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| Pantry Living Take 3 beginning |
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| Pantry at end of week 11 |
Unopened boxes of cereal after week 11: 4 (*note my dad gave me about 5 boxes of cereal throughout the summer. I probably wouldn't have bought any boxes myself, just forced a few other breakfast options other days.)
Items we were completely out of: fruit snacks, box drinks, gallon bags, quart bags, tin foil, minced garlic, water bottles, strawberry jam, strawberry applesauce, rice, ramen noodles, olives, raisins, frozen broccoli
Items I used my cash to buy more of since we were out: graham crackers, chocolate bars, marshmallows, brown sugar, paper plates, light bulbs, egg noodles, syrup
Items we had lots left of: mac and cheese, variety of salad dressing (except Italian), pickles, cake mixes, pudding mixes, pasta, spaghetti sauce, sauerkraut, beef broth, paper napkins, bathroom cleaner, canned pineapple, frozen spinach, frozen ravioli
Lessons learned:
- The small size water bottles are great for my kids in the car. I bought two big packs on a special clearance before the summer. That is about the right amount for them and they don't sully a big bottle I want to drink :) Don't think I'll pay full price for them though. Just have to wait for another screamin' deal.
- I set the rules. I hold myself accountable. Others are interested in my progress but no one is shaming me when I cheat or screw up. I cheated a few times but I didn't take it so emotionally this year. Other years I've lost sleep over the matter. This year I tried to keep myself in check but I was more chill about it. I had to cut myself some slack when we'd have visitors and remember it wouldn't break the bank if I bought a few extra things to feed the masses.
- I started the summer with only a few packs of cookies and ended the summer with some still unopened. I keep them on the top shelf in the pantry and only bust them open occasionally. It is better for all of us.
- Indulgent Trail Mix is my Achilles heel. Cashews, almonds, peanuts, semi-sweet, white and peanut butter chips, craisins, golden raisins. I eat it too quickly, but it isn't a bad snack. I seldom buy it from Wal-mart (the only place who makes it) and when I do it is gone too quickly. I started making my own in small batches and it is way cheaper. Also my kiddos love it too, but they tend to pick out all the yummy chips.
- I hardly made beach burritos this summer. It is a three bean salad with Italian dressing and optional other ingredients (ie parm cheese, corn, olives, tomatoes) and you serve it cold in a tortilla at the beach. So I ended the summer with more canned beans than expected.
- Levi loves applesauce and I would clip the corner of a ziplock bag and dump the applesauce into it. I could easily squeeze it into his mouth at the beach and it was way cheaper than buying those bags of baby food.
- My garden was great and I'm excited to try a second raised bed next year. I want my kids to be more involved in the planting and tending. I hope to grow zucchini, tomatoes, green beans, cucumbers, and peas. I'm so sad my zucchini plant died so early this year. I only got three zucchinis. I read it was probably a vine burrowing bug that attacked it. Next year I hope for better!
- I have amazing friends and family who support me in this. My parents, my in-laws, and several friends pitched in and helped make this project less painful.
I love being self sufficient. We are so blessed with enough. I find myself with an immature mindset sometimes thinking "I don't want enough. I want more." (one of my children actually said that one day. It was such an eye opening experience.) I am grateful for enough. I love enough. And this year we had enough. Heavenly Father is mindful of me and my family. He is mindful of you. It is my prayer you will see His hand in your life.
Until next year..........Happy Autumn!
