Store cupboard challenge

[Deleted User]

Oh sp1987 you have been doing an inventory of my cupboards not yours, sorry but you will have to do the freezers now
Have a great Christmas

icontinuetodream

my thread got moved!!!! :eek: Really sorry....I started my challenge as a new thread as I didn't want to hijack anyone else's!! I will just keep my challenge on my normal thread rather than stealthily move in on yours!!

peony40

Hello,

I don't know if this thread is still running?

After having done an audit of my pantry and freezers plus awaiting an unintentionally larger internet grocery shop tomorrow i have decided that I need to start using up what I have in before doing anymore major grocery shops. I may need to supplement with some fresh bits every now and again, but i will try and be like jackie and only go when I have a few things on my list. Thanks jackie for your tips in your posts, I find them very helpful.

I think this challenge will dovetail nicely with the fiscal fast and grocery challenge that I am taking part in.

Bye for now,

Peony x

Frogletina

I should be finished making my inventory by this evening - I need a new system for dealing with my stores as I found a few things that were past their best before by dates.

All of last year I had a list of things in date order of when I bought them, but I am start a new list this year with the best before dates. I have already put aside the items with a bbd of 2015, and have a box of items to be used up ASAP.

peony40

Frogletina wrote: »

I should be finished making my inventory by this evening - I need a new system for dealing with my stores as I found a few things that were past their best before by dates.

All of last year I had a list of things in date order of when I bought them, but I am start a new list this year with the best before dates. I have already put aside the items with a bbd of 2015, and have a box of items to be used up ASAP.

I completed my inventory yesterday and purely by luck i had only a couple of item that i needed to throw. I have written a list with all the dates and asterixed those items that need to be used more quickly. I have all the item in date order and my spices lined up in alphabetical order rather than the jumbled mess they were in before.

Good idea to put the items in a box that need to be used first. That is what i like about this forum, the sharing of ideas.

Peony x

abby1234519

Its all got to a head now, my other half has gone ever so slightly mental at me.....

4 months ago we did a stock take of the food in the cupboards and freezer, and I agreed that I would not refill the cupboards or the freezer.

I haven't stuck to it. I still have a completely full freezer/chest freezer/full height larder cupboard/ one base cupboard full of food.

I genuinely think its sort of a comfort thing, I've obviously had money problems and still do to an extent so by having all the food then I can never starve even if something bad happens money wise.

I really need to get a grip of this. I struggle to meal plan however it just all gets to much for me. For instance, I will defrost meat or whatever and then go on supercook or something and I won't have all the ingredients so I panic and go shopping! So I've decided I am going to be a pain in the bottom and ask you lot. So this thread is going to sort of be a diary for me. When I get flustered and feel myself reaching for the car keys I will log on and tell you what I have and you can help me work out what we can live on for the day.

I don't have any family support and my other half can't cook so he is of no use.

I have defrosted some Christmas turkey so I plan to make a curry tonight with enough for OH to have for lunch tomorrow. I also have a butternut squash cooked in the fridge so will make butternut squash cakes. I then have to work out what to have for breakfast (which I eat at work) that doesn't involve a microwave. I either spend 64pence at work on toast and jam or I take cereal with me and milk. So the cereal option is probably best. I then need to work out what I can have for lunch. I don't have access to a microwave unless I walk to the canteen but that is through the factory so I don't like doing it. I do have a very good soup thermos that cost about £20 on amazon ages ago but I gave up with it as my soup was always lukewarm when I got to eat it. I don't know whether this was because I was heating up thick soup in the morning and maybe thinner soup would have been better. I don't know where I am going wrong with this but soup would be the healthiest and cheapest option so maybe I should have a go with vegetable broth.

We are having guests tomorrow for tea so already I am panicking about that. However I think I have enough ingredients to make a spaghetti lasagna. I don't have any lasagna sheets but I discovered if you boil the spaghetti and don't separate it, it then makes a sort of sheet and so a lasagna! I have enough mince, passata etc to do this. Alternatively I make a bolognese.

The thought of using up food is making me panic. Bit pathetic!

springdreams

I hope it works out well for you.

I too have cupboards and freezers full of food, yet still go to the shops to buy more, so need to do as you are doing and use what I already have and stay out of the shops!

I going out to my brother for dinner tonight, but have taken oxtail out of the freezer, and plan to bung it in the slower cooker with potatoes and any other veg I can find to make a stew for tomorrow night whilst I am out at work.

jennyo

I think you are right, it is a comfort/security thing, when we were short o money I always felt more satisfied and settled when there was loads of food in. It took a long time of not having money issues before it went away.
I take soup in a flask in winter for lunch as I work outside, I use a Stanley food flask bought from Aldi.
Food stays piping hot for 4 hrs if I do the following, and I would say eatable hot for 6. Fill the flask with boiling water, put the lid on. Heat the soup in a pan until it's bubbling, it doesn't get hot enough in the micro. Working quickly tip the water out, pour in the soup, the slower you are more heat lost, always fill to the top. I also find they stay hotter if kept upright.

psso

You are definitely not alone. I think we could quite happily `shop` out of the freezers and cupboards for a few weeks.

Re the soup flask. Did you fill it with boiling water while you heated up your soup? That would keep it hotter for longer. I always put boiling water in my flask then empty it out and refill with coffee when going out in the car.

117pauline

I am trying to do the same.

Ideas include:

- make a list of the meals you and your OH have had recently and enjoyed. This is the start of menu planning

- if the whole thing is too overwhelming focus on one particular area of your storage and tackle that first

- honestly list everything you have and keep it with you as you shop. Update it each time you take something out. If you have the list with you then you will see you already have that in stock

- if you find it too difficult to menu plan for a week or month, start small and plan just a couple of days in advance. This way you gain confidence and see how easy it can be

- look on the forums for menu planning and steal the ideas - it really does work - even if the meals aren't exactly what you would have it will give you ideas

- sort out your freezers and cupboards so it is easy to see what you have and their best before dates etc (though I pay little attention to them)

- I shop from my stores. I put away 50p or £1 each time I remove things and put it away for when I re-stock IYSWIM. If you can't afford to do it, just don't

- get your OH on board. Even if he doesn't cook, he can help you plan meals etc.

- I prepare most meals two days in advance because I am not always well enough to cook each day. Then if I have a bad day, we can still eat without resorting to takeaway

Hope these ideas help a little