Why I Spent $600 During Week Two of Pantry Challenge: Grocery Haul, Tips, and Updates

Welcome back to week two of the Pantry Challenge! This week has a pretty wild title—“Why I Spent $600 This Week Alone”—but before we get into that, I wanted to share some updates on how my pantry challenge is going so far.

The main goal of this challenge is to use up the food I already have so nothing goes to waste, but I’m also taking the opportunity to stock up on items when I find a good deal. This week, I’ve been working through opened items, freezer vegetables, and pantry staples.

Pantry and Freezer Updates

Here’s a quick rundown of what’s been eaten so far:

Oatmeal packets: I’ve used two of them.
Freezer vegetables: A lot of previously opened veggies have been cooked, which is bringing us closer to a clean slate.
Canning pantry: I’ve used one chickpea can, but baked beans and sweet potatoes are still untouched. Zucchini pineapple has been partially used.
Pantry staples: Red curry paste has been used, along with almond flour and whole wheat flour.
Freezer meals: Biscuits and gravy casserole, grits casserole, and some squash from 2023 are slowly being worked through.
Other meals: Uncooked enchiladas, drumsticks, pumpkin pie bars, cubed bread for mini French toast bites, chili, and meatloaf have all been eaten.

Overall, we’re making great progress for week two of the Pantry Challenge!

Why I Spent $600 This Week

Now for the big reveal: the $600 grocery total. While this may seem high, it’s important to understand that the spending wasn’t just food—it included household supplies and cat care items as well.

The purpose of these purchases is strategic stocking up. This year, the Pantry Challenge isn’t about saving money but about using up items and taking advantage of sales to build a stocked pantry.

Here’s how I approached it:

Target deals: I bought laundry detergent with a buy-3-get-$10-back deal and a $500 gift card for $450, giving me 10% back on future purchases.
Sam’s Club: Ordered bulk items like bananas, beef sticks, ham, ground beef, and block cheese. I focus on protein deals, ensuring I pay no more than 10 cents per gram of protein.
Household items: Stocking up on Snuggle laundry detergent, toilet paper, and other essentials while sales are available.
Vitamins: Replenished vitamin D, turmeric, and acetyl L-carnitine while taking advantage of good pricing.

Even though $600 sounds high, it’s split among food, household, and pet supplies, with each category strategically stocked.

Cheese Shredding and Storage

One highlight this week was shredding fresh block cheese. I cut it into blocks and used my KitchenAid with a Zacme attachment to shred efficiently. The cheese will be frozen in quart-size bags for future use. Shredding your own cheese not only saves money but also keeps it fresh for months.

Tips for Saving While Stocking Up

Here are some of the key tricks I used while spending $600:

Compare stores online: Target, Walmart, Amazon Fresh, Sam’s Club, and Safeway prices can vary dramatically.
Look at unit prices: Smaller packages may sometimes give a better per-unit value than bulk items, especially if there’s a cashback deal.
Stock protein wisely: I calculate cost per gram of protein to make sure I’m getting the best value.
Plan for freezer storage: Bulk items like cheese, ham, and ground beef can be frozen for long-term use.
Take advantage of gift card promotions: Buying a gift card at a discount can give you 10% off future purchases.

What’s Next in Pantry Challenge Week Two

The rest of the week will involve cooking recipes using leftover pantry items, shredding more cheese, and testing different deals as groceries arrive. I’ll also continue showing how I make strategic purchases to stock up without overspending.

This approach not only helps me complete the Pantry Challenge but also ensures peace of mind knowing that my kitchen and pantry are stocked for the coming months.

If you enjoyed this post, don’t forget to check out my other Pantry Challenge videos for cooking inspiration, grocery hauls, and money-saving tips!