Alright, friends! The PSL is back on the menu at Starbucks, which means fall is coming soon! Next week is September, which means it’s the start of something we practice in our house called, Shelftember. Shelftember is a month (September) where we try to use up what’s already on our shelves and create meals based on those things. This month is a great asset to our already frugal lifestyle as it helps us focus even more on saving, giving, and investing. Since groceries are one of the more expensive items in our budget as a family of 6, this month is a huge win in my book!
I first heard of the idea of Shelftember from one of my favorite bloggers, Jordan Page, and her blog on Shelf Cooking. Now, I’m a great bargain hunter and great at stocking up when I see a great price on meat or pantry staples. But before doing my first Shelftember, I had never really tried to solely shop my pantry before making any other purchases. It was a fun challenge. The goal is to spend the entire month of September shopping mostly from your own fridge, freezer, and pantry and spend less at the grocery store. If you need a jump start paying off debt or saving for a large purchase, maybe this month could be just what you need.
Rules
Set a budget of $30-$35 per week for your entire family grocery budget. Yes, I know that is less than usual. Yes, I know it will be a stretch. If you absolutely can’t fathom spending this little, you can increase it a smidge, but don’t go over $50/week, or it’s not really a challenge.
Meal plan and shop your fridge, freezer, and pantry first when creating meals. This means it’s time for a clean out. That turkey you’ve had since last Thanksgiving frozen in your deep freezer (guilty!), it’s time to put that bad boy to use!
Focus on repurposing or freezing leftovers so there is no food waste.
Only buy what you actually need and will use for the month. Don’t worry, you won’t be on this grocery budget forever. This isn’t the month to stock up on everything that’s on sale. Rather, try to just buy what you actually need that isn’t already on your shelves.
Use grocery pickup if possible. Here I am recommending it again! I love grocery pickup because I know roughly what my total will be before I pick up my items! This will help you stick to your budget as you can add or subtract items to stay within the budget you set for yourself. If you aren’t a fan of pickup, at least take your grocery list and do some mental math along the way! Or better yet, add the items to your cart on the app so you know the total ahead of time.
Get creative. Keep it simple. This isn’t the month to try a new Pinterest recipe with 12 spices you don’t have in your pantry. I have definitely made up some new recipes during Shelftember before and some have been winners for our family. Some, not so much.
Final Thoughts
Have fun with it. It’s meant to be a challenge, but it is totally achievable. I’ll post some of my wins this month so you can Shelftember along with me. Happy fall! Join me as we save some money together!
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