Having a well-stocked pantry has always been a goal of mine. When I was a teenager I spent the summer on my aunt & uncle’s farm, they were quite remote and I was so impressed by their well-stocked pantry. There are many benefits of a pantry whether you have a large family or are an empty nester.
Depending on where you live you may be minutes to a grocery store or you may live quite a distance from the nearest grocery store. My husband and I are empty nesters and we live in a rural area and it is at least a twenty-minute drive to a small grocery store. To go to one of the large chain stores or even a “box store” like Costco or BJ’s is a forty-five minute drive. When you have a well-stocked pantry you never need to worry about making those unexpected trips to the grocery store.
Stocking up also saves money. You can take advantage of sales and you can also buy in bulk from your local food co-op. Once a year our local food co-op has a case lot sale. You can purchase all sorts of items but you must purchase a case. I can buy a case of beans for example, which helps me to have a well stocked pantry.
When planning to buy in bulk you must know the options for food buying in your area. Aside from the local grocery store there may be food co-ops, warehouse stores such as BJ’s or Sam’s or even local farmers. Be aware of the loss leader sale items, which appear on the front and back of sale flyers. These are meant to get you into the store and will usually beat any price in a wholesale store. Again, it is important to know your food prices so you can find the deals.
You may wonder why my husband and I even buy in bulk. Bulk buying isn’t just for large families; you just want to buy enough to get you to the next sale. Each family will buy according to their need. Be aware of expiration dates as well. There is no point in having a pantry stocked with items that are no longer good to eat! Buying in bulk will help give you a well-stocked pantry.
We have learned the lesson of why you should have a well-stocked pantry several times! One year we had a houseful of company and we were hit with a terrible flood, all the roads were washed out and we couldn’t get to the store if we wanted to! We were blessed to have a well-stocked pantry. We ate well that week without having to worry about getting to the store.
A well stocked pantry can also help during times when you are under financial stress. My husband was laid off from work and it was six months before he found another job. It was such a good feeling to know we could eat from our pantry and spend a minimal amount of groceries during that time of unemployment. There are many reasons for having a well-stocked pantry. I love the feeling of walking into my pantry and knowing we are prepared for whatever lies ahead.
Having a well stocked pantry is just one of the goals of being more self reliant. During the month of May I am teaming up with other bloggers as we challenge ourselves to live a more self reliant lifestyle for the entire month! Join us as we challenge ourselves to live a more self reliant lifestyle!
AnnMarie – 15 Acre Homestead
Kathi – Oak Hill Homestead
Robin – A Life in the Wild
Candy – Candy’s Farm House Pantry
Farmgal – Just another Day on the Farm
Ashley – Practical Self Reliance
ShawnaLee – Homegrown Self Reliance
Frank – My Green Terra
Maria – Maria Zannini
Lisa Lynn – The Self Sufficient HomeAcre
Nancy – Nancy On The Homefront (that’s me!)
When I look back on my childhood I have many fond memories of certain meals my mother cooked. She didn’t have a large repertoire of recipes and the meals were often tasty and simple. She led a busy life and I don’t remember her spending a lot of time in the kitchen. Many of her recipes I still make today such as 
