Pantry Challenge: One Week Down

A week ago, I explained that I am participating in an April Pantry Challenge: Buying only perishable items to give my pantry a spring cleaning and save a bit of money.


Look at my earlier post: Pantry Challenge for details of how it works.




So far, so good.


I am within budget for the first two-week segment, although I am down to a little over $12 for perishable items if I am to stay within that goal. I have stuff on hand, though, and we are away for the weekend, so I may be able to pull it off. If not, perhaps I will take a little from next segment.


I have spent less than $20 from the "Treats & Meals on the Road" budget line. I am trying to keep $75 for the trip.


I haven't bought any pantry items and have used up bits and bobs - I am down to one packet of frozen vegetables and have only a little barley left.


There is still plenty of rice (white and brown), pasta, flax seed, etc. We still have two boxes of cereal, too.

So all in all, this is working out fine.


What are you challenging yourself with right now?  How's it going?

Song for Sunday: Lullabye -Goodnight My Angel

 Today I get to go to a first birthday party for a beautiful baby boy. What a blessing!! Babies are a real gift from God -- and so are birthdays! Family of this baby and I enjoy Billy Joel, so today's Song for Sunday is Goodnight My Angel, a very sweet lullabye.


Goodnight, my angel
Time to close your eyes
And save these questions for another day
I think I know what you've been asking me
I think you know what I've been trying to say
I promised I would never leave you
And you should always know
Wherever you may go
No matter where you are
I never will be far away

Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to sleep
And still so many things I want to say
Remember all the songs you sang for me
When we went sailing on an emerald bay
And like a boat out on the ocean
I'm rocking you to sleep
The water's dark and deep
Inside this ancient heart
You'll always be a part of me

Lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu
lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu-lu

Goodnight, my angel
Now it's time to dream
And dream how wonderful your life will be
Someday your child may cry
And if you sing this lullabye
Then in your heart
There will always be a part of me

Someday we'll all be gone
But lullabyes go on and on...
They never die
That's how you
And I
Will be

What is your favorite lullabye?

Pantry Challenge

Prompted by two friends, I have decided to try an "April Pantry Challenge."


The idea is to only buy perishables and use up all the foodstuffs in your pantry and freezer.


My food budget is in two monthly installments, beginning on the 1st and 15th of each month, and I do two large shopping trips each month, occasionally picking up things in between,  I decided to set the following parameters:




$80 for each budget period for perishable items.
$100 for treats (including the chips for the chocolate chip cookies I promised a friend) and meals on the road during April vacation (we'll take snacks and sandwiches as well)
Special dispensation for Easter treats/dinner items.


Only food counts. Cleaning supplies, toiletries and similar items are in a different budget line.


I did fill in two holes in my pantry before starting: white flour (those cookies require it) and Earl Grey decaffeinated tea (the boy's request.)


Did the first shop today. So far, so good.


I will need to menu plan, I think to make this work.


For this week's dinners:


Tonight: Potatoes with homemade salsa and cheese
Tomorrow: Soup with stock from the freezer, rice and lentils from the pantry, and vegetables
Thursday: Homemade eggrolls and Jasmine rice
Friday: Pancakes, Bacon, Fruit
Saturday: Leftovers/meal at a retreat
Sunday: Pasta with sautéed veggies
Monday: Brown Rice and Lentil Casserole




We'll see how this goes. I hope my pantry gets a good spring cleaning!




Have you ever tried anything similar?