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September 25, 2026

Read about our staffHello Friends,

Here's something I always used to do once a year in the fall. But I think with the current prices at the grocery store this may end up being something I do once a quarter. I'm talking about The Pantry and Freezer Challenge.

As fall hits I find I like to cook more (subscribe to my Daily Recipe newsletter here) and it is the perfect time to start the challenge.

I can always find in my freezer at least two mystery bags shoved in the back and a pantry shelf lined with cans that I swear I will use "eventually."

Well "eventually is now!"

The challenge is for one week, just shop only from what's already in your kitchen before allowing yourself a normal grocery trip. I knocked almost $90 off my usual grocery spending, plus I finally used up things that were headed for the trash. It's a simple reset that saves real money and clears out the clutter at the same time.

Think of it like a game and not a deprivation. Digging through the cabinets for dinner ideas is kind of fun, and I ended the week with a much clearer sense of what I actually need to restock AND a great sense of accomplishment.

Be Well,
Anisa

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Why a Pantry and Freezer Challenge Matters

Thrifty
Photo: Taking stock of what's already in your kitchen before you shop again can trim real dollars off your grocery bill and keep good food from going to waste.

It's easy to keep buying groceries out of habit without checking what's already tucked away at home. Food that gets pushed to the back of the freezer or the bottom of the pantry often gets forgotten entirely, and eventually it gets tossed. That's money straight in the trash, on top of whatever you spend at the store that same week.

A pantry and freezer challenge forces a reset. You cook from what you have, you see exactly what's been sitting there, and you walk into your next grocery trip with a much shorter, much cheaper list.

How To Do It

P 5 Dollar New Orange1. Do a quick inventory first.
Open the freezer, pantry, and fridge and jot down what you find, even the odds and ends. You can't plan meals around food you forgot you had.

2. Pick your challenge window.
A full week works well, but even three or four days will show you how much you're sitting on. Put it on the calendar so it sticks.

3. Build meals around what you already own.
Search "recipe with [ingredient]" for anything you're not sure how to use. Odd combinations often turn into new favorites.

4. Allow a small backup list.
Fresh milk, eggs, or produce are fine to pick up if you run out. The goal is using what you have, not going without basics.

5. Track what you save.
Compare your grocery spending that week to your usual amount. Seeing the number makes the challenge worth repeating.

6. Restock with a shorter list.
Once the week is up, shop again, but only for what you actually used up. You'll likely spend less out of habit going forward.

It's a Small Reset With Big Savings

Most families have somewhere between $50 and $150 worth of usable food sitting in the freezer or pantry at any given time. A single challenge week can put that money back in your pocket instead of the trash can, and it takes nothing more than a look through your own cabinets.

Got a tip of your own? Reply back to me, I love reading your tips and ideas!


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