I wanted to give you a day or so to get started with the spending freeze this month, for those of you that wanted to do it.

If you missed the original post, we are doing a “Spending Freeze” for October to help get some extra Christmas money or add to our savings. Read the first post HERE to get started.

Much of what we need to do this week is get organized. If you are like me, you have unnecessarily spent money on items because you had no idea that you already had them and re-bought. That is SOOOO frustrating!

For me FOOD is most important! Today we need to get our pantry in order so that come dinner time, we don’t end up eating out!

Ruth has prepared some printable sheets to get you started!

Here is what to do:

1. Clear your kitchen counters and table before you begin so you have plenty of space to work with
2.  Take out all the food from your pantry cupboard(s).  As you remove it, put like items together.  Be sure to put all OPEN items in a separate section.  As you go, toss any items are no longer edible.
3. Wipe down cleared shelves.
4. Use this pantry inventory worksheet to write down everything you have, going section by section though the different types of items.  Place items neatly back in pantry once you’ve inventoried that section.  Be sure to put open items that you are currently using in a separate cupboard or on a separate shelf.  Make a rule to not open a new package until the old one is finished!

Cleaning out your pantry to start new and fresh is a great feeling! Plus, I am always surprised how much food is open, stale and I have to toss.

BUT it will give you an idea of what you have to work with in the next month to eat at home and save some money not eating out.

So, grab a trash bag, get a kid to help and organize your panty!