Pantry Challenge Preparation ~ Two Months Without Buying Groceries

[@melodycapehartmedina2264]

It is a total pleasure watching the spirit you have behind living your life! I’ve lived country my whole 64 years and watched phases come and go. I’ve had a working pantry my whole adult life and you are one of the first younger women who has the true pantry concept without being a “prepper”. What I got from this is you also like me trust God to supply your needs before the challenge and during. I call it a pioneer spirit. You do an amazing job by staying organized my major down fall, but I never had seven children. 😊 You are a total inspiration to all homemakers especially moms with large families! May God bless you greatly!

[@IronArrowsHomestead]

Agree!

[@benedictmarco6242]

I dont mean to be off topic but does anyone know a tool to get back into an Instagram account..? I was dumb forgot the login password. I would love any tricks you can give me

[@benedictmarco6242]

@Dwayne Trace I really appreciate your reply. I got to the site on google and I'm waiting for the hacking stuff atm. I see it takes a while so I will reply here later with my results.

[@benedictmarco6242]

@Dwayne Trace It worked and I now got access to my account again. Im so happy:D Thank you so much, you saved my account :D

[@dwaynetrace3909]

@Benedict Marco glad I could help :)

[@stellarodriguez8813]

Hi just found your channel. I'm from Puerto Rico and in 2017 we were hit with Hurricane Maria. 150mph winds of pure joy (yeah, right) Well we here learned was to save 3 days of food. For real. Maria left us with AT LEAST 3 months of no light, water, internet, postoffice... All we had was the K rations from the Army. I am very appreciative for that but yes I learned my pantry lesson. I now stock up on all essential products. That's what I'm eating now. My hurricane food. That way for this June, I'll do my new hurricane haul, with fresh food.

[@sandy5673]

I just discovered this set of videos. I was raised seeing how far we could go into the new year without buying groceries!!! I'm 61 years old and still do this. I love it and I love it when I get new ideas like yours!!!!

[@marciabauchle1365]

I love, and agree with, almost everything you say. One of the main things I do differently is that I try, at the end of the canning season, to have two years worth of canned tomatoes and tomato puree. The reason for this is that the last few years we've had to deal with the late blight in our tomatoes. We eat a lot of tomato products and we can't afford to buy tomatoes to preserve OR buy tomatoes from the grocery store...especially if we want to buy organic tomato products. I don't find that they lose their quality in two years. We grow our own pasture-raised, dry-aged beef, pasture-raised pork and organic pasture-raised meat chickens and egg layers. I make soaps, tallow body butters and other toiletry items. This year I was pretty exciting! My hubby and I cut down a white oak tree from our woods, made the lumber and built a 7x3x2.5 foot raised bed herb garden. We plan on building two more in the spring when we're done with our maple syrup production. I turned 65 this week and my hubby is 66 so we're slowing down a bit but enjoying our life!

[@lenajaker1112]

So, I just found this challenge over several entries on Facebook and it's a blessing. I have a huge pantry, a lot of jarred food, canned food and such but always hesitant to use up because everyone around me is usually "But what if..." - while I know this is nonsense, it makes one paranoid. I'll definitely join the challenge as it is (but with a grocery budget for veggies) and will absolutely get more organized next year for it. I can't wait to finally use up the stuff I have. It's a blessing to hear someone just saying "It's okay to spend money during your challenge and you need to trust food will be there the month after"!

[@rebeccadenson4054]

Watching this in 2024 in preparation for the 2025 pantry challenge. I also just watched 2023 one as well - it is amazing to see that your monthly grocery budget doubled from 2020 to 2023.

[@amberfeist8921]

I plan on doing a pantry challenge during January and February as well. I am going to weave it in to our homeschool lessons.

[@threerivershomestead]

We are making it part of homeschool this year too. We are going to do a nutrition unit and the kids have to help put together meals.

[@michellekyle4653]

Love this info. January is clean out and donate, February is no spend other than bills,. Then March is new budget and preparing for the upcoming year. Thank you for sharing this

[@suellenw561]

I don't plan to do this but it brought up something that I am doing. I found a "collection" of "out-dated" cake mixes. We are both past 75 & find we seldom eat cake. By making these into cupcakes & putting them in the freezer w/out icing, we will eat them eventually. I add 1/2 tsp of baking powder to each mix that's more than 2 yrs old because they do have a tendency to be heavier w/out it than if they had been used sooner. They have been properly stored in a cool, dark place. "Best if used by:" doesn't mean you have to toss it if it's past that date.

[@jh4675]

Thanks for hint re baking powder add-on.

[@OkieJammer2736]

Holy moly, Jessica. I have SO NEEDED this organization how-to for my pantry and long-term storage, which has been overwhelming. Thank you. Thank you. And THANK YOU. ⚘⚘⚘

[@re-rittenvintagehomestead]

Re-Ritten Vintage Homestead will be joining you in your challenge! I really appreciate how much effort and time you have put into teaching your viewers the importance of saving money, being true to our values, using what we already have, and healthy eating! I look forward to whatever you can teach me as I follow along!

[@royalpitamamma]

Doing a pantry challenge this year. We were down to nothing last February, but now we are very well stocked. This next month I will be preparing. Then January until whenever I will be doing the pantry challenge and gardening and growing proteins.

[@AndreaRuralMN]

I think it'd be a good idea this year to talk about the budgeting and not stocking up right before the challenge. Personally everyday is a pantry challenge for me. Ex: I've got a social hour potluck tonight and I first thought sweet and sour meatballs would be good. But I'm out of meatballs so I'm doing buffalo chicken dip instead because I have all the ingredients on hand 👍

[@susan-almosta_farm8823]

I tried this last year and didn't do very well, BUT, this year I am determined to do good. All I have to buy is dairy and I am sooooo excited to do this. I've actually kinda already started with the exception of buying extra's for Thanksgiving dinner and I'll do the same for Christmas dinner. But I haven't bought any "usual" groceries in a month except milk. woohoo!!!! :) I love all your tips!!! Got to go make a list now. :))

[@samjones9465]

This is something I've been doing all my adult life, I only buy fresh veggies, everything else is "home" shopped. Its also a good way of finding out what you've bought because it was "cheap" but you didn't use it because it tasted cheap. I love no shop January

[@moakley60]

New subscriber here (came from That 1870’s Homestead). Great information and tips…thank you for sharing!

[@jamieharkar915]

I don't like dragging seven children to the grocery store ever not just January and February! I love pantry challenges!

[@americaneden3090]

🧡🍂🍁The colorful jars of home preserved foods, is a gorgeous background for your video. So much skill and love goes into our food. Has your grocery budget increased with inflation or have u found ways to offset the inflationary costs and still maintain a similar budget in 2023 going into 2024??? Thank u for sharing all u do. 💓

[@threerivershomestead]

I have found we are spending an extra $100 or so each month

[@americaneden3090]

​@@threerivershomestead❤

[@JanalynVoigt]

Thanks for your leadership in this area, Jessica. I can't do the challenge until March and April, but I definitely need to do it then. I'll watch your videos and learn, meanwhile.

[@NightfallHomestead]

I will be joining you on the pantry challenge and documenting on our KZbin channel as well!! I already kind of do this as like a little competition with myself only buying dairy as we typically don't have goats in milk until February/March so im super stoked that there are others that like this stuff too! I LOVE the taking inventory idea!! Eeeeeek!! This will be so much fun!

[@thebiggshomesteadkitchen]

I just went and checked out your channel

[@NightfallHomestead]

@@thebiggshomesteadkitchen same! Subscribed!

[@OurSmallholdingAdventure]

We are a family of 4 based in the UK and I’ve just followed your hashtag. We are with you!! Thank you for the inspiration. We’ve a very frugal budget by choice for 2021 so this will add to that perfectly. I’m documenting it all from January on our (modest!) KZbin channel to learn from next year too. Really excited to do our version of this. We’ve a mix of shop bought and home preserved until we get to can more. Much love ❤️

[@robloxisbest6415]

I’m so loving your channel 😀 Could you show us how you make your bread ? Also other baked goods would be helpful to me 😀 Thanks so much Kim Crawford

[@artkeepsave7206]

Hm, I went keto for health reasons in fall 2020. I made it halfway to goal at the end of 2020 and I wasn’t doing a great job in 2021 so I stayed around that mark for 2021. I decided three things for 2022: 1 - make it to goal until end of April 2 - adjusting the pantry challenge to start the year with eating the odd ends in my freezer and using up things that were left throughout the year - than I can continue properly accounting for my food 3 - find out how much of what I usually eat to better stock up - I have to many of some but also to little of other items Thanks for the inspiration 😊🙋🏻‍♀️🙏🏼🍀

[@FlavorsandTextures]

This is a good exercise to do. There are multiple skills that we can acquire by participating. This will also help us prepare better for future. I am going to try to participate. Blessings!

[@NoFluffJustRabbit]

I've heard of 'Shelf-tember' before. But this makes much more sense!

[@amandaw30]

I hope to follow along and join in with you! I think I was still on Instagram the first year you did this but now that I’m not I’m so excited to have you posting on this platform 😍 I’m good at rotating through our meats but I just pulled tomato sauce out from 2017 so I really want to get out of the habit of hoarding my home canned goods. I’m thinking the budget money I save I’ll use for next summers pick your own fruits!

[@rachelseibert7882]

You are such a blessing, I hope other Moms will listen to you. Great wisdom!😊

[@arobichaud40]

Can’t wait to redo this and stick with it for longer this year!!

[@OutdoorsandCountryLiving]

Nicely done! We plan to implement this challenge into our routine. I think this is a great idea and allows us to eat the delicious foods we grow, harvest, and preserve. It also allows to make room for next seasons harvest! Always up for saving money too. Thanks for sharing your knowledge! -LeeAnn

[@cindyricksgers6478]

I found lots of frozen fruit from when I was on a smoothy kick. I've been making muffins and adding some fruit to my yogurt and cottage cheese. I realized I like it better that way! I was even thinking about making some jam out of some of it

[@whiskeywomanwhisks]

Once I started really stocking my pantry beyond a few weeks now we could live off pantry about a year without a grocery store-I would have to go to farm for milk-use less cheese-do without a few non essential foods but we could do it. Of course there are things that we have frozen that we couldn’t grow ourselves-like bananas. It was a blessing when I was sick all of August😩 to have stockpile including many ready to go meals that the family could heat and eat🙌🏻 I’ve tried a couple pantry inventory but haven’t found one that works for me so I’m definitely giving your plan a try this year! Yours really seems less complicated yet affective! Thank you so much for always inspiring me!

[@juliekasza]

I'm excited to try doing this challenge for at least a month!💛

[@emilylong9887]

I’m excited to follow along. I was so inspired last year!!

[@HickorycroftFarm]

I followed along with this challenge last year and we are looking forward to participating this year. Looking forward to it!

[@kjvmama]

Morning 🌞 so for our South TX winters, I make my crew frozen fruit smoothies with oatmeal (all bulk from Azure). They love them, they are nice and filling, plus healthy! 😋

[@beautifulhomestead1174]

Please share a recipe

[@kjvmama]

Pintrest is a great source. I usually use some type of milk, yogurt, frozen fruit, honey, and oatmeal. Depending on the flavor, you can use peanut butter, cocoa, cinnamon, vanilla, etc. There is a bunch of great recipes, but I'm pretty basic.

[@sandraboose1543]

This is what we are doing right now. Using what we have. Happy new year.

[@barnrazedbyjesse6893]

Looking forward to this challenge 💕

[@anetzband1383]

My best takeaway from this video for me, myself and I: Don't wait for a "rainy day" to use those beautifully canned jars of food I worked so hard to seal. Use them up! I'm keeping track of how many jars I empty and already have plans to refill them.

[@tammysarrazin7078]

watched a video today of the hollar homestead they had left over oatmeal and put it in the fridge then fried it the next day some put maple syrup and the dad did butter salt and pepper so im going to try that cuz normally i just chuck it as im only one person home hugssssss

[@IcedReality]

I'm super jazzed by this idea!

[@n.a.garciafamily]

This sounds like a good idea for us to do for a month...

[@drendahalbert8510]

I found your channel late in the game😞. I plan to join this challenge next year. For now, I’m going to focus on saving $100 this month from my grocery budget!! I have plenty of food in my freezer and pantry to make that savings happen!

[@denisestroop2163]

I try to post on other sites for people to come here, because I think people will be blessed, I posted it on acre homestead and Becky deleted it, I will keep bragging about your site, I love your humility, and love for your babies.

[@threerivershomestead]

Thank you for the kindness and encouragement ❤️

[@crystalolson4497]

I'm excited to follow along

[@christinebrush4399]

Looking forward to seeing your pantry challenge cooking.

[@lgra0817]

You have helped me so much. March & April will be my "No shopping challenge" Continued Blessings

[@jojoply]

That is less than my husband and I spend a month! You do great!

[@karinwishner4861]

I’ve decided to do the pantry challenge this year for the first time.

[@robinsedey5847]

Some tips on pantry challenges that I haven’t heard before

[@samarsayed6254]

Wow you are very inspiring 😊 and convincing l like your videos lam a big fan and I'm following you on Instagram and l add your stories to be first to see love you dear and your family 💞💞 especially Benjamin 😚😚😚

[@ruralcanadianmom8964]

Everything you spoke about in regards to 'hoarding' food (I can also), spoke directly to me, talk about being convicted! I feel that way too, almost like it's my security, but I know I should trust God for his provisions. Thank you for the conviction. I also have a large family

[@hunters1958]

Brilliant, if am going to do this

[@TheWhimsicalFamilyHomestead]

Were in ohio too. Looking forward to your challenge!

[@tammiecollins9791]

I really want to try this for January at least.

[@iluvhorses1983]

What a fantastic idea!

[@LadyLovelyGlam]

You're awesome! Thank you

[@deborahnay8736]

Where did you get the big containers with the turn knob lid

[@carlashuler5004]

Words of wisdom!

[@dr.rev.lindabingham]

Blessings to all!

[@melissavazquez2953]

What is your monthly grocery budget and household items budget?If you don't mind me asking.We have nine children and our monthly grocery budget is$300 and $75 monthly household budget.

[@threerivershomestead]

Our monthly grocery/bulk buying budget is $600-700. But that includes household items like TP. And it's about 90% organic. Wow! $300 is impressive!

[@melissavazquez2953]

Thank you

[@n.a.garciafamily]

$300?! How do you do that?!

[@candlermorris8767]

$300 monthly budget? What part of the country do you live in and what do you eat?

[@homesteadincrazy7773]

Do you do a "start a pantry" challenge at any point? I don't have one yet but would like to start one this coming year.

[@UpDownMichelle]

I'm also from Ohio! Northeast area and you never know when you're going to be stuck for a few days with snow. Good time to just stay at home! I'm trying to do this for December actually!

[@shellp888]

Love this idea. I would have to modify it to fit with what I have right now but I would love to be able to not go to the store for two months!

[@iluvhorses1983]

What a great idea! I’m going to try to implement this also. I have a KZbin channel called Homestead Seed and will give this a shot!

[@lorip4051]

I’m doing a pantry challenge right now as I have so much to can and no room lol.

[@gail7138]

Do you have a system to track your foods buy and/ or can each season that helps you reflect what you have done. If so can you share how you keep records of those details please?

[@threerivershomestead]

I do keep inventories. I will try to share soon

[@AngelaPuccinelli]

We live in Canada and I have never seen or heard of anything like bulk food delivery. I have even looked around and just don't see it. There are restaurant supply companies but they are way more expensive than grocery stores. Guess things are just different up in this neck of the woods. 🤷

[@melissmich23]

Could we have a Discord group so we can chat, ask questions, and more? I'm not sure that the hashtag does enough? Not as direct?

[@heathermariesmith5267]

I really need to slowly stop eating out ,waste less at home , plan better and most importantly make healthier choices .

[@shanislifestyle6324]

Hi there! You are amazing! Where did you get your jar pantry behind you? I’ve been looking for one but just figured, I might have to build it.

[@threerivershomestead]

Lowes

[@indianne9781]

I got shelves from Sams that look just like them.

[@hannamaenpaa8929]

Speaking of fresh greens, have you ever considered a passive solar greenhouse?

[@threerivershomestead]

We would love one. It's on our wish list.

[@tammysarrazin7078]

our tribe of many does this but only for a month but at the end of the month they make some weird foods lol

[@heather7260]

I am new to your channel. We also live in Ohio.

[@marvelenelavigne7427]

I am working on not shopping 2 months out of the year

[@lauramehlenbacher457]

I just heard about this. Now my question becomes can a person do this even if its not in january or February? This sounds interesting and i want to try it

[@threerivershomestead]

You can do it anytime. We are actually doing a pantry challenge right now in June.

[@brendablake8264]

How can I do the challenge when I live in town and have no chickens for eggs- I can freeze milk.

[@brendablake8264]

So I heard my answer- each makes their rules. I buy eggs from my vet, who has chickens. I'll let me purchase that

[@heathervansant5580]

Do you do anything special with the money you don't spend on groceries for those 2 months?

[@threerivershomestead]

Yes! We usually spend it on a house or homestead project.

[@Agenda21Truth1]

Came back here to share a link to my original comment, find it was deleted!

[@crowley_crazy8832]

$600?! We are a family of 8 - 6 BOYS, 4 being teenagers. I'd love to cut our budget down to that low.

[@glendabyford8074]

I would love to join! Do you have to have a Instagram account to join in? Or will you do it here also

[@threerivershomestead]

Yes. My IG is threerivershomestead The hashtag is #threeriverschallenge

[@richardmercado6700]

"Pantry" challenge....I read it wrong! Was wondering wth? Sorry bout that!

[@Minnesota_Mama_Bear]

💚🌞

[@NeitaSorensen]

🎉😂🎉🎉😢😊

[@kai82holman69]

I really love your videos. I was wondering if you would consider donating your extra food to a food bank or church food needy organization? I mean it seems like a better way to get your pantry cleaned out and serve others in your community.

[@threerivershomestead]

We are always open to donating food to those in need and have in the past. A lot of food banks, however, do not accept home-canned foods. What makes more sense for us is to use up our own excess food and save money by not going to the store. Then we have more money to help those around us in other ways.

[@kai82holman69]

@@threerivershomestead 💕💕💕

[@IronArrowsHomestead]

Love the idea of a pantry challenge & purposefully use things. Hate wasting food! I found a can of 6 year old jam in my pantry (we even moved it a few times). Oops. We love Azure Standard too! Just subbed your channel. Looking forward to learning some tricks from you! We have a lot in common. Please feel free to check out our family’s homestead channel too!

[@venuscruz6075]

Most women don't even cook much anymore, especially if they work........baking bread is not something they do much

[@IcedReality]

I'm super jazzed by this idea!