looking through the ads, weekly menu's (from what I have on hand and as well as what is on sale!).
2) Get creative with your menus- there are many items that can be multipurpose products (ie cream soups- not only soup but a casseroles, meat topping and etc.)
3) Only buy what your family likes
4) Don't stockpile more than what you will use in a timely manner (before expiration!)
5) Typically baking goods are on sale around Christmas time- but seriously with the price of everything skyrocketing- it may be a good idea to have that stuff on hand to make sweets for the family!
6) Don't expect to have a stockpile over night if you want to start one!
7) If money is already tight and the price increases is making you nervous- out of every pay check set aside at least $10 out of your grocery budget specifically for stockpiling. If there is no good sale on something you want to stockpile- put that money with next pay and then you will have more money to work with making a stockpile!

I'm in. I usually keep about a 2wk supply because sometimes we just can't get out due to the weather. But now with high gas prices, it's about 30mins one way to the store, and food prices becoming obscene I want a good supply on hand. Have no idea where I'll store it all though.

I'm in too. my dh got me a small chest freezer for mother's day, and i already started to stock it with some meats. i am also a little worried about all the prices going up after summer. so i will definately try to do this challenge.

I'm sure you can find a spot for your stockpile!

When I started my stockpile- it began in those cupboards you have above your fridge (small area- yet it is never filled with anything but stuff you don't need!)! I bought our tall pantry from Target for $40 (I think they are around the same price!)- and that is where a bulk of our stockpile goes. If you have ANY space under a bed (or couch!)- get one of those under the bed storage boxes- you can fit a bit in those boxes. In your closet- I am sure there can be space made for a cardboard box that you can put extra in until you have space.

I hope that helps!

If you saw my kitchen you would think I was a whiny brat! I have lots of cabinets but they are packed. We don't have an attic or basement so everything is stored in the house. I do have some cabinets under the breakfast bar that is full of junk, my goal for July will be to clear that out. Next time I'm at Target I look for that pantry, sounds perfect. Thanks!

- I hear you on that one! We also have a lot of cabinets in our kitchen and the sad thing is- half of them are used JUST for storing things (i keep asking for an addition or another shed!).

I'm in! I have a built-in pantry with 5 shelves, about 2 feet wide and 18" deep. I also have baking supplies in a cabinet, pasta/oils etc in my lazy susan cupboard, and some misc stuff in the laundry room (#9 cans of rice and sugar, and a big bag of flour).

My husband (the budgeter) assigned me an extra $25 a month this summer to spend on building up our stockpile. We are trying to get 3 months worth of everyday food built up. On weeks where I'm not spending a lot I buy 1 or 2 extra things, otherwise at the end of the month I'll spend my $25 on what we need to add, as well as any leftover from the month's budget.

I wrote down every storable item we used for 1 month and multiplied by 3 to see how much we needed to store for 3 months. Now just compare the list to my pantry to see what we're lacking. Slowly the difference is decreasing.

__________________
It's not what you make; it's what you spend.

I'm in on this challenge as well. I've not seen any decent meat sales, other than salmon being 3.99/lb. at Kroger this week, and chicken (tyson) is BOGO free as well. However, I have more than enough chicken in our freezer, and I believe I have enough salmon fillets to get us through summer. (we try to eat salmon once a week or so.) We've also got a good supply of red meat that needs to be used up...it's venison, and even though we enjoy it, I do get tired of it! lol

I am hoping I'll be canning green beans in the next few weeks. My goal is to put up at least 24-30 quarts this year. Our sweet corn is looking really good, so I'm hoping to put up about 20 quart size freezer bags full, when it's ready for picking. My other goal is to put up at least 20 quarts of tomatoes, and 8-10 quarts of tomato juice. I want to get make several batches of jams & jellies, not only for us, but to use as gifts at Christmas time, too. Need to start using up the venison though, as hunting season will be here before I know it!!

We've decided to budget an extra $100 for our monthly grocery budget, just for stockpiling purposes. I doubt that I'll use the entire $100 each month, but I know there will be months when it will come in really handy!

I have started doing this as well...especially with sugar. I think I've got enough chocolate chips to last me awhile, but I might add a few packages here and there as I see sales, etc.

__________________
~*~ Angie~*~
Wife to Brian
SAHM to Sarah & Andy 2/11/2000

I'm in on this challenge as well!!! Dh told me that we are going to really start stockpiling this month. With 5 kids, we can never have too much food!!!