Pantries and Preparedness, Your shopping options.

A little while ago I considered what it meant to "bring home food from far away places" as far as building up your pantry goes. Sometimes I think "far away places" are just on the other side of town!
Most of us have our regular stores that we like and we know where everything is. They are quick and easy. And we need them!

Sometimes it pays to explore wider and these days that can include online as well as across town. And it can include shops you might not normally think of!

Our city is just expanding and getting our first Aldi. We now have Costco and Tania and Mel have been telling me about their shopping experiences there! So that is in my plans now.
For people who use a lot of Asian ingredients Asian supermarkets are often much cheaper and the whole range of ethnic supermarkets can be fabulous and a fraction of the price of mainstream shops.

Years ago Dad went shopping in a butchers wholesaler. This was an eye opener. I don't know what I imagined a butchers wholesaler would have but they had so much an average home would use! He came home with the cheapest price on giant rolls of al foil, cling wrap, boxes of pasta cheaper than I had ever heard of... all amazing things.

Now,  not everyone can get into wholesalers but it is worth re thinking.... what shops could we explore and who do we know that might shop in wholesale and speciality shops?

Here in Adelaide two wholesalers that let the public in are ones I use. There is Speciality Meats in Thebarton. They let anyone in and the prices are wonderful. We watch the specials and swoop when it is something that suits us.
The other is Giganni Brothers, Bacon street, Hindmarsh. They are Greek food wholesalers and it is an adventure going there.

The first time I went there I was just amazed. For me their lines of herbs, pasta, rice and beans are so much cheaper than the supermarket. And it makes sense since they supply the supermarket.
This experience showed me just how much the supermarkets are making! And how much fun it is to go off on a food shopping expedition and explore. Sometimes it really pays off!

Also their herbs, in huge bags, are so much fresher. The first time I started using their Oregano it was as if I had never smelled Oregano before at all! I kept sniffing it... oooh it is so good. The tiny amounts sold in the supermarket don't compare. So it is not just cheaper, it is fresher.

Yesterday I went out to Giganni Brothers to buy some dry goods that I use, compare prices and get some things for all my new jars.
Today I am under the weather so I will not price exactly the price differences but I will guess that with herbs the price difference in some instances is not half it is more like one tenth. They sell multiple sizes and bulk is cheaper. But you have to buy what you will use.

It is a heavenly experience! They are also jar and bottle heaven.

I had saved a purse for this trip. I ended up with a great amount of things we love and will use for not very much at all. Now I will save and explore somewhere new next time.

For the benefit of your grocery budget and the building up of your pantry what are some places you could explore? Do you know anyone with a membership to somewhere you have never been? That is a good way to try out somewhere membership based.
Do you know any professionals or business owners who would have access to wholesalers? A friend who can get wholesale on certain items might be more than happy to help you do the same.
Do you know if any wholesalers near you let the general public shop at the same prices?
All of these things could possibly produce amazing savings. We kind of have to step out of the mainstream and explore. And it is really fun and educational too.

As I drove home yesterday, my car smelling strongly of Oregano, I felt like a woman returning home with food from far away places and thrilled with how inexpensive they are were. Now I have the joy of filling my lovely jars with supplies and admiring them all lined up and added to my pantry.
A joy only most of you understand yet tough to explain to some!

Branching out can be really good for our pantry. This is just one more way of making our food dollar go further and building up our supplies. This was so successful I am really looking forward to the next chance I get to do it again. An Asian supermarket I think...

I hope you are having a good week! xxx