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Good Cheap Eats

eat well on a budget with easy recipes from Jessica Fisher

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Pantry Challenge How To

Pantry Staples You Can Make Yourself

Jessica Fisher · March 16, 2020 · 16 Comments

A stack of pancakes on a plateA stack of pancakes on a plate

Run out of a regular ingredient? Try one of these pantry staples you can make yourself. Once in awhile you may find yourself running out of ingredients that you normally keep on hand. You could run to the store, but what if you really want to stick to your grocery budget this month or just […]

Filed Under: Frugal Pantry, Kitchen Tips, Pantry Challenge How To Tagged With: pantry

7 Easy Ways to Avoid Food Waste

Jessica Fisher · February 16, 2020 · 19 Comments

bowls filled with different types of toppings for beans and ricebowls filled with different types of toppings for beans and rice

To avoid food waste is to save money. Have you considered that? You’re throwing money away when you waste food. Good reason to stop, eh? Here’s how. It’s estimated that in the United States 30-40% of the food supply ends up as waste. Imagine if that was happening at your house. A third of what […]

Filed Under: Frugal Pantry, Kitchen Tips, Pantry Challenge How To

Can You Save Money with a Pantry Challenge?

Jessica Fisher · February 8, 2019 · 7 Comments

jar of cactus on pantry shelfjar of cactus on pantry shelf

Can you save money with a Pantry Challenge? Absolutely! And not just on your grocery savings this month. A Pantry Challenge can help you save money for months to come. If you’ve spent anytime on budget websites or scrolled through money-saving feeds on instagram, you’ve likely heard about the Pantry Challenge concept. It’s nothing too […]

Filed Under: Pantry Challenge How To

9 Easy Pantry Meals To Help You Save Money

Jessica Fisher · January 8, 2019 · 21 Comments

bean and rice bowl with chips and toppingsbean and rice bowl with chips and toppings

Having a list of pantry meals you can make in a pinch can help you save money and time. No need to run out for take-out, just cook up some pantry staples. There are lots of reasons to cook from your pantry. You can save time, money, and a whole lot of stress when you […]

Filed Under: Pantry Challenge How To Tagged With: pantry

How to Meal Plan During a Pantry Challenge

Jessica Fisher · January 3, 2016 · 76 Comments

pantry challenge calendar on tablepantry challenge calendar on table

A pantry challenge meal plan is what will get you through the month of eating down your food storage. It will organize you and help you prioritize how to spend your grocery budget. So, yesterday I finished my inventory of all our food. Wow! We have some interesting things, including the motherlode of mystery soups […]

Filed Under: Pantry Challenge How To Tagged With: pantry

Good Cheap Eats on Good Morning America

Jessica Fisher · February 9, 2015 · 22 Comments

good morning america Logogood morning america Logo

You know how much I love a good Pantry Challenge, right? Well, a few weeks ago Becky Worley, a reporter for Good Morning America, contacted me and asked me to advise her on how to have a successful pantry challenge. I flew up to her home in Oakland last week where we raided her cupboard and […]

Filed Under: Pantry Challenge How To

Tips for a Successful Pantry Challenge

Jessica Fisher · February 8, 2015 · 13 Comments

bottles on pantry shelfbottles on pantry shelf

Looking for ways to save money on groceries? The answer may lie in your pantry cupboards, fridge, and freezer. Have you overbought? Time to use it up! Last month our family did a Pantry Challenge. We focused on using up what we had first and then supplementing with fresh items like dairy, eggs, and produce. […]

Filed Under: Pantry Challenge How To

What You Can Learn from a Pantry Challenge

Jessica Fisher · February 1, 2015 · 30 Comments

Final Update for Pantry ChallengeFinal Update for Pantry Challenge

A Pantry Challenge can save you money, but did you know that it can save you money, time, and worries longterm?

Filed Under: Pantry Challenge How To

Save Money When You Shop Your Pantry

Jessica Fisher · October 20, 2014 · 11 Comments

Do you know what’s lurking in your pantry? Shop your pantry to use up what you have, get creative in the kitchen, and save money in the process. I’ve learned over time that I am more careful with my spending when there’s not a lot of money to go around. The same holds true for food. […]

Filed Under: Frugal Pantry, Pantry Challenge How To Tagged With: pantry, save money on groceries

Lessons Learned from a Pantry Challenge

Jessica Fisher · January 28, 2013 · 21 Comments

A bowl of Cannellini Pasta Salad ingredientsA bowl of Cannellini Pasta Salad ingredients

A pantry challenge is a concentrated effort to shop the kitchen before heading to the stores. I learn lessons afresh each time I do it. Cannellini Bowtie Pasta Salad Every January now for several years I give special attention to “eating down the pantry”. It’s a great way to scale back after the business and […]

Filed Under: Pantry Challenge How To

Eat Down the Freezer to Make Space and Save Money

Jessica Fisher · October 5, 2012 · 5 Comments

a deep freezer full of fooda deep freezer full of food

Spend a few days or weeks eating up what’s already in the freezer. You’ll save money for a big cooking session and make some room in the freezer. You may be really excited to start filling your freezer with all kinds of tasty, pre-made meals. I get that! Once you get the hang of freezer […]

Filed Under: Food Storage, Freezer Cooking, Pantry Challenge How To

How to Refill the Pantry after a Pantry Challenge

Jessica Fisher · December 31, 2009 · 25 Comments

Doing a Pantry Challenge is a great way to save money and prevent food waste. But, if you’re left with an empty cupboard at the end of the month? How do you refill the pantry without going over budget next month? When you do a Pantry Challenge, you’re focusing on eating down the pantry. Perhaps […]

Filed Under: Frugal Pantry, Grocery Shopping, Pantry Challenge How To

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The System I Used to Save Money on Groceries & Pay Off Debt

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How to Create Your Own Grocery Staples Checklist

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