It’s Mother’s Day and I’m getting to do my favorite hobby! Hooray!
At long last! Here is the final post about food storage before I move on to the “other” posts about food storage like new recipes, sprouting, a cooking kit, food preservation, and gardening!
Here are some of the nuts and bolts of Three Month Supply Food Storage that I haven’t already covered:
Rotation- The most important part of this type of food storage is using what you store so it doesn’t go bad thus wasting your money and supplies. Only purchase what you will actually use and enjoy! Rotating your three month supply can be done in any number of ways. Some common systems are: storage shelves- you’ve seen those fancy shelves that are tilted, or that have an entrance and an exit opening, or that are accessible from both sides so you can be sure you are using the oldest food first; pantry method- label each item with the date when you buy it. Place identical items in rows or groups in your cupboards or pantry. When you go to use an item, use the one with the oldest date first; cellar system- at the beginning of each week go down into your cellar (or food storage room) and get all the cans/ items you will need to make the dinners on your schedule and put them in a cupboard of your kitchen. Bring up the items with upcoming expiration dates first.
Inventory- The second most important thing about this type of food storage is keeping well stocked. It is so easy to get used to always having something and then go to your shelf one day and find you are out because you weren’t keeping up on your inventory. There is so many ways to do this- as many as there are people! The best advice is to find something that works for you, even if that means not having a formal system because it is too stressful. You can make an excel spread sheet like this one (http://foodstoragemadeeasy.net/helpful-tools/) and manage from your computer. Or you can make a chart to print out and hang up in your pantry like the one on that same site. I have also heard of the Kanban system: have two envelopes next to each shelf in your storage. For each item have a slip of paper with the item name on it. For example- I have ten cans of green beans on my shelf so I have ten slips of paper that say “green beans” in an envelope to the left of the shelf where the green beans are located. Each time you use an item, take one of that item’s slips of paper and place it in the envelope to the right of the shelf. When you go grocery shopping collect all the slips and check for sales or coupons and replace what you choose that week. You can make one slip with the name in red to put in the envelope signifying you only have one more left to be sure you buy that item soon and don’t run out. Whatever your system, just make it something you can commit to until you find something better!
Price Checking- Part of Provident Living is using our resources wisely. We have to not only look for the best prices and quality, but also take into account our time and energy. Think through your day. Is there ever a time when you are consistently waiting idling for something? Use that time to look though local shopping ads. If you don’t have any spare moments, you may need to sacrifice some tv or computer time. And if you don’t even have that then Bless You! and shop sales when you find out about them as you walk through the store. My sister just recently told me that Wal-Mart will price match ANYTHING. So, if you have a Super Wal-Mart near you, your stocking life may have just become easier. All you have to do is bring the ad and if they have the same exact item they will give it to you for the price advertised at the other store. WOW, right? With gas so expensive these days it is not affordable to drive to a different store just to save those few cents- but now you can make that one stop count! One other thing about price checking is that you have be sure you know what you are getting into with certain generic brands that are cheaper. Sometimes there is a major difference in taste and or they expire much sooner. Try one first before you buy ten of them!
Couponing- I am not a paper coupon-er. I can’t handle it. Of all the coupon masters I know, NONE of them can keep on top of it consistently. It is just like everything else in this life I guess- it goes in cycles. But the newspapers they pay for to get their coupons keep showing up whether they are clipping for hours each week or not! Seriously though, if you can do it more power to you. If you are interested, here are some awesome sites to get you started: http://www.couponing101.com/ (This is my favorite I found- down to earth and useful but also professional). http://frugalliving.about.com/od/bargainshopping/a/Coupon_Guide.htm
What I do use are manufacturers coupons, internet coupons or in store coupons for THINGS I AM ALREADY GOING TO BUY. Maybe I’m just too selfish with my time, but I can’t handle the couponing world beyond that. When I am doing a big food storage push, I look for coupons online and shop sales in the stores. It is working for me so far, but as the going gets tougher with our economy, I might look for more FREE ways to save money- and when/if I find them I will let you know.
Well I hope you had plenty of time to get your food storage projects rolling these past few weeks. I know I have. Man is it just here, or has milk gone up by $1.15 everywhere? It is only going to get worse my friends. I’m not trying to be an alarmist. I am simply saying that this needs to be a top priority for all of us RIGHT NOW. ‘Til next week then-
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