• Home
    • Disclosure Policy
    • Privacy Policy
  • About Me
    • Media & PR
  • Get Started
  • Nav Social Menu

Family Friendly Frugality

Daily Deals, How to Use Coupons and Money Saving Tips

Frugal Living

More Posts from Frugal Living

  • Shopping
    • Bargains
    • Coupons
    • Gift Guides
    • Reviews & Giveaways
  • Make Money
    • Blogging
    • Continuing Education
    • Make Money Online
    • Side Hustles
    • Work From Home Jobs
  • Save Money
    • Budgeting
    • Frugal Travel
    • Groceries
    • Lifestyle and Entertainment
  • Recipes
    • Frugal Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Holiday and Seasonal Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Meal Prep Recipes
    • Casserole Recipes
    • Baked Goods Recipes
  • Crafts & DIY
    • Crafts & DIY With Kids
    • DIY Beauty
    • DIY Household
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Home Decor DIY
You are here: Home / How To Save Money / How to Build Up a Pantry for Less (From Scratch) in a New Home or Apartment

How To Save Money

How to Build Up a Pantry for Less (From Scratch) in a New Home or Apartment

We may earn a small commission via affiliate links in this post. See disclosure policy and/or privacy policy for more details

Build-Up-Pantry

Hi Heather,

So i have read your e-book “Save Money in 7 Days“, and it seems simply complicated to start couponing. I am moving into a new apartment and i will be starting fresh with groceries and everything, and i would really love to coupon to save money. But i don’t know where to start. I wasn’t for sure if i could start where you start in this book, or if there is another route i could take since ill be starting out with nothing

ThankYou,

At first glance, I was confused by this email! The book is supposed to be a very elementary introduction into couponing, so how could it seem complicated?

Then I realized the key words here were “starting fresh with groceries and everything“.

Gosh, I remember how overwhelming that was!

You definitely can start couponing from day 1 in a new apartment, but you will need to build up your basics first (or simultaneously if you want to leap right into the coupon game!) and you might not have the coupons to make that possible from day 1.

My first suggestion in this case is to meal plan.

Simple meals made with simple ingredients.

Say you have $100 a week to spare on food and household goods. Try to make do with only $75 and use the other $25 to coupon and build up your stockpile. If you can, try to make do with just $50!

NOTE: (this is just a random # I came up with. You might have less to spend…you might have more. Regardless…aim for 25-50% of your budget to be used towards building your stockpile and try to live off the remainder with basic meals and shopping at the dollar store for other necessities).

Over time, you’ll find you will have built up the basics in your pantry, fridge and freezer and you can devote more of your food/household budget towards couponing to build up your stockpile.

If you stay very disciplined these first few months, you’ll be able to cut down your grocery and household budget to just what it necessary to keep yourself stocked with fresh produce and for what it costs to replenish your stockpile via couponing!

My ebook (free with email subscription) will teach you how to coupon like a pro.

Here are some simple and easy meals to get you started (add fresh produce where your budget allows!):

  • Spaghetti w/ sauce
  • Tostadas
  • Chicken with Rice
  • Easy Weeknight Lasagna
  • Chicken and Dumplings
  • Breakfast for dinner (here’s a yummy instant pancake recipe)
  • Chicken, Broccoli and Stuffing (need a slow cooker for this one, but it’s worth the investment for your new kitchen! Here’s one that is under $30)

The majority of these meals are family sized. Either cut them down to serve you and your roommate(s) or store the leftovers for lunches/later.

My next suggestion, as far as paper goods,  beauty products, etc…is that you’ll want to start playing the drugstore game. (the drugstore game is also detailed in my book, which you can sign up for here)

Hopefully you have a Walgreens or CVS by you? For your initial stock up though, head to the nearest dollar store!

Stock up on your initial necessities as cheaply as possible and then coupon to fill in the gaps/build up your stockpile. In time, you’ll get to the point where you’ll have more wiggle room to build your stockpile via couponing. To start though, you are going to need to be very strict with your budget!

It will be well worth it in the end!


2 Comments

Previous Post: « FREE Bali Bra- First 10,000 Only!
Next Post: GREAT Prices on Generic Claritin and Zyrtec »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Brenda says

    April 1, 2016 at 9:24 am

    Also, don’t forget to check places such as Ollie’s, The Dollar Tree, and Big Lots. Your dollar will go much further at these locations, and you can find high quality products as well.

    Reply
    • Heather says

      April 4, 2016 at 10:09 am

      Great point!

      Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

$49.99 (REG. $89.94)- Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity, Black Edition

$10.49 (REG. $14.99)- ThinkFun Cold Case: A Story to Die for– A Murder Mystery Game in a Box for Ages 14 and Up 2021

$45.00 (REG. $90.00)- IT Cosmetics Makeup Set – Includes Supersize Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (25.0 Medium) + Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Concealer Brush (1 fl oz) – with Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid & Antioxidants

$24.49 (REG. $34.95)- Easy Playhouse Police and Fire Station – Kids Art & Craft for Indoor & Outdoor Fun – Decorate & Personalize The Cardboard Fort, 32″ X 26. 5″ X 40. 5″ – Made in USA, Age 3+ [AMZN Exclusive], white

$10.00 – Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant, Gentle Facial Exfoliator for Blackheads, Large Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines, Travel Size, 1 Fluid Ounce – PACKAGING MAY VARY

$12.49 (REG. $14.99)- Gamewright The Scrambled States of America Game

$4.44 (REg $5.94)- Softsoap Moisturizing Liquid Hand Soap, Soothing Clean Aloe Vera – 7.5 Fluid Ounces (6 Pack)

$15.99 (REG. $22.99)- Hasbro Gaming Hungry Hungry Hippos Dino Edition Board Game, Pre-School Game for Ages 4 and Up; for 2 to 4 Players (Amazon Exclusive)

$16.69 (REG. 18.55)- Doorbell Decoration, LED Light-up Talking Eyeball Halloween Door Decoration, Halloween and Haunted House Party Prop Decoration

$9.49 (REG. $14.99)- 2-Pack of 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzles, for Adults, Families, and Kids Ages 8 and up, Retro Comics and Fruit Labels

$129.95 (REG. $149.99)- Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker with Air Fryer Lid, 6 Quart Stainless Steel/Black, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Dehydrate, Slow Cook, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté

$179.00 (REG. $249.00)- Apple AirPods Pro

As Low As $2.99 (Reg $5.99) – Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Liquid Foundation Makeup

$8.46 (Reg $11.76)- Ortega Diced Green Chiles, Mild, 4 Oz (Pack of 12)

$23.80 ($7.00 / Fl Oz) (REG. $28.00 ($8.24 / Fl Oz))- Olaplex Hair Perfector No 3 Repairing Treatment, 3.3 Ounce (Packaging may vary)

$34.20 (REG. $57.00)- Urban Decay Eye Makeup Set ($76 Value) – Naked Petite Heat Eyeshadow Palette + Perversion Volumizing Mascara + 24/7 Glide-On Waterproof Eyeliner Pencil

$15.28 (REg $18.99)- CeraVe Moisturizing Cream | Body and Face Moisturizer for Dry Skin | Body Cream with Hyaluronic Acid and Ceramides | 19 Ounce

$119.99 (REG. $259.99)- Philips BASS+ NX200 Wireless Bluetooth Party Speaker, Light Effects, Karaoke Features, 160W Max, 2X Mic-inputs, 1x Guitar Input, up to 14 Hours of Playtime (TANX200)

$4.74 (Reg $5.50)- NYX PROFESSIONAL MAKEUP Mechanical Eyeliner Pencil

$169.95 (REG. $349.95)- Beats Studio3 Wireless Noise Cancelling Over-Ear Headphones – Apple W1 Headphone Chip, Class 1 Bluetooth, 22 Hours of Listening Time, Built-in Microphone – Matte Black (Latest Model)

$14.49 (REG. $29.99)- ThinkFun Gravity Maze Marble Run Brain Game and STEM Toy for Boys and Girls Age 8 and Up – Toy of the Year Award Winner

$127.99 (REG. $249.99)- Lexar PLAY 1TB microSDXC UHS-I-Card, Up To 150MB/s Read, Compatible-with Nintendo-Switch, Portable Gaming Devices, Smartphones and Tablets (LMSPLAY001T-BNNNU)

$10.49 (REG. $20.99)- Hasbro Gaming Bop It!Game Brown/a, led-anti-stress-ball-61

$2.25 (Reg $3) – e.l.f, Bite-Size Eyeshadows, Creamy, Blendable, Ultra-Pigmented, Easy to Apply, Rose Water, Matte & Shimmer, 0.12 Oz

$10.49 (REG. $19.99)- Mattel Games Disney Apples to Apples Game [Packaging May Vary] [Amazon Exclusive]

  
Google
Custom Search

amazon suggested

big sidebar ad google

Google ad

Totaly Her ASidebar tall ad

Amazon Ad – Sidebar

FFF Link Unit In Post

FFF Leaderboard google ad

$49.99 (REG. $89.94)- Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity, Black Edition

$10.49 (REG. $14.99)- ThinkFun Cold Case: A Story to Die for– A Murder Mystery Game in a Box for Ages 14 and Up 2021

$45.00 (REG. $90.00)- IT Cosmetics Makeup Set – Includes Supersize Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (25.0 Medium) + Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Concealer Brush (1 fl oz) – with Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid & Antioxidants

$24.49 (REG. $34.95)- Easy Playhouse Police and Fire Station – Kids Art & Craft for Indoor & Outdoor Fun – Decorate & Personalize The Cardboard Fort, 32″ X 26. 5″ X 40. 5″ – Made in USA, Age 3+ [AMZN Exclusive], white

$10.00 – Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant, Gentle Facial Exfoliator for Blackheads, Large Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines, Travel Size, 1 Fluid Ounce – PACKAGING MAY VARY

Children’s Clothing

More Posts from Children's Clothing

Reviews & Giveaways

Sam’s Club – $4700 in Instant Savings – Get STocked Up for the Holiday Season Today! PLUS Enter to Win a $100 eGift Card! #SamsClubHolidayPrep

(1) $2.50 Off Coupon for LALA® Yogurt Smoothies – 5g of Protein, Made with Real Fruit + a New Flavor!

Coleman 8 Person Tent On Sale Plus A Review On The Coleman Montana 8 Person Tent! (On Sale $95)

Wireless Charger for Kindle Fire

Wireless Charger for Kindle Fire? The Answer to Charging Your Kindle Fire Wirelessly

Review of SAS Women’s Marina Stylish & Comfy Sandals!

More Posts from Reviews & Giveaways

Crafts & DIY

FREE Editable Google Drive Schedule For Distance Learning!!!

Lizzie’s Corner: Tiny Dish Soap Slime

Marshmallow Madness: Snowmen S’mores & Marshmallow Snowmen Candy Sticks (A How-To)

This is the best easy diy nap mat tutorial! If I can do it, anybody can! Make these adorable nap mats for your kids. FYI, I originally made these nap mats back in 2010 and they are still going strong in 2018! #sewing #beginnersewingprojects #sewingtutorials #easysewingtutorials

Easy DIY Nap Mat Tutorial

This DIY make your own paint recipe uses ingredients you likely already have in your pantry right now! This fun paint recipe for kids is super easy to make and there are endless possibilities for your kids to create! Even better, it is technically edible paint, so even your littlest ones can experiment! #paint #paintforkids #homemadepaint #homemadepaintrecipe #craftsforkids #diypaintrecipe

Make Your Own Paint Recipe! Homemade Doodle Paint

More Posts from Crafts & DIY

Frugal Recipes

More Posts from Frugal Recipes

Bargains

$49.99 (REG. $89.94)- Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity, Black Edition

$10.49 (REG. $14.99)- ThinkFun Cold Case: A Story to Die for– A Murder Mystery Game in a Box for Ages 14 and Up 2021

$45.00 (REG. $90.00)- IT Cosmetics Makeup Set – Includes Supersize Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (25.0 Medium) + Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Concealer Brush (1 fl oz) – with Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid & Antioxidants

$24.49 (REG. $34.95)- Easy Playhouse Police and Fire Station – Kids Art & Craft for Indoor & Outdoor Fun – Decorate & Personalize The Cardboard Fort, 32″ X 26. 5″ X 40. 5″ – Made in USA, Age 3+ [AMZN Exclusive], white

$10.00 – Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant, Gentle Facial Exfoliator for Blackheads, Large Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines, Travel Size, 1 Fluid Ounce – PACKAGING MAY VARY

More Posts from Bargains

You Might Also Like:

$49.99 (REG. $89.94)- Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity, Black Edition

October 4, 2021 By Heather

Amazon currently has this Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity, Black Edition on sale right now. Includes Handle, Charger, Brush Head & Refill Stand Toothbrush whitens teeth by removing surface stains ... continue reading...

$10.49 (REG. $14.99)- ThinkFun Cold Case: A Story to Die for– A Murder Mystery Game in a Box for Ages 14 and Up 2021

October 4, 2021 By Heather

Amazon currently has this ThinkFun Cold Case: A Story to Die for– A Murder Mystery Game in a Box for Ages 14 and Up 2021 on sale right now. Immersive investigation experience with a complex story. Contains 28 pieces of evidence needed to solve ... continue reading...

$45.00 (REG. $90.00)- IT Cosmetics Makeup Set – Includes Supersize Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (25.0 Medium) + Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Concealer Brush (1 fl oz) – with Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid & Antioxidants

October 4, 2021 By Heather

Amazon currently has this IT Cosmetics Makeup Set - Includes Supersize Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (25.0 Medium) + Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Concealer Brush (1 fl oz) - with Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid & Antioxidants on sale right ... continue reading...

Frugal Living

More Posts from Frugal Living

Frugal Recipes

More Posts from Frugal Recipes

Children’s Clothing

More Posts from Children's Clothing

Categories

  • Shopping
    • Bargains
    • Coupons
    • Gift Guides
    • Reviews & Giveaways
  • Make Money
    • Blogging
    • Continuing Education
    • Make Money Online
    • Side Hustles
    • Work From Home Jobs
  • Save Money
    • Budgeting
    • Frugal Travel
    • Groceries
    • Lifestyle and Entertainment
  • Recipes
    • Frugal Recipes
    • Quick and Easy Recipes
    • Slow Cooker Recipes
    • Breakfast Recipes
    • Lunch Recipes
    • Dinner Recipes
    • Side Dishes
    • Dessert Recipes
    • Holiday and Seasonal Recipes
    • Instant Pot Recipes
    • Meal Prep Recipes
    • Casserole Recipes
    • Baked Goods Recipes
  • Crafts & DIY
    • Crafts & DIY With Kids
    • DIY Beauty
    • DIY Household
    • Holiday Crafts
    • Home Decor DIY

$49.99 (REG. $89.94)- Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity, Black Edition

Amazon currently has this Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity, Black Edition on sale right now. Includes Handle, Charger, Brush Head & Refill Stand Toothbrush whitens teeth by removing surface stains starting day 1 Bluetooth technology for personalized brushing routines and daily monitoring In-handle brushing timer pulses every 30 seconds to brush for the dentist recommended 2 minutes Rechargeable ... continue reading...

$49.99 (REG. $89.94)- Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity, Black Edition

$10.49 (REG. $14.99)- ThinkFun Cold Case: A Story to Die for– A Murder Mystery Game in a Box for Ages 14 and Up 2021

$45.00 (REG. $90.00)- IT Cosmetics Makeup Set – Includes Supersize Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (25.0 Medium) + Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Concealer Brush (1 fl oz) – with Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid & Antioxidants

$49.99 (REG. $89.94)- Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity, Black Edition

Amazon currently has this Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth ... continue reading...

$10.49 (REG. $14.99)- ThinkFun Cold Case: A Story to Die for– A Murder Mystery Game in a Box for Ages 14 and Up 2021

Amazon currently has this ThinkFun Cold Case: A Story to Die for– A Murder Mystery Game in a Box ... continue reading...

$45.00 (REG. $90.00)- IT Cosmetics Makeup Set – Includes Supersize Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (25.0 Medium) + Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Concealer Brush (1 fl oz) – with Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid & Antioxidants

Amazon currently has this IT Cosmetics Makeup Set - Includes Supersize Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer ... continue reading...

$24.49 (REG. $34.95)- Easy Playhouse Police and Fire Station – Kids Art & Craft for Indoor & Outdoor Fun – Decorate & Personalize The Cardboard Fort, 32″ X 26. 5″ X 40. 5″ – Made in USA, Age 3+ [AMZN Exclusive], white

Amazon currently has this Easy Playhouse Police and Fire Station - Kids Art & Craft for Indoor ... continue reading...

$10.00 – Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant, Gentle Facial Exfoliator for Blackheads, Large Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines, Travel Size, 1 Fluid Ounce – PACKAGING MAY VARY

Amazon currently has this Paula's Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant, ... continue reading...

$12.49 (REG. $14.99)- Gamewright The Scrambled States of America Game

Amazon currently has this Gamewright The Scrambled States of America Game on sale right ... continue reading...

$4.44 (REg $5.94)- Softsoap Moisturizing Liquid Hand Soap, Soothing Clean Aloe Vera – 7.5 Fluid Ounces (6 Pack)

Amazon currently has this Softsoap Moisturizing Liquid Hand Soap, Soothing Clean Aloe Vera - 7.5 ... continue reading...

$15.99 (REG. $22.99)- Hasbro Gaming Hungry Hungry Hippos Dino Edition Board Game, Pre-School Game for Ages 4 and Up; for 2 to 4 Players (Amazon Exclusive)

Amazon currently has this Hasbro Gaming Hungry Hungry Hippos Dino Edition Board Game, Pre-School ... continue reading...

$16.69 (REG. 18.55)- Doorbell Decoration, LED Light-up Talking Eyeball Halloween Door Decoration, Halloween and Haunted House Party Prop Decoration

Amazon currently has this Doorbell Decoration, LED Light-up Talking Eyeball Halloween Door ... continue reading...

$9.49 (REG. $14.99)- 2-Pack of 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzles, for Adults, Families, and Kids Ages 8 and up, Retro Comics and Fruit Labels

Amazon currently has this 2-Pack of 1000-Piece Jigsaw Puzzles, for Adults, Families, and Kids Ages ... continue reading...

Bargains

$49.99 (REG. $89.94)- Oral-B Pro 3000 Smartseries Electric Toothbrush with Bluetooth Connectivity, Black Edition

$10.49 (REG. $14.99)- ThinkFun Cold Case: A Story to Die for– A Murder Mystery Game in a Box for Ages 14 and Up 2021

$45.00 (REG. $90.00)- IT Cosmetics Makeup Set – Includes Supersize Bye Bye Under Eye Concealer (25.0 Medium) + Heavenly Luxe Complexion Perfection Concealer Brush (1 fl oz) – with Collagen, Hyaluronic Acid & Antioxidants

$24.49 (REG. $34.95)- Easy Playhouse Police and Fire Station – Kids Art & Craft for Indoor & Outdoor Fun – Decorate & Personalize The Cardboard Fort, 32″ X 26. 5″ X 40. 5″ – Made in USA, Age 3+ [AMZN Exclusive], white

$10.00 – Paula’s Choice Skin Perfecting 2% BHA Liquid Salicylic Acid Exfoliant, Gentle Facial Exfoliator for Blackheads, Large Pores, Wrinkles & Fine Lines, Travel Size, 1 Fluid Ounce – PACKAGING MAY VARY

More Posts from Bargains

Archives

Reviews & Giveaways

Sam’s Club – $4700 in Instant Savings – Get STocked Up for the Holiday Season Today! PLUS Enter to Win a $100 eGift Card! #SamsClubHolidayPrep

(1) $2.50 Off Coupon for LALA® Yogurt Smoothies – 5g of Protein, Made with Real Fruit + a New Flavor!

Coleman 8 Person Tent On Sale Plus A Review On The Coleman Montana 8 Person Tent! (On Sale $95)

Wireless Charger for Kindle Fire

Wireless Charger for Kindle Fire? The Answer to Charging Your Kindle Fire Wirelessly

Review of SAS Women’s Marina Stylish & Comfy Sandals!

More Posts from Reviews & Giveaways

Never miss a post
Name: 
Your email address:*
Please wait...
Please enter all required fields Click to hide
Correct invalid entries Click to hide
No spam, ever. Promise. Powered by FeedBlitz
The privacy of our visitors is of extreme importance to us. See disclosure policy and/or privacy policy for more details.

Family Friendly Frugality  is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for website owners to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com, audible.com, and any other website that may be affiliated with Amazon Service LLC Associates Program. As an Amazon Associate [I or we] earn from qualifying purchases.

Footer

You’ll also love:

FREE Editable Google Drive Schedule For Distance Learning!!!

Lizzie’s Corner: Tiny Dish Soap Slime

Marshmallow Madness: Snowmen S’mores & Marshmallow Snowmen Candy Sticks (A How-To)

This is the best easy diy nap mat tutorial! If I can do it, anybody can! Make these adorable nap mats for your kids. FYI, I originally made these nap mats back in 2010 and they are still going strong in 2018! #sewing #beginnersewingprojects #sewingtutorials #easysewingtutorials

Easy DIY Nap Mat Tutorial

This DIY make your own paint recipe uses ingredients you likely already have in your pantry right now! This fun paint recipe for kids is super easy to make and there are endless possibilities for your kids to create! Even better, it is technically edible paint, so even your littlest ones can experiment! #paint #paintforkids #homemadepaint #homemadepaintrecipe #craftsforkids #diypaintrecipe

Make Your Own Paint Recipe! Homemade Doodle Paint

Copyright © 2023 · Divine theme by Restored 316

Copyright © 2023 · Divine Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

Go to mobile version