Oh no!! My larder is too full, AGAIN.

[Deleted User]

I have done it again and gone the dormouse, hibernation route. My cupboards are so stocked that I could withstand a seige

Argh!! why have I done it? I know things are different these days and shops stay open but there is this mental block. I`ve got to stop-- well I will once my big order of organic, stoneground flour is delivered

Doh, I could kick myself

tawnyowls

Force yourself. Refuse to buy *anything* until you've used at least 50% of the stocked goods, unless it's vital to enable you to use those goods.

I've been forced to clear out the freezer this week, and that's been an eye-opener, so heaven knows what it would be like if I actually looked in the cupboards! The OH has just undone my good work, too, by buying a roast chicken, thus not only will we not get to eat the sausages I'd taken out and thawed tonight, but I'll have chicken soup to freeze. Oh well, I suppose it'll use up the frozen tub of cream I've got.

iceicebaby

I know exactly how you feel ive just been through all my cupboards and found HOARDS of stuff!

No shopping for me for a while

stevenshell

It's amazing how much you can save by searching through the cupboards/freezer! I've still got enough in there to feed a family of 3 for a week in mine, so just bought the basics this week! Managed to (nearly) keep to our £160 budget for the month of november too!
I find it easier to write everything down - like doing a stock take and working out meals from that, crossing off as I go

mel_anthe

I know the feeling! I'm similar... Must be the onset of winter and the cold, or something...

I think writing a list is a good idea - I'm sure I don't use half the stuff I've got simply because it's hiding behind other things and I don't know it's there!

stevenshell

I agree - I finally pulled everything out of the cupboard - on every shelf to clean it - like wise with the freezer and was amazed at what I found! Quite a collection of stuff to make meals with, and only needed topping up with basics really this month, perhaps some more meat, but mainly we cooked from overstocked stuff!

It's like having to retrain yourself with a budget and a list - I have always made lists, but they've been half-@rsed and I didn't stick to them! I always found that there was certain point in the supermarket where I'd stop sticking to the list and start to over-spend - I avoid that part of the supermarket now! I go there first if it's on my list to get something from there, and back track!

tawnyowls

I'm planning to keep a list on my freezer door in future, on a wipeable noticeboard.

emilyt

I am also guilty of the full cupboard syndrome lol.
DH went through the food cupboards on friday and has banned me from buying anything else unless he says its ok.
We are going to write a list this week.
I just can't resisist a bargain.

sammy_kaye18

tawnyowls wrote:

I'm planning to keep a list on my freezer door in future, on a wipeable noticeboard.

I think thats a good idea actually - might do this with my cupboardas and get a little magnetic shopping list one to go on fridge freezer! . Am forever putting stuff in the cupboard/freezer/fridge and still buying more when i go out - 8 cans of beans, 6 of spaghetti and 7 kg of flour between them all!?!?!?!?!?!

Anyway i think from now on i might write a list of whats in the cupboard and stick it to the inside of the cupboard and as i use something it will get crossed off - will have to write beans seperately 8 tiimes though otherwise i cross off one and forget there are still 7 tins left! Might help me get a general list up and help me meal plan if at a glance i can see whats in the cupboard rather than oh ive come to that first thats what we'll eat tonight.

ChocClare

If you go on Organized Home, they have got handy little checklists you can print out for your freezer and/or your pantry with lots of little check boxes next to each item.

The link is .... here http://www.organizedhome.com/printable/showphoto.php/photo/27/cat/506 - just click on the picture you want and it brings it up to A4 size so you can print it out. No more excuses... as long as you remember to keep it up-to-date (have "stock checked" my big cupboard three times now and never remember to write down what I take out/put in...)

[Deleted User]

It must be the winter syndrome. I made laminated lists which I used religiously all through spring and summer but bit by bit I forgot about them. Hey ho, if (big if) we get a bad winter then I won`t have to shop for weeks. Re the vegetables: I sprout seeds and I de-hydrated lots of stuff. Oh there I go again, I`m definitely in dormouse mode