Dithering - shall I keep a store cupboard?

Pooky

When we moved house in April our large 6ft freezer died, luckily we'd run it down for the move and everything left was cooked and used up but it did make me think about just how much stuff would have "died" with the freezer had it been full.

Once in we aquired a 2nd hand under the counter style freezer which looked impossibly small but we've actually realised we can get everything we need in there for a good couple of weeks worth of meals, and as one pot of stock/soup/batch cooked meal comes out, it frees up room for the next one.

I've also gone from a large larder style cupboard to 2 small cupboards and a baking and spices draw, based on the fact that theres a supermarket within 10 mins walk, I really don't need to keep in 12 of everything.

As long as I can whip up a cake if visitors plan to turn up, can stretch a meal with some beans/oats/extra veggies if a friend stays for tea, then I guess I'd rather have the money in the bank.

As for stockpiling whilst on offer, lets face it most offers cycle round and round now and if you wait for a month or 6 weeks it will be on offer again.

jackieglasgow

With one and thing and another, my husband's had no income for the last three and a half months, and as I only work p/t, times have been really really tight around here. I have (not through choice) had about ten NSDs in the last fourteen, and if I hadn't had my very meagre storecupboard, we would have most likely have starved. All that's left there now is a bag of pasta, some sugar, flor and Couscous (and some raisins) and a couple of bags of frozen veg in the freezer - Mr T's basic Broccoli and Cauli bought in my weekly shop last week which totalled £14.00 :eek:! I'm dreading trying to find the money to stock up again, and hope I haven't underestimated my challenge value.

My vote is for having a storecupboard, no matter how small, as you never know what is going to happen with money, ten months ago my husband was earning more in a week than I do in a month - unfortunately the savings are all gone now!

That sounds a bit pathetic, and as if I'm feeling sorry for myself, I'm not, I'm actually surprised at how philisophical I feel about the whole thing, I'm too busy getting on with it!:undecided

carriebradshaw

I do keep a good stockpile going and keep rotating things so they don't go out of date. My main reason for doing this is because we live a long way from the supermarket so I only have to do a big shop every 4 -6 weeks.The few local shops I have access to are just far too expensive for me and so Ionly use them for a few basics each week. It's a shame as I'd love to support the local economy and buy all my shopping here but I really can't afford to. Another reason I like to have things in is in case the car ever goes off the road or maybe we're ill in some way and can't go shopping for a while,so it's well worth it for us.

merlin68

It's a good idea to have at least 6 weeks of food in the house. As when my hubbie lost his job in oct we had to wait 6 weeks for our dole money to come through and without my stocks of everything we would have gone very hungry.
I am now building it up again.

Athome1

I was born in the mid 50's and money was very tight. My mother just about fed us but there wasn't enough cash left over to stock up a larder. I feel this is the reason that I am a complete squirrel, I have a purpose built, walk-in cupboard full to bursting with food and household stuff! It all gets used in roatation but I would feel bereft without it - my OH calls it my security blanket:o

Having read the above again it it makes me sound very neurotic and I promise I'm not (well in most things anyway;)).

I know there are lots of folk on here who have emergency stuff tucked away so at least I don't feel lonely!!:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

maman

I'm with the storecupboard camp. I believe that if you can afford some money for your storecupboard then you save more in the long run. I'm still using up tins of tomatoes from before the recent price hike. I try to buy as little as possible that isn't on offer then 'shop' from my storecupboard alongside my meal plan.

merlin68

That would be my dream to have a purpose built cupboard.
Mine is stashed all over the house.
I like to have at least 6 weeks worth of food spare. For emergencies.

LilacPixie

I was born in the early 80's and I have a 'store cupboard' it isn't walk in but it does contain enough ambiant goods to last 2-3 weeks along with powdered milk etc. Not a clue why I do I just do.

frivolous_fay

My family home has a walk in larder, plus an additional full height built in cupboard. The larder also has ventilation to the outside.

Unfortunately, mum can never remember what she has because it's all buried... she buys lots she doesn't need, and meals are a bit disorganised anyway. When I visit I usually end up throwing things out that have things nesting in them... or bread mixes that are solid... or stale crackers etc!

If it was mine, things would be so different

painted_lady

I have a huge kitchen cupboard with 5 shelves, its about 7 foot high and I store tins, pasta, flour, rice, lentils, etc. We would be fine for a long long while if food suddenly stopped. I am 32, but just like to know there is always something in in case I cant get to the shops or I am ill or something.