Stock up vs Use up?

gravitytolls

I am trying very hard to use up the contants of the freezers so I can defrost them, but no matter how hard I try, I can't seem to stop stocking up. Every time I see a bargain, I buy lots and freeze, and I like ot have th emilk and bread staples in.

SO I figures I'd run down one freezer, and use the other while that one defrosted..... I must've starved in a previous life, as I just can't leave them empty.

[Deleted User]

I have a stash of Sardines ,Pilchards ,Beans ect and have been working my way though my cupboards and freezer for the past two months and still have lots of food in store. I have definitely cut back as it's daft .I must have at least £100.00 worth of food in my kitchen if not more .Since September I have been on the GC challenge and found that I have saved such a lot. I am determined to keep going until my store cupboards are a lot lower.Its so silly to have all that cash sitting around in my cupboards doing nothing

brila

LittleVoice wrote: »

Does your household insurance policy cover content of freezer?

I personally think those sorts of policies are a waste of time. Insurance should be for extreme events. The "bells and whistles" policies which cover you spilling coffee on your sofa and your doorknob falling off are really expensive and you are slated to lose (or how else would the insurance company make any money?). You would me much better off (IMHO) with a more modest policy which covers rare and major events (like getting burgled - UK average is every home once every 80 years, or your home burning down). Then save the difference to cover wear and tear on appliances and furniture and accidents. My bank keeps quoting me for home insurance, but it is nearly £500 a year more expensive than my current pared down policy. I would rather decide myself which of my claims to pay than leave it in the hands of profiteering financial organisations!

Primrose

As regards insurance, (kitchen appliances, lost freezer contents, etc), if you're really on an economy drive and don't feel able to fund every possible insurance under the sun, maybe it's worth setting up a separate "Insurance" savings account and every month paying into it what you can afford. Then if you don't need to claim, the money can go on building up and earning interest. If you do need to claim, the money is there. Sometimes putting a little away each month will build up a far bigger insurance reserve than you would every have paid out on the premiums.

rosieben

I dont have any insurance. Years ago household insurance would automatically cover freezer contents, loss of personal items outside the home and loads else. Its such a rip off now with useful things taken out of a basic policy so you have to pay extra to get it.

My ex ll was telling me that he insured an empty property and basically he was covered for flood (its at the top of a steep hill!) and if a plane crashed into the place so he had to fork out extra to get cover for fire, burglary etc. as the property was empty (its up for sale). I honestly cant see how a property is more likely to catch fire if its empty but that's the money grabbing way insurance compaines work now.

I like your idea of saving a set amount each month Primrose, I think I'll be starting that soon.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

I had someone exclaim that I had enough squirrelled away to last me 3 months in terms of pasta, rice, tins of beans and lentils, baked beans, (more of buying as many tins as possible rather than a proper stock pile I haven't reached that Advanced Stage of MSE Evolutionary Thinking yet).
The whole Use By dates get me down so I end up throwing out my riches.
Maybe I need some Approved Foods therapy?

[Deleted User]

I stocked up. so that my freezer was packed full and any available cupboard was full as was the bottom of the wardrobe and now I am in use up mode, still doing hm and os so hardly a dent after a month. I still have plenty of greens and roots on the allotment so have only spent £23 in a whole month .

I have the seeds in for new veg and have grown winter lettuces and sprouting seeds and can see my stores doing us fine all through the summer tbh. I moved some money into savings accounts this month and also last month and it is purely down to my storecupboard, which includes home dehydrated and vac packed foods. It has been so worth while and something I intend to do again next autumn. It has saved me a lot of money

lushlifesaver

I'd love to know where eveyone keeps their stores?
Our house is a reasonable size but has no space that would make sense as a 'pantry'/store really (actually it has very little cupboard/closet space full stop!). I'm thinking of using the top shelf in the closet where the washing machine is...

Mrs_Veg_Plot

We use the garage. Pasta , rice, porridge etc in lidded plastic storage boxes and tinned items in a non lidded plastic box. HM Jams, pickels and chutneys are on shelves in the garge.
Toiletries are kept in a wardrobe in the spare room and toilet rolls in the airing cupboard.

wouldbeqaulitymoneysaver

*Crosses herself* I confess I hoard rather than rotate. I end up 'losing touch' with certain ingredients [I have in stock] and hence end up throwing them away (Mr T with it's demands for mathematics degree and variable pricing does not help)..

I have ended up throwing away out of date beans, lentils and the like so good work goes to waste.

I am also overwhelmed by my Store Cupboard and can't see anything. It is in a corner making it easy not to see what's in it.

Periodically I just sit down and browse the cupboards. Mr T gets me down (throw outs) and reminds me Waitrose [et al not yet implemented] is the only way out.