Frugal Friday: A Well Stocked Pantry and Fridge

About Frugal Friday Post: In reassessing my blog, I have found that some of my best posts relate to my perspectives on food, fashion, and family. This series consists of helpful hints to use in the kitchen, fashionable looks that won't break the bank, and money saving tips for shopping for the family. 

Couponing ain't easy and it takes a lot of time and organization to achieve extreme savings.  Don't fret my frugal divas, there are other ways to pinch pennies.  Last Friday my first Frugal Friday tip was to Shop Your Kitchen.  This weeks frugal tip is just as simple as the last. In order to shop your kitchen you must have a well stocked pantry, refrigerator, and freezer.   For the most part I keep the staples on hand which bread, cereal, milk, butter,  and eggs. However in order to be able to prepare last minute meals on a tight budget, I have expanded my staples to include things that I use the most often.  Some of these items include...

Photo Credit: pharard.com

• a variety of Campbells Great for Cooking Soups
• Ham, Chicken and Beef Soup Bases
• Chicken Broth
• Garlic, which I use in just about everything
• Onion 
• Canned, Fresh, and Frozen Vegetables
• Enough meat for 2-3 meals 
• Hummus, one of the few things my three year old will eat
• Vegetable and Olive Oil
• Shortening
• Lawry's (no kitchen is complete without it) 

No list of staples is exactly alike due to dietary restrictions, taste, lifestyle, and culteral background.  However, there are a few things that should be on everyone's list. Here are a couple of links that may help you in stocking your pantry......

Paula Deen.com-Stocking Your Pantry

Organize It Now.net-Basic Pantry Items

The Chew.com- 20 Must Have Items For A Well-Stocked Pantry

Simplebites.net- Stocking Your Pantry for Success

What are must have items for you pantry? What other frugal ways do you implement into your kitchen and lifestyle in general? Where have you found your most savings? What are you tips for pinching pennies? Leave a comment below.

Peace and Love,

Najeema Iman, I AM Curly Locks

Like this post, subscribe and don't forget to stay connected.

Frugal Friday: SHOP YOUR KITCHEN

About the Frugal Friday Post Series: In reassessing my blog, I have found that some of my best posts relate to my perspectives on food, fashion, and family.  Today is my first post series of the New Year, "Frugal Friday."  This series will consist of helpful hints to use in the kitchen, fashionable looks that won't break the bank, and money saving tips for shopping for the family.  

Photo from www.sheknows.com

2012 was filled with a lot of budgeting in our household.  I've heard it said before that your biggest savings are in the kitchen and I couldn't agree more. I'm not an extreme couponer, but I clip from time to time.  Before I ever look at any circular or create a shopping list I shop my pantry, freezer, and refrigerator.  I don't mean to-see-what's-on-the-top-shelf. I'm talking taking stuff out of the cabinets and shelves, moving it around, checking expiration dates, and finding out what you have on hand for meals.  Often we forget about that 5 lbs. of chicken we got on sale a month ago and stored in the freezer. Or the ground beef that was $1 a pound so we bought five, cooked with three, and froze two.  It happens, so you have to get in there and see what items went into hiding, and move them to the front for meals.  You will be surprised how much money you will save with a little meal planning, using items already in your kitchen.


In order to effectively shop your kitchen you must keep a well stocked pantry, refrigerator, and freezer; which I will talk about in next weeks Frugal Friday post. Stay connected and tell me what you think about this series.  What money saving tips do you use in the kitchen? What frugal ways have you implemented into your life?

Peace and Love,

Najeema Iman, I AM Curly Locks (And this is Frugal Friday)


Don't forget to subscribe and stay connected.

Follow @NajeemaIman