Simplifying household stock and introducing routines

Planning_ahead

Molillie - I am taking in a stock of soup / tinned fish / crackers /fruit and cereal bars so that i have something available everyday and will take fresh sandwiches in daily. I have tried making ham and cheese wraps for a few days which has worked well so far.
Need to redo the freezer and might try your idea.

Wednesday2000

I usually go through the food cupboards every so often to check that nothing is out of date. Sometimes I buy things on a whim and forget about them.:o

I have put all the bathroom toiletries in a clear plastic box in the airing cupboard so I can see if I am running low on anything. I hate running out of loo roll or handwash!:D

Seeing that awful fire in London has made me run around and check all the smoke alarms and the torches and batteries. I need to get some extra batteries so will order some later. I'm going to keep the batteries in a more helpful place as I realised I was keeping them in a box on top of my wardrobe. Not very handy in an emergency!

It's because I have had my house decorated recently and everything was moved around a bit.

Planning_ahead

I have found a use for the body lotions creams that I do not use. I have mixed them half and half with body scrub and made a scrubby body souffle, works a treat.
I tried the body lotion as hair conditioner to try to use it up- does not work.

I have decided to reduce the number of staples I keep in my kitchen, as this has increased year on year and no longer feels like a basic store cupboard but a whole supermarket!!

I will use up the various pasta sauces and replace with one tomato / veg sauce and will add herbs my self.
I am getting rid of spaghetti as we tend to use pasta shells now.
My girls are shopping now I am encouraging them to check whats in and plan what meals they are having, to prevent us doubling up.

Planning_ahead

Hi everyone

My dog helped me clear out the freezer unaided, I now know what a dogs dinner looks like.
How I laughed at Gitdog in the past.

I am now in a uniform for work so work clothes are not an expense anymore.

Having a night time routine has helped me, everything charged, teeth cleaned, clothes ready, dinner ready.

Also stops me eating things should not.

I want a happy life so filling up when its quiet , not shopping on a Saturday, ignoring the fools and chilling on my time off.

Previously I rushed everywhere.

kboss2010

I'm aiming to do this too. I'm whittling down my store cupboards & freezer to nothing in the next month &, when they're almost empty, only re-stock with what I need to use each week.

I have to say that I'm finding the space in cupboards oddly satisfying, I am starting to understand what the kondo-ers mean by that statement!

No more hoarding Chinese cooking ingredients that I plan to use "one day" or 10 types of pasta or 6 different types of rice or flour. I need to start keeping only the things I need for the life I live in the real world rather than the life I aspire to lol. Apart from anything else, I can't stand the clutter!

Molillie

I've been a bit uninspired lately, and have impulse-purchased a few things, like organic spelt which I saw on an infrequent trip to Aldi (it's not a convenient shop for me to get to, so I only go there when visiting a friend who lives nearby) So, I now have a full bag of rice, a part-bag of pasta left, and a full bag of spelt. (all organic, and from Lidl or Aldi)
This means that I'm back to an annoyingly over-crowded cupboard, with my oats and seeds, bread-flour and spices and herbs along with the three carbs. I am going to try to remember not to buy things until I am about to need them, and might donate the rice to the food bank, it's unopened and well within date. Thinking about this as I write, it seems incredibly minor, and not that much stuff, but it's really all about being organised and not over-buying, and being able to get things out of the cupboards easily, and see what's in them. It's so frustrating not being able to find somewhere to put things. This sort of thread really helps me to stop backsliding to chaos, so thank you all for your ideas.

ZenLikeBalance

I'm new to this thread, but I have been making great strides in simplifying my life. I compulsively over-complicate everything, but I've found a way to harness my over-thinking into a workable plan. So far so good anyway.

Molillie, I know it probably feels like a backwards step to introduce something that wasnt planned, but you will find a use for it. Spelt risottos are really nice for example. I dont think we ever get past our human need for novelty. At least you didnt buy several random short-shelf life things. As slips go, you did ok.

Sassia

I definitely need to start looking at this. i have very little storage space but have filled it with various tins and jars and food items that i wanted to stock up on....'Good intentions' my husband calls them!

kboss2010

Sassia wrote: »

I definitely need to start looking at this. i have very little storage space but have filled it with various tins and jars and food items that i wanted to stock up on....'Good intentions' my husband calls them!

I know that feeling well! I have 12 types of teas, several jams, 6 types of pasta, 4 types of rice & many types of sauces. I'm not buying any more food until I use up what I have!

Planning_ahead

I have got rid of my spaghetti, only pasta shells from now on.
Discovered jasmine rice so now have two types of rice.
Only one cereal at a time.
only one type of biscuit at a time.
Chilled water in a jug in the fridge at all times so reduced bottled water.
Moved to coconut oil for moisturiser. donated all body and foot lotions bar one of each.
My hair straighteners broken I have not replaced them, 30 secs more with the hairdryer.
I only buy food if it is on a meal plan, no more over stocking