How to Stock Your Pantry for Under $100

Can you use some help on how to stock your pantry for under $100? You open up your kitchen cabinets and pantry and find them bare or at minimal levels, while at the same time, your bank account seems to be on life support. To make matters worse, you have several hungry mouths to feed during these tough times!

I’m updating this post because of the shortages I am reading about. Please work to be prepared for whatever is coming our way. Having a well-stocked pantry is so satisfying and confidence-building.

Chances are, you’ve experienced this at one point or another before, and know that it’s no laughing matter. Maybe this is a reality that you’re currently dealing with and you’re wondering how you’ll be able to put food on the table and still stay anywhere near the food budget you’ve outlined. 

Fortunately, there are a number of different strategies on how to stock up your pantry when you’re on a limited budget, and it won’t require you to eat Ramen noodles every meal to do it. Whew! Some of them are also helpful tips when you’re looking to establish a pantry for emergency situations as well. Here’s how to stock your pantry for under $100. In case you missed this post, 100 Low Budget Meals Anyone Will Love Every Day

Please get a few can openers, a Regular Size Can Opener or a Large Can Opener, and for me or anyone with arthritis, an Electric Can Opener. My motto is to buy right the first time so you don’t find yourself having to replace a necessary item sooner than you ever expected.

How To Stock Your Pantry For Under $100

Clean Out Your Pantry 

This may be something that doesn’t seem to make sense with today’s topic, but there are a number of reasons why you should do this. For starters, cleaning out your pantry helps you get rid of any food that may be outdated or something that your family will never eat. Just remember that the date on the label is the sell-by date unless it’s marked another way.

Most foods are going to be good to eat beyond the sell-by date. We also see the term, “best when used by.” Again, that is the date it would still be considered well within the edible range for most families if stored properly. 

It also allows you to take inventory and see what you’re actually dealing with. You may be surprised what you’ll find that’s been sitting there all this time and available for you to create a meal. In fact, there may be several immediate meals waiting for you, which only require one item for you to pick up at the grocery store to make the meal complete. 

Once you determine what you actually have available and what needs to be added or replaced, you can put together your game plan to acquire only what is needed.  

Pay Attention to the Weekly Ads 

Stocking your pantry on a budget may require more time and planning on your part, but looking at each store’s weekly ad has a number of benefits. Yes, this may require you to make multiple grocery store stops during your shopping trip, but you’ll be satisfied to know that you found the cheapest price on what you needed, and hopefully without having to drive all over town.

Another reason for you to pay attention to ad flyers is that they often have coupons and other discounts for you to take advantage of in their stores. Also, looking at the ads before you visit can give you time to look in your pantry and see what meals you can create with the items on sale, alongside what you already have on hand.

You’ll probably find that many of the items on sale are “store brands” that they promote. These products tend to be priced below name-brand products that carry a heavy advertising budget. My experience is that in most cases the store brands do a good job at matching the quality of the name brands, with a few exceptions. If you haven’t used them before, test them out over the next few weeks and see what you think. 

Shop the Cheapest Store

You’re not doing yourself any favors by continuing to be a loyal customer of a grocery store that is known for its higher prices. When you’re not shopping off of the ad flyer, at least make sure that you’re shopping at one of the less expensive stores in town. Depending on where you live, that less expensive option could be Aldi, Piggly Wiggly, or Trader Joe’s. All of them have private labels that are comparable with the national brands and you’ll wind up paying a lot less.

I’m all for purchasing good quality products, but there isn’t any reason to pay more for similar items. You do have to consider which stores are more local and that there is an additional cost to travel a fair distance to get things for a lower price. Take some time to figure out your overall costs and then visit and support the stores that will be more cost-effective, all things considered. 

Purchase Non-Perishable Items In Bulk

Are there any foods that you find your family eating quite often? It may be time for you to consider buying them in bulk. Dried beans, lentils, rice, and oats are all items that can be stored for a longer period of time and you can find them in 20 lb and even 50 lb bags. Though you’ll be paying more money upfront, making the decision to buy your nonperishables in bulk can save you a bunch of money over time while saving on the items when you consider the cost per ounce or pound.

Another thing to consider is if you are purchasing in larger quantities you may be saving the number of trips you have to take to the store, thus saving time, gas for the vehicle, and the related maintenance expenses over time. We don’t always consider that our personal time does have value, if not only providing more quality time with family and friends.

Stick With Water

You may have a few unhappy campers under your roof for a while, but cutting out all the “special” beverages from your grocery shopping visit is another biggie. It’s not healthy for your family to be drinking pop and energy drinks all the time. Yes, that even includes no longer buying bottled water when you visit since it can prove to be more expensive than storing water in larger containers.

Some of you may find that your tap water is unfit to drink. That may prompt you to consider the option of buying a water filter for your refrigerator that will remove many impurities in your tap water. I highly recommend installing a Reverse Osmosis system. If you are handy, you can install one yourself for around $300.00 or less. Then once a year clean out the tubes and install new filters for under $100.00. You will never buy bottled water again, and that’s a good thing.

We’ve also found that things like humidifiers get less dirty and last longer with the reverse osmosis water. That saves having to buy distilled water from the store too, which can prove expensive over the long term.

Grocery Shop Alone

While we love our children to the moon and back, if you have the option to do your grocery shopping without them, don’t feel guilty in doing so. Yes, that even means leaving your spouse behind, who can be just as troublesome. That way you’re not walking out to your car with items that were placed in your cart by others based on their wants, and you’re able to focus on maximizing your value with every dollar that you spend.  

Penny-Pinching Foods:

There are several food items out there that are not only relatively cheap but still contain all the nutrition that you want your family to benefit from. Here are a few of them to consider: 

Eggs

Large eggs can usually be found for right around $2.00 a dozen, or even less. Eggs have risen in price this year, along with many other food items, so in your area, they may be slightly higher. That’s cheap for the amount of protein and the number of meals you can create with them. You’ll need them for baking purposes, for breakfast, or in your egg drop soup.  

Dried Beans

A large bag of dried beans will cost you considerably less than what you’d pay for them in canned form. There are also many different types of beans out there, allowing you to create different dishes, whether you’re in the mood for chili, soup, tortillas, or some other bean dish. 

Rice

Rice is also super cheap and can stretch several of your meals. With the right spices and seasonings, the rice shouldn’t have to taste the same for every meal. If you need a rice cooker, check this one out: Rice Cooker

I had recently heard that rice was experiencing an increase in price, and also a shortage of inventory. Mark and I visited three stores yesterday and found that some store shelves did seem to be depleted. If you love rice, you may want to stock up now before things are dicey.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal is a great breakfast item that’s not only filling, but it’s actually healthy too. That is if you avoid purchasing prepackaged sweetened varieties. If you know where to look, you can find oatmeal for under a dollar a pound. 

Peanut Butter 

There’s not a week that goes by where you won’t find a deal on peanut butter when you shop the ads. Besides, it’s a food item that you won’t be able to go without if you have children in your family. Peanut butter has plenty of protein and can be used in a number of different ways besides on a PB&J sandwich. 

Potatoes

A bag of potatoes will cost you very little and you can use them to make several different meals other than baked or mashed potatoes. They can be used to make soup, in a casserole, or a yummy diced garlic roasted potatoes entree for breakfast. Please stock some instant mashed potatoes or Potato Shreds.

Mark and I saw the Idahoan brand of instant potatoes at Wal-Mart yesterday for $1.12 per package. What a deal! We’ve grown to love their products and they come in a wide range of flavor options. I’ve been very surprised that the texture, flavor, and consistency of the finished product taste just like freshly peeled and cooked mashed potatoes.

What Should Be In A Fully Stocked Pantry?

The items Listed Below are the Ones I Recommend You Stock Up On Now:

• Flour: here’s the deal with flour, you can make so many things to fill the belly. Bread, cinnamon rolls, dinner rolls, pasta, biscuits, etc. How to Make Biscuits
• SAF Yeast: this is my favorite yeast I use it in all my bread recipes that call for yeast. Make sure you keep it stored properly so it works and tastes right. I generally keep mine in the fridge most of the time. Fresh yeast helps make for a successful day of bread baking.
• Salt: we need to cook, bake, and flavor our food. I love Redmond Salt the most.
• Vinegar: we can use this for cooking and cleaning. Don’t forget our homemade salad dressings.
• Condiments: please stock ketchup, mustard, and mayonnaise. Some people think Miracle Whip is also a necessity.
• Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, or Canola Oil:
• Garlic Powder: I prefer fresh garlic, but I still stock garlic powder and garlic salt.
• Cumin, Cayenne Pepper, Oregano, Paprika, Thyme, Basil, Nutmeg, and Chili Powder, please stock them because you can make so many recipes with these fun spices.
• Soy Sauce: what can I say, I love Chinese food, so I stock several bottles. But I make so many things with it besides Chinese food. I make marinades with it on a routine basis.
• Rice: we are in for some rice shortages, my friends. I would stock what you can now. I prefer to buy 2 and 5-pound bags and slip them into 5-gallon buckets. I only purchase Non-GMO brands.
• Almonds/Pecans/Walnuts: The best way to store any kind of nut is in the freezer. They will go rancid rather quickly in your pantry, but we still like them even if we have to store them in the freezer.
• Corn: it’s my understanding we are in for another corn shortage, so if you can, dehydrate what you can or pressure can some fresh corn. Don’t forget you can dehydrate frozen corn.
• Quinoa: you can eat cooked quinoa as a side dish, or use it in a salad with so many add-ons.
• Lentils: it’s the perfect food item to stretch your food budget. Janet taught me about using lentils in so many ways, I will forever be grateful. Lentils: Everything You Need to Know
• White Sugar: whatever sweetener you love to use, please stock it. It can be white granulated sugar, maple syrup, Stevia, or honey.
• Vanilla: I love the flavor of vanilla for cooking and baking, it adds so much to every recipe it’s called for.
• Molasses: I need a few bottles for baking, cooking, and making brown sugar. How to Make Brown Sugar
• Pasta: oh my gosh, you can make pasta dishes with cream sauces, spaghetti sauce, or macaroni salads to name a few ideas.
• Canned Tomatoes: I’m talking about diced tomatoes, tomato paste, tomato sauce, salsa, and spaghetti sauce. Just be sure to stock what your family will eat.
• Canned Vegetables: now, these can be any vegetable your family will eat. They can be a side dish, or add them to soups and stews.
• Canned Chicken: let’s just say any canned meat, shredded beef, tuna, and ham, but chicken is my favorite. You can make sandwiches, casseroles, soups, or stews with canned meats.
• Dehydrated Onions: these are perfect to add to gravy, casseroles, soups, or stews. The flavor they add is awesome!
• Dehydrated Celery: the convenience to have dehydrated celery or freeze-dried celery is a bonus for me. I use them in soups and casseroles
• Cocoa: yep, we need this for hot chocolate and chocolate cake, need I say more? Of course, storing regular chocolate is a must as well. Chocolate chips of various sizes and flavors are a must-have in my pantry.
• Cinnamon: I love cinnamon on apples, oatmeal, muffins, and more.
• Dehydrated Vegetables: it’s wonderful to have some dehydrated vegetables to add to soups or stews.
• Dehydrated Red Peppers: green and yellow peppers are good, but red ones are my favorite. You can add them to quiches, omelets, soups, and casseroles.
• Chickpeas: I love these added to quinoa for salads, to make hummus, or stir in a little oil and fry them until crispy.
• Beans: we can make soup with beans, hummus with beans, refried beans, or bean soup, the possibilities are endless.
• Spices: In case you missed this post, 33 Essential Spices I Recommend Stocking Up On. Note that herbs are also handy to have around when you’re doing your meal planning.

Other Savings Options:

Don’t Be Tempted By Impulse Purchases

I mention above that you might want to leave other family members at home when you go food shopping. Kids and spouses can often lose sight of the goal to fill the pantry with quality items needed for meal prep and healthy meals. We’d be kidding ourselves if we thought we weren’t also subject to the impulse to buy items on display, particularly close to the checkout stand.

When you go shopping it’s wise to bring your shopping list and try your best to stick to it. You’ll be glad you did.

What Are Case Lot Sales?

In our area here in Utah, we see annual case lot sales this time of year. The stores will advertise various items, particularly canned veggies, soups, sauces, and other common non-perishable canned goods at a discount if you’re willing to purchase a whole case at a time.

This is when I always stock up on my favorite soups, like Cream of Chicken, Cream of Mushroom, Chicken Noodle, and others. I feel so confident and comfortable when I look in my pantry and see shelves full of these products. It also gives me joy to know that I filled that pantry with items I bought at a discount by shopping wisely. You can do the same.

Final Word

Even if you’re not on a tight budget, these tips can still be useful in helping you save money. It also doesn’t require you to sacrifice your family’s nutrition in order for you to do it.  Stocking your pantry for less than $100 may require you to shop differently than what you did before, but it will be well worth it for your checking account. May God Bless this world, Linda

Copyright Images: Wooden Bowls with Beans and Legumes Deposit photos_230175204_s-2019