Simplifying household stock and introducing routines

[Deleted User]

I am using up as much as I can and have only been food shopping once so far this month I was due to go this morning but decided after looking at what I have indoors I can manage for at least another few days .We have a new Aldi's opening this Thursday locally so I will hang on until then.Saves me a 12 mile round trip as well :)I only have rich tea biscuits in stock now and I don't eat them very often so better for my waistline If I had ginger nuts it would be a couple with a cuppa a couple of times a day Stopped snacking between meals as well which is handy, I have used up the last of the marmalade which I had in stock mixed with a bit of brown sugar to fill an bramley apple which I baked in my Remoska .I had it left over from our holidays in August and my DD said take it home and use it up mum .I don't eat bread at all and wasn't keen on putting it on crackers , so its now gone . I have some grape jelly that Dd gave me which I shall use up mixed into plain yogurt(think mueller corner ) and some crushed up cornflakes .At the moment I have bran flakes and cornflakes in stock but the cornflakes are also left over from the holidays so they will get used up first.Cupboards are starting to look a bit freer of stuff but its a work in progress at the moment .I'm not buying anything to freeze at all as I want to run the freezer down and get it defrosted hopefully before Christmas

tori.k

This is something we are also working towards, we are in the process of downsizing and as much as we already live quite minimalist the new house is a third the size of our current home and will soon feel cramped and cluttered. As much as we started to reduce our choices now most of the kids have left home, we do tend to bulk buy for cost and time savings, so are getting inventive with storage like can racks, I've been running a very simple seasonal meal plan and try to tweak meals using the same ingredients in slightly different ways eg, a veg chilli first week becomes the filling in a cottage type pie the next so that it doesn't become to repetitive. It's lower cost and minimal hassle, in the household I use unscented products so we all use the same shampoo, shower gel rather than half a dozen different bottles, same with cleaning just washing up liquid, bleach and cream cleaner and washing powder. Being able to bulk buy fewer items is fantastic even tho I work 20 miles from home my route doesn't take me anywhere near any shops so for me to stop at a supermarket puts up to an hour on my commute I'm gaining so much time back from simplifying my routine.

Tink_04

I'm planning on doing this I've been trying to run down things over the last few months and don't mind stocking up on something if a) it gets used regularly and b) it's a good price but other than that it's just a waste. For example I bought 4 boxes of powdered Heinz vegetables soup for 25p each as my kids love the tinned version which I normally get 2 for £1 in the £ shop and I think this was seemingly better value but they taste watery and pants! They have a good date on so I may food bank them!

mardatha

Tink, only ever stash what you know you will use. Dried veg is better than dried soup mix. Also stash multi purpose foods like dried fruit and porridge. Fruit can be used for baking or puddings, and the porridge for breakfast/flapjacks/thickening stews etc.

tori.k

You could also try using them as replacement stock in a stew or casserole, to get them used tinks, we do the same a mardatha on only over stock regular use items tea, coffee sugar beans and non perishable items, we used to much when we stocked more ready to use or junk food items and I end up back in a supermarket doing top up shops that blew my budget. Over the spring and summer I had a local meat& veg food box delivered, saved me a fortune in money as well as time so are attempting to keep to that ethos with filling a box of veg at the greengrocer wholesalers and weekly fresh items and do a monthly click and collect for pantry staples as required, with keeping meals simple and preparing ingredients in bulk before hand, I've got this down to a few hours a week where as I used to spend that time just shopping alone.

mardatha

I have a stored shopping list in Sainsbugs online and just add to it a few odds and ends that I need that week. The rest builds up gradually and I've always got a few of everything in. Well, until I find I havent. LOL!

MandM90

We're quite lean in terms of what we keep in the kitchen. One type of rice (basmati); bananas + one in-season fruit (more if it's free from garden); don't buy biscuits, crisps or sweets; only buy spaghetti as we like it better than other shapes and it comes in value packs. In fact I pretty much buy the same staples every week. We are vegan and try to stick to simple 'whole' foods and in season fruits/veggies, ringing the changes with spices and herbs from the garden.

It sounds boring but in reality we're all so used to it we don't miss it. The simple meals are often the best. Breakfast on Saturday was homegrown roasted tomatoes with thyme, on homemade toasted bread. Glorious. And things don't go to waste! When I go to my in laws there are usually 20 types of posh cheeses in one(!) of their fridges, half of which will be thrown out. It makes me sad.

I used to 'hoard' food but then found I was in an endless cycle of buying up, then using up, and feeling pressured to finish a million tins of stuff just put me off whatever we were eating. I also really like the minimalist aesthetic and enjoy a clear kitchen - easy to clean, and know exactly what I have and need. The only think we buy in bulk are grains (rice, cous cous), spices and lentils/beans. I always know I have the ingredients for lentil curry/bean chillis/soups in, but don't feel the need to bulk buy anything perishable.

In terms of wardrobe I've done Project333, which is a minimalist clothing project and means I only have 33 items (incl coats, shoes, accessories) for each three months of the year. I don't have a huge wardrobe anyway, but it meant boxing up the rest. Now all my clothes go together, and everything has ample space to breathe in the closet It's great! In three months I'll choose a new theme (going 'shopping' from the clothes boxed up in the loft) and box everything up. Anything that doesn't get chosen for the next three/four seasons will be sold or donated. I keep getting complimented on my outfits, too!

One area we recently simplified was toiletries. I didn't realise how many spares we had (loads are shampoos and conditioners our in laws didn't want any more!) so I've taken inventory, boxed everything we don't *need* up in the cupboard, and will only delve in there when something runs out in the bathroom. Now we only have one of each thing, and I'm also making an effort to use all of the lovely things I have (bubble baths gifted from friends, nail polishes) - feeling more glam and looking forward to what I pull out when current ones are finished

Wow that was a waffle and a half! Sorry!

mardatha

No not waffle - just sounds nice and simple, tidy and organised.

Planning_ahead

Been away for a while, need to get back on board and reduce food wastage.
1. Eat everything in the freezer or cook it up for the dog
2. One type of cereal and juice has worked well, carrying on with that.
3. Anything that I will not be using to be donated to family (flll up their cupboads)
4. I have started cooking my own cereal bars,less additives
5. Loved shampoo and conditioning bars from Lush, will definitely be using all the time now
6. Moved over to soap, less packaging
7. Tried homemade toothpaste, too messy for me
8. Routines in place include Sunday work prep. I know I do not want to think of work on a Sunday, but 30 mins getting everything ready /charged / set up for the week makes the week go a bit smoother.
9. Evening routine removing makeup, cleaning teeth and brushing hair, with spritz of body spray and a dab of moisturiser makes me feel fresher and as this a routine I do it on autopilot

The aim over the summer is to prepare and pare down.

Planning_ahead

In the past year all my children left home and started their own households.

I still have some of their belongings, I have moved them into one room and will encourage them to take everything.

Organisation of stock is easier - more cupboard space
I am planning on retiring in around 4 years and want to have stocks of essentials to buffer the move wages to pension. I am making a list of items that will keep, I will rotate them over the years to maintain use by dates.

I have my morning and evening routines up and running
My next goal is make sure i take my lunch to work each day, either freshly made or from item I can leave in my locker. Buying lunch at work has crept up from very occasionally to three- four times a week. Since the children left home I stopped getting lunch supplies in.

I have also discovered smoothies made with water, I plan to have one for breakfast and one for dessert in the evening. I am currently using a mixture of mango, blue berries, spinach blocks, mint from the garden, spices, honey, strawberries and banana, a different variation very time.