An Uncommon Way to Save Money

At House of Six, I’m all about saving money in small, manageable ways—especially the kind that quietly adds up without you feeling like you’re missing out. Today I want to share a little trick I’ve used. It’s similar to a business taking inventory. It’s called the Reverse Shopping List, and it can be a helpful way to save some money.

What’s a Reverse Shopping List?

It’s exactly what it sounds like: instead of making a list of what you need to buy, you make a list of what you already have. It’s like flipping your usual shopping routine on its head. You dig through your fridge, freezer, and pantry, and write down everything that’s still usable—even the half-empty bags of rice or those lonely cans of beans in the back of the cupboard.

Make a list

Write down everything in your pantry, freezer, and fridge that is still usable.

Once you see what’s already in your kitchen, you can start planning meals around those items. More often than not, I’ve found I already have enough to make several dinners, and suddenly my grocery list shrinks down to just a few essentials like milk or produce.

My husband and I have been doing this once a month for the last 6 months and have found that it’s a great way to use up items that might just sit on our pantry shelf for far too long. It also makes you feel like you’ve accomplished something good when you come up with creative or new dinners from something you already have at home.

How It Saves You Money

1. You’re not doubling up.
   I can’t tell you how many times I’ve bought another jar of pasta sauce only to find two already sitting in the pantry. The reverse list prevents that.

2. You use what you have before it goes bad.
   How many wilted greens or expired yogurt containers have we all tossed out? When you're focused on using what’s already there, you waste less and save more.

3. It keeps you out of the store.
   The less time you spend in a store, the fewer impulse purchases you make. That $4 bag of chips or $7 bottle of cold brew? It adds up fast.

Check your pantry once a month

This way, you are not doubling up on items you’ve already bought

How to Get Started

1. Grab a notepad or open your phone notes.

2. Go through your fridge, freezer, and pantry.

3. Write down everything you already have—don’t forget condiments, spices, and freezer odds and ends. Click the button below to grab the Reverse Grocery List - Use What You Have First to help you out with this.

4. Build meals from that list. Google is your best friend when you’re trying to figure out what to make with half a block of cream cheese and one sad zucchini. Believe me, I’ve used Google so many times and found recipes just by entering a couple of ingredients I have on hand.

5. Make a new list of only what you need to fill in the gaps—and stick to it.

This habit might feel a little backward at first, but once you try it, you’ll see how much it changes your mindset about food and spending. It’s not about going without—it’s about appreciating what you’ve already got.

Give it a shot this week, and let me know how it goes! And if you’ve got your own reverse list recipe wins, I’d love to hear about them.