START A PANTRY ON A BUDGET | WALMART VS. DOLLAR TREE HAUL | KITCHEN PANTRY BASICS

In this video, we're going to be talking about starting a kitchen pantry on a budget. We'll be comparing Walmart and Dollar Tree, and highlighting some of the key items you'll need to start storing in your pantry.
If you're looking to start cooking from scratch and saving money, then this video is for you! We'll be comparing the costs of starting a kitchen pantry from both Walmart and Dollar Tree, and highlighting some of the key items you'll need. From staples like canned goods to more popular items like spices, this video will help you start stocking your kitchen with the basics so you can cook delicious meals without spending a fortune!
Flour
Sugar
Salt
Pepper
Oatmeal
Dried Pasta
Chicken Broth
Oil
Rice
Dried/canned beans
Spices
Baking Powder
Baking Soda
Music by Epidemic Sound
ITEMS MENTIONED/USED IN THIS VIDEO
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#frugalliving #dollartree #walmarthaul

[@kelseyminor7232]

One of the best gifts I got for my wedding was a starter pantry in a box! It had all of this and some kitchen tools like a can opener, scissors, bread pan, etc. It was awesome!

[@lynne3989]

Where did you get your pantry box?

[@itsjustme.7059]

That is such a great idea.

[@robinvarnadoe8429]

@@lynne3989 I assume someone purchased the items and put them together in a box and wrapped it as a wedding gift

[@karengibbs7723]

My favorite gift to give at a shower is a room specific kit. bridal shower kitchen staples and a large pot or kitchen trash can. Just get the things that you need but don’t think about when you register. No one ever says “what will I do with chocolate chips.” For grad going to college just fill a small trash can with med cabinet necessities and some toilet paper. Never underestimate this as a housewarming.

[@EmmaHope88]

@@karengibbs7723 This obviously only works if neither partner had a fully equipped kitchen before. My sister and brother-in-law had a lot of things double when they moved in together, so we were better off just asking them exactly what they still wanted for their wedding which didn't happen until three years after they had moved in together. However, they had just moved into their newly build house a couple of months before their wedding and you tend to have more things in a bigger kitchen than a smaller apartment one.

[@lucindapick2986]

There's a cookbook called, "Help! My Apartment has a kitchen!" It's written by a mother and her son when he went off to college. It includes basic foods and equipment as well as good starter recipes and others to try as your skills improve. Also, the 4 ingredient cookbook gives them a nice basis until beginners learn what spices they like and how to flavor things from scratch.

[@lucindapick2986]

Stick with me on this: When I saw the title I was like Frugal Fit Mom is like a preacher. You go through lesson after lesson but then it's Christmas and you're like, "Bring out the 3 wisemen!" You've got your standard themes but dammit, we need to hear that lesson again! Why? Because life. We get distracted and Boom! our freezer is stuffed and we need to work our way down to the bottom and find out what that frozen lump in brown paper actually is. Or we eat the same 5 meals over and over because it's summer and our kids are picky and we're just tired and you come along and Boom! 23 sheet pan dinners. Have we seen you start a pantry before, you bet! Am I dying to see who has the best price on rice and beans? Also YES! Because You're amazing! Your lessons are on point and I just can't get enough! Plus, what's in the back of my pantry anyway? Time to find out!

[@courtneyrenegar4329]

I can't really think of anything I would add to your list of pantry basics. But, I think a fun video idea would be "cooking equipment to stock in a first time kitchen". Lots of kids are getting ready to leave for college for the first time, or moving out on their own.

[@kimeverhart6253]

Great idea!!

[@melissamaynell]

Ina Garten has an episode on this very subject, however hers may seem a bit unrealistic for the average person. I wonder what Christene recommends?

[@heatherlynsey3092]

I’ve only been out of the house 6 months and my kitchen appliances are sparse. I’m still saving for a good air fryer and crock pot 😂

[@theprofessor4914]

I was thinking about this when I saw a nice whisk at the thrift store

[@DonnaMSchmid]

One additional thing I would recommend is a bottle of vinegar. Luckily, white vinegar is relatively cheap, so it won't add much to your total!

[@notapplicable2636]

*plus white vinegar can also be used as an HE washing machine cleaner too. Just run a load with it in place of the detergent and you're good to go!

[@Yolindabindaboo]

Combine white vinegar with the baking soda and you can clean out a stinky or stopped-up drain in your kitchen or bath.

[@loveGG3]

@@notapplicable2636 with a load of clothes? Or by itself?

[@notapplicable2636]

@@Yolindabindaboo oh that's awesome thanks! Is that a possibility to declog a drain at.the same time..?

[@kimeverhart6253]

Great idea!! Vinegar is a great addition to any pantry/home!!

[@astridteeuw2374]

I would suggest to add tomato paste, peanutbutter , vinegar and maybe mustard. With those you can make all kind of sauces and dressings, and they last a long stretch.

[@Fiery154]

I’m very happy to see CUMIN among the basic spices! It is so over-looked in the US and it is the most popular spice in the world!

[@Ashleyjohnson397]

I agree! Cumin is my favorite spice! I buy it in bulk!

[@kimeverhart6253]

Christine, I love the idea of making a starter food pantry and donating it to a food bank. We have a local food pantry that is run through our school and when I go shopping next, I’m taking a list, buying these things and taking this box to the pantry. I think it’s perfect. Thank you for this beautiful idea! 🌟

[@janetmarieleo7522]

Great video for beginners! When our children got their own places, my husband and I did all of their first food shopping including their pantry. We’ve always done things from scratch and I’m happy to say my kids do as well. They even bake. Glad that these are things they remember.. I am reading a cookbook so all of my children and grandchildren could have a copy of all the family recipes from my husband side from my side of grandparents recipes that have been handed down for generations.

[@loveGG3]

My MIL did that with her mother's recipes too. Everyone got a copy so no one could fight over it. (Though there was still plenty of other things for them to fight over.)

[@earldouglas3631]

I've loved to cook since age 7 so this was right up my ally. When I got my first apartment in grad school my dad gave me some money and I bought everything I needed.

[@thealexandraway]

I volunteer at my local church through St. Vincent de Paul! You really don't know how blessed you are to have food on the table until you see how many families and people need help with food and other things.

[@loveyourselfplease6842]

YES thank you. Sometimes we only have $10 or $15 to spend so we need to take the loss per oz & grab the smaller items from Dollar Tree BUT if you can afford to spend a little more & make a couple stops in my humble opinion as long as you're not burning through gas it's worth going to both stores. Sometimes I watch people make these "budget meals" videos & only shop at Dollar Tree & I'm seeing the same items I grabbed in a bigger size for less money at Walmart

[@doveandolive1153]

Once the basic pantry is done, our pantry includes, peanut butter, vinegar, canned tuna, dried lentils, dried soup mix, canned tomatoes, and canned tomato paste. This list from there continues to grow🙃 We're on a journey to reduce the amount of variety i.e. back in the day we started with white vinegar, then added red wine vinegar, and white white vinegar, and balsamic vinegar and rice wine vinegar and herb or fruit infused vinegar 🤣😂 Pantries can get out of control😵‍💫 and we're taking ours back!

[@kimeverhart6253]

Haha! I have all those vinegars except the herb infused plus apple cider vinegar and 5% acid canning and cleaning vinegar!! I don’t want to go with any of them! So funny!! 😂🤣😂🥰

[@doveandolive1153]

@@kimeverhart6253 ❤OMG thank you for admitting I'm not the only one🤣 and yes how could I forget Bragg's apple cider vinegar (yup that's on the shelf too!)- I'll never be forgiven😂 but I draw the line with champagne vinegar !!!🤣😂🤣thanks for sharing the laugh PS I haven't canned (yet) and for cleaning I dilute white wine vinegar 50/50 with water in a spray bottle. Do we have a problem? Do we need to find a support group? Are there may be more out there...cue the X-files music ❤oh darn, I just thought of malt vinegar for French fries. Oh my I do think I have a problem. This is all Christine's fault she started this 🤗

[@juliatepe5760]

Yep, good additions! Sorry to disappoint you; I only have 2 types of vinegar.

[@doveandolive1153]

@@juliatepe5760 I'm not disappointed I aspire to more like you !

[@firequeen2194]

I’ve been infusing my own vinegars. Best cleaner for black top stove is a citrus vinegar cleaner. Strawberry scraps to infuse for a fruit vinegar. The options are endless.

[@darcyrobb3692]

Another basic is cornstarch, coconut aminos/soy sauce & Worcestershire Sauce.😉🍁🇨🇦

[@heathersmeather]

In a pinch pancake mix works as a thickener in place of flour. I even think it makes a tastier sausage gravy. 🙂

[@FrugalFitMom]

Great tip!

[@rg-mi5hh]

Good idea! Pancakes from sourdough or from plain flour is.good too. It's cheaper.

[@fintubertalks]

This is incredibly helpful and practical video! The detailed comparison of Dollar Tree and Walmart prices, along with the thoughtful gesture of donating pantry items to local families in need, showcases your caring and informative approach. I'll be sharing this video with others, as it's not only about saving money on groceries but also making a positive impact on the community. Great job! 👍🏼😊

[@scallopbunny]

Canned tomatoes are one of my favorite pantry staples. It's a great way to add veggies to almost anything, and a great soup is canned tomatoes, cooked beans, chicken broth, and carrots, onions, celery if you have them. Adding sausage and/or frozen greens is another good addition! Just season however you like and it's a huge, cheap pot of soup

[@rachalnocchi5600]

I totally posted this video on my Facebook page because whether you are a veteran, intermediate or novice in the kitchen, this video is a fantastic tutorial or refresher course! Thank you so much for posting this!🥰

[@JustClaireGrace]

Hey Christine, would you consider doing a video of recipes using beans? I don’t know how to use them really, but would like to.

[@KO-lw4lo]

I second this request…

[@pameehanson3866]

Also great suggestion is to have a few recipes and meal ideas add to a basic pantry. This can be set up in a box to give to families in need, loved that you donated these items ❤

[@theprofessor4914]

Nicely done. I hear from my students there are very few high schools teaching home ec/food science. My parents gave me a box of stuff after i graduated ftom college w the basics of kitchen goods and herbs and spices. So appreciated.

[@angelafairman8150]

I would definitely add to the pantry some crushed tomatoes and some canned vegetables.

[@kamloopscruiser874]

❤The only things I would add to your list is plain white vinegar for cooking and cleaning. Tins of tuna, salmon, soya sauce, ketchup, mustard, mayo, tomato paste and tinned tomatoes depending on personal preferences. I saw your friend Dawn the Minimal Mom suggest having a capsule of meals on repeat. I loved it and reduced my pantry to just what I need from spices to these basics plus a couple ethnic extras for our family to make 20 of our favourite meals. I’m gluten-free so I stock gf flour, and pasta. Makes keeping an emergency shelf easier too- stock what we normally use and buy on sales. Plus I buy meat on loss leader sales or the best deals at Costco and repack into sizes that work for my 20 or so favourite meals. I don’t have a separate freezer just the freezer section of my fridge and it still works. I shop my pantry and freezer for the best bargains.

[@mdoe37]

I've been picking up the basic Walmart spices....but Dollar Tree Pepper and a HUGE seasoning salt. They get tossed into a bag and donated to the local food pantry...something people don't often donate.

[@janeentumbao8690]

Aldi usually has good deals on seasonings too if you have one by you.

[@angiehanson8191]

I like that Walmart switched to bagged pasta. There is less of a chance of ending up with pests like weevils.

[@echomcclellan7079]

,Small pasta like rotini, wavy noodles, etc. Cream of mushroom soup Tuna fish, canned - with those ingredients you can make tuna noodles in a pot for a meal Spaghetti Jar or can of spaghetti sauce - make a simple spaghetti dinner Mac and cheese Ramen noodles Canned fruit or vegetables for sides

[@LorreneRomanic]

Your ending reminded me of Ferris Bueller's Day off end credits. "You're still here? It's over! Go home..... Go" 🤣

[@shellierobledo]

Bread crumbs, canned tomato, canned veggies, condiments (ketchup, mustard, mayo, bbq Sauce), vinegar, peanut butter, jelly, vegetable or canola oil, crisco, boxed mixes (biscuits, cornbread, muffins etc), powdered milk or shelf stable milk, corn syrup, Molasses, Pancake syrup, honey, I could go on and on 😅

[@thetravelerstrunk1274]

I love having a basic pantry. We usually stock up as much as we can on the basics so when things go crazy we have plenty.

[@ERSwanger]

Same here! During tax free time last year I invested about $1k into my food storage and haven't had to invest any money in it all year. This year I will fill in my holes and invest in other things and I'm so thankful we were able to do that! (I worked OT and scrimped and saved to save up for it). It's def helped with inflation

[@Ethereal_glamgirl]

I love this video especially comparing Walmart and dollar tree both stores are also in Canada so it’s really helpful.

[@tf7831]

Christine, love your philanthropic efforts to support those less fortunate and support your community and educate people on how to help those in need. Such an impactful message in almost all of your videos that is so clear to see you are passionate about. We can all affect change!

[@amy2284]

Cinnamon, raisins and vanilla extract are great too.

[@melma5910]

I volunteer feeding the homeless and those in need. Ocassionaly, someone will get an apartment and I will shop for their startup pantry. I buy much the same as you described. I add a few convenience foods, instant coffee, peanut butter, seasoned tomatoes, loaf of bread and or saltines and a couple of canned heat n eat meals. These convenience foods provide a few days food until they gather things to cook with. I run an outdoor 24/7/365 food pantry. Beans will sit. I can't believe this nutritious, easy to cook, affordable, versatile ingredient sits on the shelves for months until I remove them. The pantry has a FB page and I include many delicious, easy recipes and they still sit.🤷‍♀️ 🤦‍♀️

[@kimeverhart6253]

Maybe, you could persuade someone to type up( print off) a little bunch of recipes that are easy to make with beans that most people like and somehow attached them to the beans. That might entice people to pick them up if they could see easy ways to prepare them. Hopefully?? Maybe if they were bundled with a package of rice as well?? They are incredibly nutritious this way!! Oh people!!

[@melma5910]

@@kimeverhart6253 Thanks. I did all the above. I came back from the pantry about 30 minutes ago. It was well stocked this morning, when I was there. Almost everything is gone except 12 cans of beans 🤷‍♀️ 🤦‍♀️

[@kimeverhart6253]

@@melma5910, bless your heart…you tried!! Hopefully, when it cools down a little, it will be chili season and more people will want beans for chili and for soup. 🤞🏻🤞🏻🤞🏻❤️‍🩹♥️

[@aprilok440]

Great tips. I like to stock pile were I can. So that I can save money down the road.

[@cathyshuler8149]

This is a very good video for people just starting to stock a pantry! My pantry is, admittedly, overloaded (but the pandemic was unsettling)... Pasta sauce (Hunt's in the can is economical (I add spices to it) although I occasionally use Rao's, which is extravagant); Canned tomatoes and tomato sauce; instant grits (if you like grits); syrup for pancakes/waffles; Spam - if you like it; potatoes and onions; canned tuna; corn meal but also Jiffy Corn bread mixes ... if you have an Aldi fairly close by, their canned goods are good and very reasonably priced - as is their cereal and oatmeal. Their spice section is good too and reasonable. In the fall they have canned fried apples that are as good as the apples at Cracker Barrel!

[@verity1234]

I think it is also valuable to discuss the merits of bulk buys vs these dollar store starters. If you know you will cook from scratch a lot it is more economical to purchase larger bags of flour, sugar, etc... as the per unit cost is lower. But, if you are just starting and unsure you will continue on this path the smaller starter options are a better option. I know the bulk buys aren't always an option when you are living on an extreme budget but if you can swing it they save you in the long run (just like the freezer fills do). For the appliances like air fryers and instant pots you can also check your local garage sales or FB style market places. As Christine mentioned a lot of people have buyers remorse and resell them or in estate clean outs they are often found like new.

[@stephhogenson1983]

We are always running low on food towards the end of the month, at least the staples and meat. I also have a surgery next week and a birthday for my younger son. I love utilizing the food bank. Ours even can deliver, I don’t have a vehicle right now, so it helps us out a bunch.

[@kimberleywebbsuddenlyshesp568]

The first thing my grandmother taught me to cook were beans in a crockpot. It’s still one of my favorite things to cook and eat.

[@anitaholmes6824]

Can you tell me how to do that? I have never cooked dry beans before. Thank you!

[@billkelly3679]

I did that as a poor college student. That, with rice and spices were most of my diet. My roommates hated it. The difference was that I didn't have MasterDad (parent's credit card) at my disposal and had to work.

[@onomeokpe6313]

​@@anitaholmes6824 You can cook black eyed peas, it is also a bean. Pour a bag of like 1lb Walmart brand black eyed peas into a bowl. Then put water inside and wash the bean by packing it from the water until it is to the bottom and pour the remaining water away because some sand or dirt may settle in the bottom. Put the washed beans in a pot and put water and allow to boil for two minutes then drain and put another fresh water and allow to boil for another ten minutes. Taste to see if it is soft and continue boiling on medium heat until it is soft, you can add a little water if it is not soft and the water is drying up. When soft, you can season with salt, any stock powder, onions, a little garlic, onion powder, pepper, you can even add some slices of tomatoes then put like two or three spoons of any cooking oil (I usually use red palm oil I buy from the African food store). Allow to boil for a few minutes and it is done.

[@anitaholmes6824]

@@onomeokpe6313 Thank you so very much, that is very helpful and appreciated!

[@Jillwillrun]

Cute tank, I love the color on you! I cook beans in my instant pot and then freeze them in quart bags. And if we decide that we want the beans mashed, for use in burritos or whatever, we just defrost the bag and then smoosh the beans in the bag. It's a fun activity for littler kids to help in meal prep! Now that my kid is entering middle school it's not as entertaining. LOL

[@ninnymuggins5159]

Looking great, Christine💚 And you matched Dollar Tree LOL

[@stacel1972]

In my area any of the larger towns has a Walmart and $ tree in the same shopping lot or very close. It is worth it to go to both. Great video!

[@staceyswearengen-yi9sc]

I found vinegars to be a staple for me. White vinegar, red wine vinegar, white wine vinegar, apple cider vinegar and balsamic.

[@Yolindabindaboo]

Great video to pass along and educate! To expand the basic pantry, I’d add cans of diced tomatoes, a cream of something soup, sweetened condensed milk, broth or stock, bread crumbs and chocolate chips. I’m always relieved that I already have these on hand. :) Please click to keep reading… P.S. I’ve been watching your channel for awhile and I wanted to recommend using non-fat plain Greek yogurt instead of sour cream. They taste so similar and GY has tons of protein, waaaaay fewer calories and no fat. Glop a huge dollop on your burrito guilt free! With dips, pile it extra high on your chips! It even bakes well. I love it!

[@Fiery154]

I’d been doing this, until I tasted real sour cream again recently, and I’m going back! Especially with my new views on diet. Fat and calories are not the enemy and sour cream is so rich!

[@ninnymuggins5159]

Chocolate chips always get eaten, they never make it into any recipe 🍫

[@annmariemarin5513]

Its so refreshing that you're not snobby about Dollar Tree! Its about saving $$$$ !

[@jenniferrosenthal7731]

I would add pasta sauce, canned veggies, canned fruits, a couple of cream soups (chicken & mushroom), all purpose baking mix such as Bisquick

[@sarahlangham635]

Corn meal!! If you’re gonna make beans, you need some Cornbread 😊

[@FrugalFitMom]

That's absolutely true!

[@dianam9028]

I love cornbread, especially jalapeno cornbread 🤤

[@laurenpool8367]

First of all, I LOVE your hair in this video...looks fabulous on you!! I would say red wine vinegar is a staple as it offers a good cross over for many different cuisines/foods. Plus a nut butter of choice.

[@SymonSays]

I would omit the brown sugar. I haven't bought brown sugar since I learned it was just white sugar with molasses added. I just add a little bit of molasses to recipes that call for brown sugar, or you can just substitute white.

[@loniivanovskis1239]

Great video! I would add a canned tomato product, paste is probably the most versatile.

[@lyndamartin1109]

I would add tomato paste, canned tomatoes and powdered milk to the list.

[@denacastellanos6267]

OMG!! I think you are in my brain! Just last week I was watching some of your videos and I was trying to find one that showed me what good basics I should have on hand. And...Ta Da! My very own Fairy God-Shopper (FFM) swooped in and saved the day! Thank you!!! ❤❤❤❤

[@connievassilev7911]

When someone moves into a new place, we usually send a gift basket of food or laundry supplies as a gift. Because Im not sure of the cooking ability of the individuals, I usually tend to send the following: peanut butter, jelly, pancake mix, syrup, canned soups, crackers, oatmeal, and frozen packages of ground hamburger meat. even if you don't know how to cook, most everyone can make a pb&j, have soup and crackers for meals, or make hamburgers.

[@andreagrowsthings]

One thing I’ve started doing that I feel saves a little money is making my own brown sugar. It’s just white sugar mixed with molasses (ratio of 1 cup sugar to 1 Tbsp molasses for light/2 Tbsp for dark) so it’s not complicated and I think it tastes better, fresher and I don’t have to buy brown sugar. Obviously I still have to buy molasses but I don’t use that much and it has a good shelf life so I think it’s a savings still (though I’ll admit I’ve not crunched the numbers very hard). I’ve also stopped buying bread crumbs and just make my own. Started when I couldn’t find them on the shelves a few years back, and now it seems silly that I used to buy them. :)

[@valeriederrick2352]

I like a barley and lentil combination. It's also inexpensive and it cooks more quickly, without an Instantpot. I make a barley and lentil stew/soup in the winter and a barley and lentil salad in the summer. Both delicious!

[@BookZealots]

The cheap pasta sometimes goes on sale for 89 cents. I stock up when they're that price, but since the beginning of 2023, the prices at Walmart have gone up, quite a bit. (at least in my area). Some items are cheaper but not enough for me to make two shopping trips. We were shopping solely at Walmart for a few months, because our other grocery store was ridiculous, even with coupons. Walmart had better produce, but not lately. =( I love that you donated the food. We have a local food pantry as well and whenever I ask what they need, they respond with "everything."

[@shellierobledo]

Kroger has pasta for 0.79/lb in Texas this week!

[@danniemcdonald7675]

One of my local grocery stores has Ronco pasta on sale for $.79 this week. Looking closer, the shells are 7-8 Oz. and the spaghetti are 12 oz.

[@lizacisneros9170]

Our food max sometimes has pasta for sale for .88 and I stock up when they are on sale

[@santaortega2198]

Buy the Walmart brand 4 lbs of pasta for less money

[@BookZealots]

@@santaortega2198 four pounds?! My walmart doesn't sell that.

[@ninnymuggins5159]

GLUTEN FREE/DAIRY FREE PANTRY: Boxed unsweetened almond milk, canned unsweetened coconut milk, avocado oil, coconut oil, nut butter, fruit and vegetable cans and cups, dairy-free protein powder, gluten-free vegan mac and "cheese", cans of chicken/ tuna/ roast beef, chicken-rice soup, gluten-free pancakes and gluten-free pasta, marinara sauce. Some people are allergic/ sensitive so I hope that helps.

[@nathalieleblanc8536]

Vanilla is a must in my pantry

[@highpapervibes]

I think I would def opt out of the pancake mix and add peanut butter.

[@DaniElle-di4ho]

I really enjoyed your series where you showed your monthly shopping rallies. Also, love the pantry meals/clean outs (does this make me weird 😆)

[@Leslie.erin.c]

There is like 5 dollar tree stores in my area. At least one of them does carry baking powder and oats but I haven’t seen yeast

[@irishollingsworth6535]

Hi Christine I get baking powder at DT it's usually by the baking items not the spices😊

[@gladyschandler6724]

Supermarket Mexican section have great prices on some spices like bay leaves, cinnamon or H.E.B. has bulk spices.

[@Crackrzz]

4:18 Interesting. Here in Canada, WalMart used to have bags of pasta (I am holding on to one last 908g bag of rotini that was like 99c) and Great Value has mostly switched to boxes now. Hmm. But overall, a lot of this is the same here in Canada at our Dollarama. Hubby gets energy drinks there. I was getting rice packs, but they have sold out, and I don't know if they are discontinued now. Those are convenient (and good in emergencies) but if that's the end of them, well, I'll look for sales on other brands, and/or keep making rice in my rice cooker. I wish we had 1 lb bags of brown rice at the Dollarama...

[@denisehollebeke2725]

All students leaving home for college/university this fall for the 1st time should be made to watch this video. Great way to not only know what to stock but I love the price comparisons as well Thanks Christine 😊

[@lovealwaysmom]

This is a nice idea. To add to this is "what they can make with this and how to do so" One thing to keep in mind is that if they are in dorms, most have it that they can't have small appliances. Also restrictions on extension cords. For me it isn't worth my while, both in time and cost of gas, to shop at more than one store. It would be fun to see your oldest children making a meal with a basic pantry. Keep in mind that as a college student doesn't have a lot of time or money to cook.

[@gladyschandler6724]

Canned tuna and tomato sauce, mustard, mayo

[@robinholbrook8296]

Hi! Good haul. Beware that baking mixes are bioengineered. Cream soups and cereal are bioengineered. Read back of pkg.

[@jamesingwersen4240]

A lot of Stuff she bought are no no on my dietary meals. Lots of potassium additives. Uhhh nope.

[@MT-US]

We have pantries in the local colleges, also. I plan on donating some pots and pans that I don't use or need there. I SO appreciate the bean tutorial; I have gotten some dried beans and have personally never cooked/seen them cooked. Very intimidating! This helps though! I just hope mine will taste good 😂 Thank you!!

[@megankuchta9145]

I think you should know your preferred flavor profile before buying spices for your pantry. My base spices are black pepper and oregano, which go in pretty well everything. I usually keep chili powder, paprika, and cumin as one flavor profile. My other is parsley, dill, and tarragon. I also like to keep chipotles in adobo and fire roasted tomatoes. Recently I’ve been using a lot of harissa as well. I go through oregano and paprika the fastest.

[@sharonhall2277]

I never could get my homemade pancakes to come out fluffy. I am well satisfied with the complete pancake mix, just add water.

[@lisapop5219]

Louisiana brand hot sauce is essential for me. It covers a multitude of cooking gone wrong and tastes good with cooking gone right too.

[@anniequinn]

Got my instant pot a few months ago for free in a Buy-Nothing group on Facebook. Keeping an eye out for an air fryer 🤪

[@ashleyharlacher9351]

I would add baking powder and baking soda - super cheap and increase your capacity to make baked goods ❤

[@esthergorecki5538]

thank you so much for this video! sincerely, a poor college student

[@alyssadavies2734]

I love the green top! Where’s it from? Btw I switched to buying dried beans because I thought it was so time consuming, but it’s so easy!

[@mluvskauai]

Your hair looks so cute today! Love the cut!

[@bannanna.]

Can you please make school snacks or after school snacks groceries videos 😁 I think you already have one, not sure. But can you make a new one? For grade school kids and HS kids. Thank you 🫶🏻

[@jillspianomusicstuff9972]

I couldn't find plain white sugar at Dollar Tree yesterday. 🤷🏻‍♀️ But I do love Dollar Tree!

[@kimeverhart6253]

You know, I would so like to say I love Dollar Tree as well but the two of them that are close to me are smaller and ALWAYS picked over and poorly stocked! I’m always so frustrated and disappointed. But, I don’t want to give up just yet! Hopefully, I will figure out the right time and day to go! I want the good deals too! 🥳

[@danniemcdonald7675]

This is a great starter pantry. The only thing that I would add (non-food) would be some recipes and kitchen utensils such as spoons, whisk,knives and, of course, a can opener.

[@JTull]

Pasta sauce, vinegar, bbq and tomato sauce. I know you have assorted herbs but a versatile seasoning for chicken, meat and veg is so handy for a dry rub or to be sprinkled on anything. Amazing list from you.

[@rayeann7661]

I am Gluten Free. IMO the Great Value Gluten Free flour is the best bang for your buck for both quality and price.

[@mikemelchiorre7414]

4:23 I have avoided cardboard boxes on pasta in case there are bug openings , always want sealed plastic , especially if I can see inside . actually seen bugs in the store pasta before , and knew not to buy , don't feel confident with paper box package .

[@cmbart1]

After shopping at both I'm starting to find that Walmart (much as I don't like that place) is pound for pound the far better deal. Dollar Tree relies on you thinking "ooh only $1.25" but the sizes are tiny.

[@marywatkins6798]

I don't think my local Dollar Tree has anything, like salt, for less than $1.25. When I started this video, that was my first thought: but the salt! My local Aldi has salt for $.52. You don't need an instant pot to cook beans. I do own an instant pot but I still cook my beans by quick soak instructions on the bag: Sort and rinse beans, throw in a pot with hot water by quantity on the bag instructions, bring to a boil, boil for two minutes, and turn off heat and let sit for one hour. Drain and done.

[@kilajai]

Be sure to add a teaspoon of baking soda to your bean soaking water to make them less "farty"😂 seriously; adding alkalinity reduces the gas significantly ❤

[@elizabethgordaneer6045]

i would add mustard soy sauce and vinegar to the pantry.

[@hollypepen4012]

Recently had to switch to gluten free, so my pantry has had an overhaul. Unfortunately so much pricier 😕 Thankful for the number of options though!

[@lucy_76]

Here's the thing, the smaller things from Dollar Tree are better for some people, especially those just starting out learning to cook as well as singles and couples or someone with 1 or 2 small kids. It isn't practical for everyone to get the larger sizes because there could be waste. I'm all for the smaller sizes when just learning to cook or just cooking for a few. Otherwise, agree with much of what you say.

[@miss.baptist394]

I don't care for the ingredients in bouillon. I just make my own stock now it's sooo easy and cheap! I just boil up the bones of the chicken we eat and strain it through a strainer! It is yummy!! LORD JESUS is KING of kings and LORD of lords!

[@wendyw4023]

When we remodeled our kitchen, we repurposed a closet that originally held the furnace into a pantry. I stock it buying sale items on Senior discount days at my local grocers. I refuse to shop at WalMart, because they pay their employees so poorly that the employees qualify for food stamps, etc. In 2014 WalMart cost taxpayers $6.2 Billion in public assistance to their underpaid employees per Forbes article.

[@deltorres2100]

Put some jalapeños in your beans ..it’s so so good 🌶️ I mean ya’s family love spicy

[@ScrittiSparkle]

christine ive been watching your channel for a million years,you inspired me to lose weight,i have been losing weight,i hear you in my thoughts just eat fruit,even tinned fruit,i know you eat bread,so i dont restrict bread,i do have ibs and im like so dont go out much at all,but i excersise for about 3 hours a day,6 days a week in my house,i just wanted to thank you for giving me the motavation for losing weight,all my best wishes to you and your family,from line .as in celine dion,its just line

[@ninnymuggins5159]

You should still be buying canned beans for emergencies and quick meals, though.

[@caroldobbs2666]

Our Dollar Tree has day old bread. If they r not sold by a certain date they will mark down to 50 cents. I got bagels, bread and English muffins the other day. Great deal. I know the bread is mainly just white bread but in these times it sure helps.

[@donnamullins2089]

Good list for students but please include a recipe or cooking lessons. Thanks Christine.

[@davesskillet9235]

Nice that you care enough to help others in your community. Thanks for sharing

[@kathybullmer8884]

Thank you for sharing this information! I love my Instant pot, I use mine every week.

[@janetmarieleo7522]

Are use my instant pot a couple times a week. Usually because I’m canning some thing. I have done all kinds of beans in it. However, my husband likes when I do the northern beans. Are usually trim up our bacon if we have it in the house. I see those trimmings in a freezer bag or any extra ham left over. I just have a bag for that and I sauté it really well in the instant pot and your beans in there and your water and it’s really quite tasty. Anytime there’s a get together, I make trees and trees of beans but I use my instant pot so I can do it in batches and then I bake it off with bacon on top of it

[@suzettedorning9113]

I LOVE dried beans! My fathers favorite recipe is an overnight baked bean dish with home mixed bbq sauce. It's been passed down through a couple of generations now, and I finally got it all typed up and legible so other family members can have it - but so far, they all just request me to make them! Haha! LOVE your channel!! I'm just a state away (west) from you. Not that I would stalk you. Most likely not. But... ya know... Lol!! Keep up the great channel!

[@tigerlilly03152012]

I have two cabinets full of spices and baking supplies. Other pantry items are canned milk, tomatoes of various forms, corn meal, baking cocoa(Hershey), powdered sugar, jared fruits and veggies, sweened condensed milk, vanilla, potato flakes, vingers of various types, lemon juice, and assorted condiments.

[@siggybenedict-shields3883]

Walmart has a 6 qt slow cooker for $20.

[@marygrott8095]

I would add bay leaves t the spices.

[@leenatoivanen3787]

I always keep eggs and frozen paratha on hand. It's usually sold in Asian stores and one pack has like 20 pieces. Fry 2 eggs and 2 paratha and you have a meal right there, for days when you run out of everything else 👍

[@homemommy6295]

Don't forget to add cinnamon to your list. A really helpful spice and it makes baked goods even better.