[USER]

My husband and I just got approved for an apartment. We are starting from scratch. How would you go about building up a food supply?

We will need everything from seasonings to condiments to pantry items and money is tight.

With rising food costs and the increasing need for financial management, many of us are looking for ways to build a cost-effective food supply that is sustainable and meets daily nutritional needs.

What are some practical tips, strategies, or methods for starting from scratch when it comes to stocking a pantry or kitchen on a budget?

This includes making smart grocery choices, prioritizing certain types of food, and perhaps even cooking in bulk.

What would you recommend for someone starting out with limited resources, and how can they plan to ensure their supply lasts long while remaining affordable?

[Lyndee]

I have found that the ethnic isles in any grocery stores have cheaper spices and some things than the other places in the stores

[Melissa]

If you have an Aldi near you, that’s the best place. Seasonings can be less than a buck and they are great quality!

[ReBecca]

Start at Dollar Tree. They carry most condiments.

[Jacquie]

Look at local communities pages join. We here share everything people are so helpful from clothes, furniture, food everything

[Helen]

Local Walmart has $1 basic seasonings; buy an extra item or so each shopping trip.

Use a shopping list based on a weekly menu.

[Rachel]

Write down 7 of your go to meals. Price up ingredients for those meals.

Look at what would be overage from one week to the next and use that difference to fill in with an extra go to meal each week.

Either plan for four servings with leftovers for lunch the next day or plan another set of meals for lunches.

Figure out cheap filling breakfasts (mine is natural peanut butter and jelly sandwich with a and cup of yogurt (buy tubs not individual servings).

As far as cooking equipment, st vincents or other charity shops are great places to start.

[Lisa]

When I was in a similar situation, I got help from St. Vincent de Paul. They brought over condiments, spices, self-stable foods, and they gave a gift card for a local grocery store so that I could buy produce.

[Courtney]

Buy as you need. Don’t try to get everything at once. Start with the things you use the most and then you can slowly purchase your less used spices and condiments as you go.

[Courtney]

Dennise
Many churches have food pantries or blessings boxes. Pantries may be found by googling but most blessing boxes are too small to be found that way.

Best way to find them is to contact all of the churches and ask.

Churches also know many resources for help in your area so they can point you to local help.

Congratulations by the way!

[Amanda]

Sometimes I find the Walmart brand to be cheaper than dollar stores or Aldi. Best of luck to you and your husband!!

Also download Family Dollar and Dollar General apps for coupons and more savings on Saturdays!

[Swantje]

Is there a foodbank you could use for some initial basics?
Buy only the basic seasonings and condiments you use all the time.

What grocery stores are in you new area? ALDI, for example, has good prices on basics.

Wish for some of these items that you don’t need right away for Christmas. Or for gift cards to buy them.

[Diana]

The answer is to go slowly. Make a list, keep it in the kitchen, and before you shop or meal plan, see if one of those is NECESSARY or if it can wait for another day.

Lists are kindof wonderful – they show your progress.

[Linda]

Visit your local food bank they are kind and respectful and are built for this kind of situation… congratulations on your apt

[Kimberly]

if you have a friend or sibling nearby, borrow and swap rarely used spices. I’m not shy about asking my sister if she has something, like anise, that I do not use often.

And she will do the same.

[Beth]

Definitely hit Dollar Tree or Walmart 99cent spices for basic spices. My must haves are garlic powder, seasoning salt, cinnamon. Italian seasoning and chili powder.

Make a menu, from the menu make a grocery list for what you need that week and then focus on pantry items-1-2 staples every grocery buy.

Noodles, oil, pancake mix, Sugar, tea, coffee, etc… Before you buy a staple ask yourself “ how will I use this?” For instance, if you don’t bake, don’t buy flour or baking powder. Do buy store brand condiments.

They work just fine. I’m retired, have a 6 figure retirement income and I still shop this way- and the reason I’m set in my retirement years is because we’ve always done this.

You can do it too! And for cleaning you basically need windex , bleach water, a cjeaner like comet or bartender friend for the stove and bathroom and something like pine sol or Mr.

Clean for floors. Hit the dollar tree for those.

[Linda]

Start with the most basic seasonings (salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder) from a discount store. Then, meal plan.

Each shopping trip for your meal plans buy any condiments and seasonings based on meal plans (ketchup, mustard, Cayenne, cumin, Italian herbs, etc).

At the end of a month or two, you’ll be able to wing some dishes and figure out which are your most used spices and condiments.

Other pantry staples are flour, sugar, baking soda and baking powder.

You can make so many things with them.

[Barbara]

Get the staples: seasonings you use for everyday meals like salt, pepper, onion or garlic powder.

Then get meats for base of meals: hamburger, chicken.

Followed by canned vegetables, bag of potatoes. Eggs and milk and loaf of bread.

This will make meals for a long time.

[Virginia]

Start with a cheap meal plan. Oatmeal for breakfast, pb&j for lunch and eggs for dinner.

Next shop, stick with simple foods but pick up canned items on sale as well as clearance items you can freeze.

Dollar Tree for seasonings, crackers, beans, rice, etc.

Many people eat what they crave right after payday but then rely on cheap foods in the days before the next payday.

By eating cheap when you have some room in your grocery budget, you can build up your working pantry much more quickly.

Congrats on the apartment, best of luck!

[Monica]

Only buy staples that you would use daily or weekly. Plan simple meals, and meal plan, if possible.

Rotate simple meals weekly.

[Author]

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