There are a few spices that that I tend to use a lot of – minced garlic, minced onion, salt, pepper, paprika – to name a few.

I've discovered a great source of most spices at prices significantly less that what your supermarket charges: The Spice Barn.

The Spice Barn was recommended to me when I started making my own sausage and needed spices and seasonings in larger quantities. They offer spices in containers ranging from a small table-top shaker up to about 50 pounds. – all for a lot less than you are paying at the grocery store.

I started keeping track of the spices and seasonings I use frequently, and then purchase a year's worth of each at a time.