Do you know exactly what is in your pantry, in your cupboards and in the freezer?
Are you finding that you have more than a year's worth of free toothpaste in the bathroom, but you're running out of mouthwash because you forgot to buy enough?
This week's challenge is to take stock of your stockpile and make sure you are using your real estate wisely... make a list of items you have more than enough of... things that are maintaining and items that you could (with the right sale and coupons) use more of...
It's also a great time to spring clean and send some canned goods and toiletries you aren't going to use up to those who are less fortunate than you! Food banks and shelters can always use our extras and freebies we thought we'd love... do you really need 6 large containers of rolled oats?
Don't forget to watch for items that may be coming close to their best before dates!
Showing posts with label stockpiling. Show all posts
Showing posts with label stockpiling. Show all posts
Monday, April 5, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
It doesn't pay to throwaway...
I know that I preach the value of stockpiling and buying copious quantities of things when they come on sale... but it pays to remember - you won't eat what's expired and if you throw it away, you throw away your money too!
I was inspired to write this reminder today by a blog post I found on my Sunday bloggy travels.. You know it's bad when the velveeta's expired from the blog The Bormann Twins which I found through The SITSGirls...
It brings up three important points to remember in our couponning frenzy -
1. Buy what you know you will use in a given period of time ... if you know that your cereal is on a 3 month sale rotation, only buy what you will use in those 3 months give or take... (This is where your price book/grocery records can come in handy... one of my friends T also marks each box of cereal with the date she bought it and then the date she opens it, so she can track her usage!)
2. Even if you have a coupon, if you don't have a need- don't buy it... the only exception to this rule are freebies and money makers - and those you should donate right away if you are not going to use them!
3. Keep your pantry/fridge organized and do a monthly inventory... check all the expiry dates on everything - including the velveeta, condiments and even the pantry items - especially things like pancake mix and cake mixes etc... if the expiry date is within a month or two, use it up - or donate it!
That's this week's challenge to everyone - take a peek in your pantry, cupboards and fridge and find the stuff that is already staledated or going out... and do something about it! I'll have a check in on Sunday next week to see what everyone has unearthed...
***I also want to stress the health and safety of keeping your items fresh - here is a link to some excellent advice on food and expiry dates
**** and don't forget to stop by Acting Balanced today for a yummy recipe - it's MMMmonday!
I was inspired to write this reminder today by a blog post I found on my Sunday bloggy travels.. You know it's bad when the velveeta's expired from the blog The Bormann Twins which I found through The SITSGirls...
It brings up three important points to remember in our couponning frenzy -
1. Buy what you know you will use in a given period of time ... if you know that your cereal is on a 3 month sale rotation, only buy what you will use in those 3 months give or take... (This is where your price book/grocery records can come in handy... one of my friends T also marks each box of cereal with the date she bought it and then the date she opens it, so she can track her usage!)
2. Even if you have a coupon, if you don't have a need- don't buy it... the only exception to this rule are freebies and money makers - and those you should donate right away if you are not going to use them!
3. Keep your pantry/fridge organized and do a monthly inventory... check all the expiry dates on everything - including the velveeta, condiments and even the pantry items - especially things like pancake mix and cake mixes etc... if the expiry date is within a month or two, use it up - or donate it!
That's this week's challenge to everyone - take a peek in your pantry, cupboards and fridge and find the stuff that is already staledated or going out... and do something about it! I'll have a check in on Sunday next week to see what everyone has unearthed...
***I also want to stress the health and safety of keeping your items fresh - here is a link to some excellent advice on food and expiry dates
**** and don't forget to stop by Acting Balanced today for a yummy recipe - it's MMMmonday!
Monday, January 18, 2010
Salt Art...
You all probably know my couponning and saving obsession... but one of the by-products of that obsession is sometimes overbuying 'freebies'... one of the things I have been able to get free all winter has been salt - so every time I need around a buck to make up a trip to be able to use a $ off $$ coupon, I reach for another $0.50 off salt coupon which doubles to $1.00 at my Publix and buy the $0.89 canister of salt...
I have 5 canisters of salt in my cupboard now... not including the one that has been open for almost 1 year, but is finally coming to an end... so I decided to find some other way to use my salty bounty and came up with these cute art ideas that I thought I should share with you.... I am going to try and substitute gluten free flour in some of the recipes to let Liam participate in some of the projects...
Texturized Finger Paint (one of many great paint recipes on one page at theholidayzone.com, so I copied and pasted it here..._
This paint, made from only the most basic ingredients, is not your typical smooth fingerpaint; however, young students seem to enjoy the grainy mixture, and they also like the feel of the finished product.
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
3/4 cup water
food coloring OR tempera paint
Mix flour and salt, then add water. Mix untill all three ingredients are thoroughly blended. Add a few drops of liquid food coloring or tempera paint (dry or liquid) until desired color is reached. If necessary, you may add additional flower and salt in the following proportions: two teaspoons of flour, followed by one teaspoon of salt; alternate until desired consistency is reached.
Another one of many on one page so I copied it from fresnofamily.com
Salt Paint
1/8 Cup liquid Starch; 1/8 Cup Water; 1 Tbsp. Tempera Paint
Mix together and apply to paper with a brush. Keep stirring mixture. Paint will crystallize as it dries.
This one - Salt Art Pictures actually came across my desktop today from a blogger friend at adventures-in-mommy-land where she has detailed pics of her son's progress and art!
This one from kaboose.com is along the same lines as the one above, but adds a step to make multi-colored salt!
I have 5 canisters of salt in my cupboard now... not including the one that has been open for almost 1 year, but is finally coming to an end... so I decided to find some other way to use my salty bounty and came up with these cute art ideas that I thought I should share with you.... I am going to try and substitute gluten free flour in some of the recipes to let Liam participate in some of the projects...
Texturized Finger Paint (one of many great paint recipes on one page at theholidayzone.com, so I copied and pasted it here..._
This paint, made from only the most basic ingredients, is not your typical smooth fingerpaint; however, young students seem to enjoy the grainy mixture, and they also like the feel of the finished product.
1 cup flour
1/2 cup salt
3/4 cup water
food coloring OR tempera paint
Mix flour and salt, then add water. Mix untill all three ingredients are thoroughly blended. Add a few drops of liquid food coloring or tempera paint (dry or liquid) until desired color is reached. If necessary, you may add additional flower and salt in the following proportions: two teaspoons of flour, followed by one teaspoon of salt; alternate until desired consistency is reached.
Another one of many on one page so I copied it from fresnofamily.com
Salt Paint
1/8 Cup liquid Starch; 1/8 Cup Water; 1 Tbsp. Tempera Paint
Mix together and apply to paper with a brush. Keep stirring mixture. Paint will crystallize as it dries.
This one - Salt Art Pictures actually came across my desktop today from a blogger friend at adventures-in-mommy-land where she has detailed pics of her son's progress and art!
This one from kaboose.com is along the same lines as the one above, but adds a step to make multi-colored salt!
Of course there is always bakeable Salt Dough - many recipes... many ideas but here are a few links:
These ones are probably for older children but look fun!
Watercolour painting on homemade Salt Paper from Morton Salt
Salt Textures for watercolours from Watercolorpainting.com
Sunday, January 17, 2010
Is stockpiling wrong?
I had someone stop me in the supermarket the other day and ask me if I was feeding an army because I was buying 10 boxes of Honey Nut Chex... I said no, I am taking advantage of the sale (BOGO) and my coupons to get ahead and the fact that my family including my GF son eats Chex. She then made a non-repeatable comment about people who stockpile... the gist of which is stockpilers ruin the sales for other people...
My thoughts on this once I recovered from the fact that I was verbally accosted in Publix by a very nosy and rude person... was to reflect that if the stores were against multiple purchase buying then they would put limits on the number of items you could buy in a week or transaction... and that if you can't find what you want on the day you are shopping in Publix they have a fabulous rain check program...
I know that it can be frustrating to go looking for an advertised 'deal' item that is a feature ingredient in your dinner plans or something you've been salivating over since you saw they were on sale in the flier... because it has happened to me... and not just with sale items... and sometimes you just have to adjust...
but the good news is that stores often do limit the number of 'sale' items you can purchase if they have a limited supply and for those they have run out of unexpectedly they offer rain checks... and most will attach your expiring coupons to the back of the rain check to be used when they are back in stock...
I've also had situations where I've asked for a rain check because there is less than the quantity I want on the shelf and rather than deprive the 'single item' shopper, I will wait for all my stockpile items...
I've said my piece... now I open it to you .. what do you think?
My thoughts on this once I recovered from the fact that I was verbally accosted in Publix by a very nosy and rude person... was to reflect that if the stores were against multiple purchase buying then they would put limits on the number of items you could buy in a week or transaction... and that if you can't find what you want on the day you are shopping in Publix they have a fabulous rain check program...
I know that it can be frustrating to go looking for an advertised 'deal' item that is a feature ingredient in your dinner plans or something you've been salivating over since you saw they were on sale in the flier... because it has happened to me... and not just with sale items... and sometimes you just have to adjust...
but the good news is that stores often do limit the number of 'sale' items you can purchase if they have a limited supply and for those they have run out of unexpectedly they offer rain checks... and most will attach your expiring coupons to the back of the rain check to be used when they are back in stock...
I've also had situations where I've asked for a rain check because there is less than the quantity I want on the shelf and rather than deprive the 'single item' shopper, I will wait for all my stockpile items...
I've said my piece... now I open it to you .. what do you think?
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