TIL I was wasting cash by not checking my pantry first for 6 months straight

I used to plan my meals by scrolling recipe sites and buying every single ingredient fresh. Then last Tuesday I realized I had 3 half-used bags of rice, a bunch of lentils, and some canned tomatoes I forgot about from a sale in January. It hit me that I was spending around 4 to 5 bucks on dinners when I could have made something solid for under 2 bucks using stuff I already owned. On one hand, buying fresh means you get exactly what a recipe asks for and it tastes consistent. On the other hand, digging through your cabinets first saves cash and cuts down on waste. So which side are you on? Do you plan meals around what's in your pantry or buy everything new each time?

2 comments

2 Comments

fiona_murphy4d ago

Three half-used bags of rice and you're just now realizing this? Sounds like you've been running a stealth carb collection service, mate.

jessica8414d ago

It's not that deep, just grab what you have and call it a meal. Overthinking a few bucks and some rice seems like a lot of energy for something that probably takes 10 minutes.