Tips / Shopping smarter
A budget pantry, built slowly
A stocked pantry means fewer last-minute takeout nights. You don't need to buy it all at once; add a few staples each week.
What to do
- Grains
- Rice, oats, pasta and flour stretch almost any meal.
- Proteins that keep
- Dried or canned beans, lentils, peanut butter, canned tuna or chicken, and eggs.
- Flavor
- Onions, garlic, bouillon, canned tomatoes, a few spices you actually use, vinegar and oil.
- Freezer staples
- Frozen vegetables, fruit and a family pack of meat divided into portions.
- Rotate
- Put new purchases behind older ones so the oldest gets used first.
Ask yourself
- Which ten meals do we make most, and which staples do they share?
- What do we keep running out of?
Helpful resources
- USDA FoodKeeper app
- How long pantry, fridge and freezer foods keep, from the USDA.
General information for US households. For food safety, follow FoodSafety.gov and USDA guidance. The Penny Stretcher isn't paid by any store, brand or organization mentioned here.