Sorry I did not get a chance to post pictures last night! I got home from the rehearsal dinner much later than I expected…so there was no way I was turning on the computer after 10 pm. I was one tired gal! So…here you go! I know you guys may not be able to see specifics but this is my upstairs pantry. My guest suite upstairs has a closet is HUGE–so I turned it in to my overflow pantry.
My can organizer from Shelf Reliance is the best thing on earth!! I contacted my buddy Tiffany to see if she had any good sales going on and she gave me the following codes to share with you guys:
Using coupon code SAVE1you can get the cansolidator 40 can pantry for 52% off regular retail price ($44.95) for $21.49
Harvest 72″x18″ All small and medium rows, no #10’s! Regular retail price is $409.99, it is on sale on the site for $333.99 but using coupon code SAVE2 you can get it for $266.49 -This is what I bought and LOVE IT. Like I said it is not cheap…but I feel like it was a good investment for me!
I have to tell you guys, organizing everything last week was a very good thing! I thought I was pretty good about judging our consumption of various foods. Several years ago, I tracked our usage just so I would have an idea of what we use. It is funny because everyone in my family goes through spurts of likes and dislikes and it is evident in my pantry!! My husband when through a ranch dressing phase. I had to have croutons for a while there. My oldest always wanted fruit snacks… the list goes on and on! So guess what I found expired in my pantry…ranch dressing, croutons, fruit snacks and the like!!
This was an eye opening process for me! While I know there is no way to determine what we may crave, I have to be better about keeping the basics in stock!! My baking essentials are almost nonexistant!! I think I have one bag of flour, a bag of brown sugar and a box of cornstarch!! I am going to try to get back on track and try to gradually build my supply of “basics” . Usually these are the expensive items but I think I can do it and stay on budget! I have decided to add 1-2 items to my list each week to see how that works. I have been crazy busy lately and my shopping has suffered! I have found myself haphazardly putting together a shopping list late Sunday night, including the bare basics and whatever super deal I think I should not pass up! Well, it has caught up with me!
Don’t get me wrong–as you can see in the pictures in certain areas I am in good shape!! Cleaning supplies, Health & Beauty, and paper products are fairly stocked. But, I don’t have one single cake mix! If I had to take cupcakes to school on Monday, I would have to actually pay full price for a box of cake mix! Yes, I know that is not the end of the world…but with some planning and attention it would not be an issue!
I happen to think budgeting and prioritizing go hand in hand! I am a creature of habit and I have noticed that I have been doing a bit more impulse shopping lately. I have also found myself having to purchase items that were not the best price because I needed them. While this is fine to have happen occasionally…I am seeing it more often and I need to make a change! I have some pretty big financial goals set and I know I will not be able to achieve those goals if I let the little things get out of control.
In an effort to get back on track I am going to attempt to try a new feature here on the site. Each weekend, I will highlight some ideas for budgeting. Sometimes, the idea may be something I do in my life. I may find information online to share or even offer tips from you guys!! I would love some feedback and if anyone has a catchy name for this new feature let me know (you guys know I am not the most creative person in the world)
With the holidays right around the corner…being budget conscious is more important than ever!! So give me your thoughts and if you have tips you care to share send them to me!! I would love to hear them!!
Budget Buddy? Or Better Budgeting? Budget Bee Or The Budget Buzzzz?
How about ‘The BBC’–being budget concious…..
oops. hit enter too soon. or to put it with Jody’s idea;;the BBC could stand for Budget Buddy Corner or Better Budgeting Corner or Budget Buzzz Corner…..I just like the catchy BBC. Course I loved wathcing BBC when it came on reguolar TV in the early morning hours. Some really funny sitcoms there.
You could call the little posts with just a small little idea that’s helpful Budget Bites or Budget Cents and the s in cents could be a $ maybe. Budget Buzz someone else suggested sounds good, too.
The ‘not one cake mix’ caught my eye because I just returned from Food Lion where a lady was running through the store to the register with one Duncan Hines cake mix! Oops, she forget about something! I like the Budget Buzz mentioned above.
I’m loving the Budget Buzz or Budget Bites ideas above. =) I’m not creative in this area either but thought I’d at least say which ones I liked! Lol.
I like the Budget Cent$, fwiw.
I think Budget Cent$ or $en$e is catchy!! I like it!! 🙂
I like this idea If you ever want to have featured stories on it I might be able to contribute:) I consolidated my debt with a consolidation company and…gasp they didn’t rip me off and I paid all debt off I’d be willing to talk about it:) Bare my dirty dirty store credit card past deeds:)
I also did not have one single cake mix in my stockpile and 2 weeks ago my youngest had a birthday. I ended up making his cupcakes from scratch as it was faster than making a trip to the store and of course they were probably healthier and more delicious!
I love the new organizer, everything looks great! Looking forward to the budget tips, too.
Michelle — I am so jealous of your stocking pictures. I just asked my husband if I could have a “little Walmart” in my guest room too. He said, “I don’t care”, so I said, “I think you better look at the pictures first.” LOL
Shelly — I am about 1/2 way through my debt consolidation with CCCS of Atlanta. I’m so anxious to get where you are, and I will — one month at a time. Congrats on your success!
I hosted a shelf reliance party and the party prices are a lot cheaper! Just FYI!! I know a lady that sells it in Summerville, SC and if you are the host you can get some items for free depending on how much your guests buy. (you get a percentage of the amount that they buy, off of however many regular priced items or something like that, I got 2 free things of dried fruit!)
The “Budget Beat” with a little heart beating…playing with the “I heart” theme.
Look Awesome!
I have the pantry “cansolidator” from shelf reliance and just put it together last week too!! I love it and it stores so many cans and it is ORGANIZED!!! My kids love putting the cans up when we get home from shopping. Shelf Reliance has such neat things, love their website!
I have to say, I just started in the world of great couponing. I have to laugh at your pantry. I love the pictures and am grateful for them. I’m not one to have a box of cake mix in my pantry. i am big on nutrition and organic, so I would make them using my sneaky chef or deceptively delicious recipes. I love to see that you get a lot of coupons on the cleaning and health and beauty. I am learning I have to use those savings to help off set the outside sections (fruits, vegies and dairy-like eggs) all of your tips are very helpful on how to stock up on the non parishables. I also learned I could buy coupons for less on ebay like for my eggland’s best eggs. the stuff your pantry is missing, flour, sugar and such usually never gets coupons does it?? I’m going to be good and stay on top of the other so I can use my savings for the healthy stuff. please don’t use boxed cake mix. it’s easy to do it from scratch. you can do it. you don’t need boxes for pancakes either. they are easy. just google some recipes. love you guys.
Today’s paper had Domino sugar couons, or at least they did here in Central Alabama. One Q for plain sugar and one for confectioners and brown. Not much but it is a start. Plus with the holidays coming up there are usually a few stores that will run smallish sales on “Holiday Baking Supplies”.
I am incredibly jealous of how well organized your stockpile is (and that you have the space for it all. But I am a single gal so noit nearly as much of a stockpile is necessary for me.
Holiday food budgeting started in my household a few months ago. I knew we would need certain items and I started keeping an eye out for sales and great deals on items I know we will need. I’ve bought almost all our food (baking, main course and snacks) items except the meat and fresh veges. This means more money for presents 🙂 Two tips to buying items now for the holidays….check those expiration dates and freeze all you can!
How about “Budget Baby Steps” – then for those who are scared of the word budget they might read it
I like Budget Bytes.