An extra twenty can make a difference

Perhaps you've had some money returned from your taxes, maybe there's been a small financial windfall. Either way, if you can spare an extra $20, get ahead and invest it in food. Now is the time to do it! Check out the sales, see if you can find any coupons or maybe you can buy in bulk with a friend and share.

Grocery stores usually have a three month sales cycle. This means that at certain times of the year, they'll put staples on sale: first you get a lower price on a particular product, the next week you can get that same product "two for one" and the third week it'll be even cheaper. The week after that, it'll go back to its original price until the three months are over and they start all over again. Once you know that, you can keep track of the price fluctuations and store enough to hold you over the weeks the product is at its highest.

Try to invest in basic food items: flour, salt, milk, potatoes, canned meat, dried beans, spices etc instead of prepared or canned meals or frozen so-called TV dinners. These items, although convenient, are riddled with unhealthy ingredients and are very expensive in comparison. If you don't know how to cook or preserve food, call a friend who does and plan a day of cooking together. Those of us that love to cook, enjoy sharing our knowledge with others so don't hesitate to ask! You can learn a new skill that will allow you to take control over your family's health and wellbeing and go home with a freezer and a pantry full of food!

You can store foods in several places, and in various forms. First of all, make sure that the area where you store your food is not subject to high temperature changes (cupboards over refrigerators or next to dishwashers or stoves can get pretty warm) or strong daylight. When buying canned items, the pull-top lids are easy and convenient, but do tend to burst if stored for a long time. Make sure you keep an extra (manual) can opener at hand, preferably in your food storage area, so it doesn't "disappear" from the kitchen.

That's it for now. More on food pantries and storage later. Know that for now, you are starting to get your pantry together. It's the most loving thing you can do for yourself and your family.