Who doesn't have a stock cupboard

PipneyJane

I have a reasonable store cupboard of dried goods: lots of dried lentils and beans; castor sugar; buy my flour and rice in 10kg bags, etc. I only shop once a month, so while it's possible for me to run out of tinned tomatoes, it's unlikely because I'll buy them 12 at a time. I really can't understand doing a big shop every week - I get paid monthly, so shop monthly with small top-ups for veg and yoghurt (i.e. £10 max). We'll buy 4L of fresh milk during the main shop and switch to long-life skimmed milk when that runs out. (No horrible after-taste, so long as it is skimmed.)

Also, I stock up on favourite bits'n'pieces when they're on offer. For instance, we only use recycled paper products so stock up on Revive toilet paper when it's on BOGOF - usually annually - saves us a fortune and allows us to stick to our principles.

When value pasta quills were back down to 9p last summer, I filled one shopping bag with them and tucked it into an awkward corner. Enough pasta to last several months for about £2.50.

picklepick

Interesting thread. My kitchen is the size of a postage stamp but I do try to cram in as much stuff as possible. We always have a little pasta, rice, flour and other bits for bread making, a few tins of beans and tomatoes, puree, stock cubes and loads of jars of spices. But finding space to keep other things is a bit of a no-go. I even have washing liquid in the draws in my bedroom because there's nowhere else to keep it!

Popperwell

January20 wrote: »

This is great thread. I used to have a generous store cupboard but let it run very low but after reading this, I will fill it up again, and I will add some bottled water to it - where I'm going to store that is another story!

ETA: GreyQueen, I think the Natwest/ RBS incident of the last week should also teach us to keep some cash on us and not to rely on plastic all the time.

ETA (2): If we are keeping a store cupboard for financial emergencies, we can pretty much have whatever we want in it, but if we are planning for an emergency such as utilities being cut off, we should remember that food that don't need to be heated/ cooked are probably better ie tinned meats and fish, tinned fruit and rice puddings for instance, shouldn't we?

Well, sorry this a bit political and I know it does not affect everyone but with the changes in benefits that are coming in and how the media and politicians slant the information put out so many have a go at the disadvantaged and think we are all well off(even the ill and vulnerable, low paid and unemployed)and the speech our PM has given today, if you can have some money stashed in the house(and it makes you feel like being dishonest)you can see why people do but most of the time its for emergencies, not to fiddle the system, it's for the replacing/repairing items, trying to make them last years. Most people are decent but if you are struggling they seem to make the situation worse. No wonder we worry.

The same regarding food, I never thought I would invest in a store of food, drink and household goods. A very good point about if the electric/gas was to go out you may not be able to cook food but there are lots of meals you can have cold. As long as it keeps you going. Cereal and milk being another one. But it would probably have to be UHT milk if the fridge has gone off.

Popperwell

tattycath wrote: »

We have a gas camping stove-handy should the emergency arise

Perhaps I should invest in one, does the gas cost much to run? Do the camping stoves cost much?
If I used it I'd probably have to keep quiet as the landlord(HA)don't like calor gas stoves being used.

Popperwell

GreyQueen wrote: »

I wonder if some of the RBS etc bank customers had no food and no cash in the house these past several days and had a bit of a miserable time because of it?

I did hear someone on the radio in such a situation, she seemed to be a single Mum with young children and her electric had gone off and there did not seem to be anyone she could ask for help.
I don't know what happened to her.

Popperwell

spinningsheep wrote: »

I am in the process of creating a "haul" room in the back bedroom to store things like tinned goods, dried goods, toilet paper etc so I can take advantage of bargains when I am better off money wise one month.

My worry is that I will be moved to a smaller property in a horrible part of town at some point if they cut back on the help I can claim or I cannot pay the new levy for bedrooms unused but assuming I can keep going even if things get tight, I will use a bedroom as you suggest, I like the idea and the pantry is getting quite packed and its difficult to get at everything and if they want to see the electric meter I'd have to move so much.

If I have to go at some point I hope I can get all my store into the new place. If I have to have everything on show, I don't care as I'll be the only one looking at it(as there's only me)and I doubt I'll have any visitors(not because I am unfriendly)just that I have no family any more and friends moved away when they left school mainly due to getting married or work.

If I stay here I am clearing out rubbish and items that are not needed from an outhouse and when empty I might be able to put household goods and tinned items in there, it gets cold but that should not affect items such as above...If anything a cold room probably is better. But as I keep the CH off as much as I can(to save money)this house is not exactly warm.

I cannot afford to buy wine any more and if they add a levy even more so so if I know I am staying here I may try doing some home brewing again. I did many, many years ago.

Popperwell

jackyann wrote: »

I keep a few small bottles of water in the freezer - take them on a day our in summer, or use as a joint ice pack / drink for lunches & picics + have once been used for water when the supply was cut off.
I always have some soup as a standby as it is easy if you are feeling unwell (standard advice for the frail & elderly) and I keep a loaf of sliced bread in the freezer to make quick toast.
Otherwise it depends on distance from shops, cash flow, taste etc.

I keep some flasks of hot water to stop using the kettle too often and that means I can have coffee, tea and cup a soups(and I should perhaps think about maybe doing a soup daily and putting it in a flask in case the electric goes off)The flasks last around 8 hours but I have a couple that last 12 hours(and often well beyond that)

chirpychick

We don't have a store cupboard mainly because it is difficult to afford to add them into the budget and no storage space.

We do cook from scratch 90% of the time but I only buy what we need.

However, now that we have a baby on the way and him being due in November, I have started ever so slowly building some stuff up, we have 1kg rice and a few tins of beans at the moment but I budget and shop weekly and I like to know how much im spending on our food for the week so instead of buying bits each week I am instead holding a couple of pounds back each week and then when my husband has put a couple of shelves up for me in the cupboard under the stairs (the dogs sleep in there its a big cupboard but also our only area for storage in our very small modern house so the stuff can't go on the floor) I will then go and do a shop at A$da for things and make that our store. I could probably fit a few bottles of water in the wardrobe too.

It seems more important to me now that im going to be a mummy to have a store cupboard.

My husband still doesn't think we need one though.

BTW I also have no idea what to keep in stores so if anyone has a list of something that would be helpful.

Popperwell

chirpychick wrote: »

BTW I also have no idea what to keep in stores so if anyone has a list of something that would be helpful.

Good luck with your store cupboard Chirpychick...

Some great suggestions have been mentioned over the last day or two if you read back:)

Basically think of the basics and what you are likely to use or would in a meal(even if the most simplest)some dry goods, pasta, uht milk, tinned tomatoes, fruit, rice puddings, cakes, biscuits, sugar, tea, coffee, baked beans, cereals, porridge, custard, booze, salt, pepper, soup, pasta, speghetti, tuna, sardines, mackeral, marmalade, lemon curd, jam, tinned meat, chutney, mint sauce, ketchup and brown sauce, bottled water, crisps etc...I'm sure you'll see much more on earlier posts and can think of some items yourself.

Household items(cleaners, washing up liquid, soap, washing liquid/powder, fabric softener, shampoo, baby lotion, disinfectant etc...)Again whatever you can think of...

Batteries...candles, matches...

Then whatever you can think of to put in your freezer.
(either purchased or where you have portioned out a meal you've cooked and frozen to have later after defrosting)Meat, fish, frozen vegetables, some convienence foods(that can be cooked in a microwave)and the usual things you may have in the fridge, milk, yoghurts, sliced meat, perhaps a chicken, fruit juice, cheese, salad stuff etc...

Actually I think I have given quite a few ideas.:rotfl:

All the best for your future addition to your family...

Butterfly_Brain

I have a store cupboard and have had for quite a few years. I currently have enough food in to last a couple of months but I am aiming for at least 6 months supply if I can. My DH has told me to start increasing the stock while we still have the cash to do it, it is also a good buffer against inflation. What has happened in Greece could so easily happen here.
The way I organise what to buy is to sort out meals that I can make from food stores only. I have around 14 different meals on my list and so if I work out what I need to make these meals from the cupboard and multiply the ingredients by 12 that will give me 6 months supply of food. Not forgetting little treats such as chocolate, boiled sweets, toilet rolls sanitary stuff soap, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste/ brushes, mouthwash, wup liquid, soap powder, softener etc

In our 25 years of marriage we have faced redundancy, sickness and now I am disabled and likely to get kicked in the teeth from the government on top of everything else. I do not trust banks and use cash whenever I can. I have also got a couple of months mortgage and bill money in a separate savings account, just in case. I also keep a small amount of cash in the house. It takes time for any form of benefit that is if there is any after this lot of toff boy expletives have finished.
So for those who laugh at those who are prudent, be warned sickness, loss of job for any reason, disability etc can happen to any one overnight. It is not just about being caught out for a few weeks with snow or bad weather, it is about how quickly things can change for the worse, such as the banking problems at RBS et al and how many were caught without any means of paying bills or food.
I too have a camping stove and spare gas (In the shed) Bags of charcoal so that I can use the barbecue as well as camping pots and pans and a whistling kettle.

I am with you frugal I have been in a situation where I have panicked how to feed my children when they were small and it is not funny.
chirpychick have you space in the loft or under your bed, top of kitchen cupboards etc?
I will PM you a list of a good basic stock cupboard if you would like? That goes for any one else as well, I won't post it on here because the list is a long one x