Many people overlook the freezer when calculating storage space for their pantry. A stand-up of chest freezer will become a loved addition to your space as it is filled with leftovers and freezer meals over the coming weeks and months. Even the small freezer will come in handy.
A freezer will come in handy when storing leftovers from meals, as well as fruit mix-ups and vegetable mix-ups. You will also be able to store other items in your freezer, such as:
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Venison you have cut up yourself.
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Meat packages.
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Prepared casseroles, pizzas and soups for easy dinners.
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Packages of food bought on sale, such as butter, cheeses and sandwich meat.
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Homemade breads, muffins, pancakes, french toast and waffles.
Using a freezer allows you to save money on your food budget, because you can buy more foods on sale. Watch your savings soar as you begin purchasing from Oops! Racks and discount carts. (Walmart has an Oops! Rack where they sell bakery goods they made too much of. Breads, cakes and other foods.)
By purchasing reusable freezer containers, you will save money over the long haul. You will not need to purchase as many freezer bags and wraps. Even when washing these to reuse, you are spending more money than is necessary, plus you are sending them to the landfill when they are no longer useful.
ACTION STEPS:
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Purchase a freezer, if you will be using a separate one from your refrigerator and do not yet have it.
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Purchase what supplies you will need for freezing food.
NOTE: Purchasing eco-friendly, non-toxic containers is the best practice. Search out sales and coupons for these items, or ask for them as holiday or birthday gifts.
UP NEXT: Beyond Food: Necessities for Preparing and Stocking Food
Shannon
http://livingthelowincomelife.wordpress.com
http://frugalrecipes.wordpress.com/february-2012-create-a-pantry-in-1-month-challenge/
I had to come back and comment here. When i initially read through this post, i thought about getting a freezer, but since i don’t usually fill up the freezer attached to the fridge, i kinda figured it would be a “sometime in the future” purchase. Then, a relative gifted me with a two cases of cauliflower (12 large heads in each), one case of broccoli florets (25 lbs), and a case of celery (25 lbs). I blanched the celery and most of the broccoli and packed it in the freezer, and that’s kind of all the room i had in there! still have the two cases of cauliflower to get through.
Apparently I’ve been telling too many people about my frugal journey since they now assume that means i don’t have money to buy food. Hence all the food gifts! also was gifted a 14 pound turkey “for the kids” (i’m a vegetarian). I’m seriously considering getting a stand alone freezer!
Wow, LOL. You are certainly acquiring some food stock there. Good for you. Even a small chest freezer would be helpful, though a larger one is always great.