Today we will play MI$$ION IMPO$$IBLE!!!!!! (?)
Your mission, should you decide to accept it is...……………….
INVENTORY!
This sounds very daunting I know. It may be, but it seems we should know exactly what we have on hand, so that we know how to make a plan for the future. Makes sense doesn't it?
I am talking about inventory everything. Empty your pantry and cabinets. Make a list of everything and how many you have. Clean the pantry and cabinets and re-arrange the food with the oldest to the front. We don't want things to get thrown out and waste hard earned dollars, just because we forgot we had something.
Next inventory your home canned goods. Again count and write it down per item. Clean and re-arrange. This will help you know what you need to can this year.
The freezers - YES the freezers. Same thing. Count and organize everything.
Get all pet products together and arrange. Know what you have. They have to survive too if something goes wrong in the future.
Make sure to check all the overstock you keep some where other than the pantry or cabinets. You need to know everything you have.
Also - paper products, laundry supplies, OTC meds and health and beauty.
YEP - it's a BIG MISSION!
PERFECT EXAMPLE - This week I was cleaning cabinets and drawers and came to realize that I have 33 boxes of assorted Jello and several bags of bulk flavored gelatin. I also have 28 boxes of instant pudding mix. WHAT? I had no idea I had that much - it was here and there and not all in one place. Now it is organized and all together in a place that I will see it regularly and use it.
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The reason I think this is a necessary evil is that we need to be aware of where we have gaps, and not go out spending all willy-nilly!
Not only that - but if something happens next week, next month, etc. you will know exactly what you have and how you can care for your family.
Knowing what you have lets you make better meal and snack choices.
It keeps us from going out to eat.
It saves money.
It keeps us from being wasteful.
IT MAKES COMPLETE SENSE!
So again, your mission, should you decide to accept it is - inventory ALL of your stocks. Clean and arrange. Makes an inventory sheet. (It can be in a notebook). Once you have inventoried and have all your chicken scratched pages together - clean it up, organize your list and make it neat and USE IT!
It is a huge job and may take a bit of time - but I bet it will amaze you and help you in the future.
This blog will NOT self destruct in 5 seconds.
Thank you
I so need to do this, but not until after the wedding. I am trying to use up what I have and have done rally well, especially with the meals I take out.I try and make all of them with either garden produce or storage items. So as little cost to me as possible. Ti is working.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good excuse to put it off for a while. You are doing good using up what you have!
DeleteI have been working on this.I know what's for dessert at your house!
ReplyDeleteYou bettcha! Jello or pudding made into you name it!! LOL
DeleteGlad you are working on it! It helps to know what we have.
I just inventoried my freezer, but my pantry and fridge/freezer need doing. Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteYou are very welcome. It is so nice knowing exactly what we have.
DeleteI do this every so often and sometimes I make a list but my storage areas are pretty much open and I can just see what we have.
ReplyDeleteI think Jellos and puddings are great items to have on hand- there so fast to prepare and just taste comfy and good too,
Glad to hear it. I have stuff every where.
DeleteYes they are great to have on hand for quick desserts - but geesh I had no idea I had so much!
Your blog might not self destruct but I just might if I open the pantry door. Every time I clean it up and re arrange it so everything is together, Bluey sees it as a challenge to see how quickly he can destroy the arrangement process. He does the meal cooking and the shopping. When he puts the shopping away he opens the pantry door and looks for some spare space and then shoves the shopping in. Our freezer is much the same. So I do go through the cupboard and I do organise but the self destruct mechanism walks in with the next lot of shopping and KABOOM!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! So I think I will self destruct.
ReplyDeleteLOL!!! I understand your predicament. I have a problem doing the same thing and I am the organizer! If I am in a hurry - it just gets stuck in there. I don't know why I just don't slow down and put it away properly.
DeleteI know you want it neat and organized, if for no other reason than to know what you have. Maybe if you keep at it, Bluey will eventually appreciate your efforts and work? Maybe he will see how easy it is to find things?
Nah, probably not!
Breathe and do not self destruct!
I cleaned out my pantry yesterday... almost empty, so no big deal. But I did find a lot of jello, too. LOL I made up some orange jello while I was cleaning and had a nice little dessert last night. :-))
ReplyDeleteGlad you found something you forgot about and then used it. It is so refreshing!!!!
DeleteI went through my basement pantry in April. I just did my extra freezer a few weeks ago. YD and I just went through all of the house hold and medical last week. We packed up a box for her to take to college with her. I try to go through everything at least twice a year.
ReplyDeleteGood job. Isn't that great that you had enough to send with her for college and without buying.
DeleteGood job. Twice a year is a good idea.
I do this with my freezer often but have been slack with the pantry. Time to do it! I always feel inspired after visiting your blog, Cheryl.
ReplyDeleteWell I am glad to help. Just don't cuss me while you are doing it!!! LOL
DeleteI am the opposite - I clean the pantry often - not the freezer.
Have fun!
I definitely need to do this all the way. My husband loves those single serve drink mixes. I put them all in a old pickle bologna jar and put 12 boxes in the recycling bin. Now I have room for more stuff!
ReplyDeleteI think we are all works in progress!
DeleteI like those little drink mixes as well. I have a jar of them on a shelf in the kitchen.
It is always nice to clean and organize and end up with room!
On the excess of jello...I have a pre-biotic resistant starch jello shake everyday! I started it as part of a research study on resistant starch (you can buy it on Amazon as a supplement for your diet and overall health, pre-biotics feed the pro-biotics in your intestine)...anyways, the one week I didn't do it was a week of intestinal misery...so ... 1/2 cup water, 2 to 3 ice cubes, 4 Tbsp starch, and 1/3 packet of jello. Whip in blender for a count to 90, then chug. Rinse blender and repeat the next day! I am using up all those sugary jello stores and how they needed to be done since hubs doesn't eat jello and the kids are out of the house now.
ReplyDeleteYour picture of the plastic totes/ buckets for gardening is inspiring. Have to start somewhere!
ReplyDelete