I was so proud of myself for planning ahead for my meals this week. With my recipes all laid out and my grocery list ready, I headed out to our local store and got everything I needed. No last minute stops at a convenience store, no pizza delivery, and no fast food. Good for me!
My bubble was burst, however, when I got home and started putting my groceries away. Lo and behold, I had purchased several items that I already had in my pantry. Now that wouldn't be a big problem except that I bought those items earlier at a great sale price and now have paid full price simply because I didn't remember I had them. Unnecessary pantry items purchased at full price. Ugh! Talk about wasting money.
I think it's time for a plan to get my pantry set up so that I don't buy food when I don't need it and when it's not on sale. A 4 step plan should work for me. Let's see if it will work for you, too.
Step 1: Clear Out Your Pantry. Pick a day, make a cup of coffee, and start cleaning out your pantry or cupboards out of all the dry or canned food items. Take everything out, checking each item for expiration dates or damage. Then wipe your shelves off so you can start fresh with a clean space.
Step 2: Sort Items From Your Pantry. Take time to examine your pantry items and sort them by type. You can use categories like tomato products, broth, crackers, sauces, noodles, salad dressings, baking goods, or whatever you think. Same with the spices, but I think it's easiest to arrange them alphabetically so you can sort through all the duplicate spices and throw out the old ones. Be sure to, once again, examine the packages and throw out anything that is beyond an expiration date.
Step 3: Create A Working List Of Basic Items. Writing down what you have in your pantry and keeping track of the items as you buy and use them seems like work. Well, it is, at first, but once you start using it, you'll save time and money just knowing what you already have in the pantry. Using a column and row type paper, list your most often used items and the number you have in the pantry. Then as you use them, cross one off, and as you buy them add what you buy. This method is very easy once you get the hang of it.
Step 4: Shop For Pantry Items Using Your List. Now when you make your grocery list for the week's meals, refer to your list and you'll know what you have and what you need. One exception to this is when you find a food item on sale that's on your "basics" list, items like diced tomatoes or chicken broth. These items are always welcome in my pantry, but only at a reduced price.
In a perfect world we know what we have in our pantry and only buy food when we need it and it's always at a sale price. Since we don't live in that dream world, we all end up with food lost in the far recesses of the cupboard or pantry shelves. Once your pantry items are inventoried, categorized, and listed, your grocery shopping trips should never again yield a gross of unneeded, duplicated, and overpriced surprises. - 15275
My bubble was burst, however, when I got home and started putting my groceries away. Lo and behold, I had purchased several items that I already had in my pantry. Now that wouldn't be a big problem except that I bought those items earlier at a great sale price and now have paid full price simply because I didn't remember I had them. Unnecessary pantry items purchased at full price. Ugh! Talk about wasting money.
I think it's time for a plan to get my pantry set up so that I don't buy food when I don't need it and when it's not on sale. A 4 step plan should work for me. Let's see if it will work for you, too.
Step 1: Clear Out Your Pantry. Pick a day, make a cup of coffee, and start cleaning out your pantry or cupboards out of all the dry or canned food items. Take everything out, checking each item for expiration dates or damage. Then wipe your shelves off so you can start fresh with a clean space.
Step 2: Sort Items From Your Pantry. Take time to examine your pantry items and sort them by type. You can use categories like tomato products, broth, crackers, sauces, noodles, salad dressings, baking goods, or whatever you think. Same with the spices, but I think it's easiest to arrange them alphabetically so you can sort through all the duplicate spices and throw out the old ones. Be sure to, once again, examine the packages and throw out anything that is beyond an expiration date.
Step 3: Create A Working List Of Basic Items. Writing down what you have in your pantry and keeping track of the items as you buy and use them seems like work. Well, it is, at first, but once you start using it, you'll save time and money just knowing what you already have in the pantry. Using a column and row type paper, list your most often used items and the number you have in the pantry. Then as you use them, cross one off, and as you buy them add what you buy. This method is very easy once you get the hang of it.
Step 4: Shop For Pantry Items Using Your List. Now when you make your grocery list for the week's meals, refer to your list and you'll know what you have and what you need. One exception to this is when you find a food item on sale that's on your "basics" list, items like diced tomatoes or chicken broth. These items are always welcome in my pantry, but only at a reduced price.
In a perfect world we know what we have in our pantry and only buy food when we need it and it's always at a sale price. Since we don't live in that dream world, we all end up with food lost in the far recesses of the cupboard or pantry shelves. Once your pantry items are inventoried, categorized, and listed, your grocery shopping trips should never again yield a gross of unneeded, duplicated, and overpriced surprises. - 15275
About the Author:
Nicole Dean is the mostly-sane mom and owner of ShowMomtheMoney.com - a resource dedicated to helping moms work from home successfully. She invites you to learn more ways to save money in her Kitchen Organization section. Be sure to sign up for her free lessons for work at home moms.
