Emptying the freezer/pantry

[hockeyprincess]

So we've been doing the "eating what we've got" from our pantry/freezer/etc for a couple of weeks now, and not eating out at all. Not from a money standpoint but just because we've got SO much and we just look at it and say.... "We've got NOTHING to eat! Let's go out!" and I said, enough of that.... So we've been having fun making creative menu's and using what's there. I am now finding myself not even wanting to go out to eat, which is a good thing, but am wondering if this happens to anyone else or am I a little wierd here? LOL

Also thinking, wow I usually spend about $40-50 per week on groceries, now that we're almost down to nothing, I'm going to have to spend much more than that!! Do you all run into this as well? That in itself could be a budget buster! I am the coupon queen and if it ain't on sale it ain't goin in momma's basket, but I'm still a little worried!

 

[hrh_disney_queen]

I did this awhile ago. I got so sick of my overstuffed freezer, and the solution to that is usually to throw stuff out. But that time, I just pulled stuff out, cooked it, and whatever goofy meal came out of it, no one could complain because I was getting rid of stuff in the freezer! I went about 2 weeks eating only out of the freezer and pantry, except for milk, bread, eggs...etc. And now I'm thinking it's about time to do it again!

 

[secretpantssam]

I've been doing this hard core for a few weeks. I'm closing on a house next week and I am refusing to go food shopping and then have to move the food when I get the house. Though I'm not too happy with it, since I'm running out of stuff I actually want. But it seems to be working at least.

I'm sure I will blow a ton at the grocery store when I move in, but since I haven't gone food shopping in about a month, I think it's okay.

 

[FergieTCat]

I'm renovating my kitchen, so about a month ago, I stopped buying groceries (except for some perishables) and ate whatever I had in the fridge. I had to be creative towards the end, mixing and matching side dishes, but I did finally get down to zero. And then I finished cleaning my refrigerator, which waits in my living room to be refilled!

 

[Tarheel Tink]

I swear I'm going to do this- I keep starting and then some fantastic meat/poultry sale occurs or someone gives us some salmon and mahi! I REALLY need to defrost the freezer but the sight of reduced ground beef is irresistable to me.
I'm really going to do it (keep repeating to self).

 

[hockeyprincess]

I swear I'm going to do this- I keep starting and then some fantastic meat/poultry sale occurs or someone gives us some salmon and mahi! I REALLY need to defrost the freezer but the sight of reduced ground beef is irresistable to me.
I'm really going to do it (keep repeating to self).

This is EXACTLY how I am....a good sale and I come home with TONS of it!! Hey what can I say... I'm a sucker for a sale! I'm scouring the ads today to go get a little, I hope! Just a little.... and keep the freezers cleaned out. We have a small deep freeze downstairs that I'm trying to get cleaned out and unplug, it's OLD and surely not energy efficient. You should give it a try, it has actually been fun!

 

[Newfie2000]

We do the same thing around here on a regular basis, but I have learned to take a large portion of the money I would of spent on groceries and put it in an envelope so that once I am emptied out I can start all over again without worrying about breaking the bank. I would also caution you not to try and refill it all right away because what I have found is that when I do hit the stores again I tend to buy a lot of what is on sale. If I refill slowly by only getting necessities and sale items I seem to wind up with a much greater variety.

 

[familyS]

We used up almost everything in the pantry and freezers, then defrosted the freezers and cleaned them.

I just restocked last weekend

It felt great~