Easy way to stock your pantry and basics
With the rise in prices, and the hit or miss availability of some items lately, I’m going back to what we did to survive our earlier years when we had small paychecks and a growing family. I’ve shared a favorite cookbook, a menu planning technique, and today I’m sharing a way that keep my pantry and basics stocked up without breaking the bank, or having to go out on an emergency run to the store.
Years ago I made a perpetual grocery list. It’s just a printable spreadsheet with all the items we usually buy on it. I don’t have a copy of mine to share, because my list of items probably looks a lot different than what you’d have on yours, but I encourage you to make your own, it’s been so handy over the years!
In the center “freezer” column you’ll see my “shopping cycle” of items we used to often run out of. When I go to the store each week, I first check our stock on these items and add what I need to the list.
Week 1
On week 1, I check our stock of hygiene items, and see what we’ve used and need to restock. For us this includes: soap, deodorant, shampoo/conditioner, toothpaste, mouthwash, feminine products, shaving products, toilet paper, and if you have young children, diapers and wipes, etc.
Week 2
Week 2 is when I go through our kitchen and check the supply of spices and pantry basics like canned soups, noodles, rice, canned beans/veggies, etc.
Week 3
On week 3, it’s checking our stock of cleaning products: laundry soap, laundry stain remover, dryer sheets, disinfectant spray/wipes, floor cleaner, dish soap, dishwasher tabs, Windex, Pinesol, etc.
Week 4
And on week 4, it’s time to check and stock up on all the over the counter medications, vitamins, and supplements.
I love the tips I’ve gotten from you on the other blog posts, so if you have a good system to keep things stocked up in your home, please share below!
This is very helpful way of ensuring you have what you need on hand. Do you have a blog or suggestions on how to keep grains and flour fresh until use. Our prices are going up what seems every day. If I purchase a small bag of flour it may not last too long or I may not find it again when I need it. I’m thinking of purchasing a bigger bag for our family but I don’t want it to go to waste.
Thank you for any suggestions/ideas.
I think it actually takes years for flour to go rancid (depending on storage conditions) If it’s in a cool dark place, it lasts well over a year at least. Grains last much longer. If you put them in half gallon glass jars with an oxygen absorber, they last for years and years.
I do something like this, though I think I need to revamp as I’m avoiding my current system. That is a clue to me that’s time to change things up a bit. I’ve been thinking a list like this might work better for me right now.
I buy rice by the 50lb and flour by the 25lb. I split it all up into lift-able containers within a few days of bringing the bags home. There are only 4 of us, 2 adults and 2 growing boys, but we go through all this fast enough that I’ve not had any of it go bad or stale on me. These are sealable (food storage sorts). When these finally wear out, I want to get some of those food grade buckets that seal really well, but I’m tightwad enough I want to wear out what I’ve got before I buy new things!
And today, we found ramen noodles have shot up! They were $0.17 a packet 10 years ago. They have been $0.20 a packet for several years now. Today, we spent $0.38 and $0.28 per packet at two different stores on ramen noodles. That is a 90% and 40% increase! Inflation is hitting hard! Yes, we eat a lot of ramen, 2 of my people eat a bowl for breakfast. Very Chinese of us 🙂 Yes, both Hubby and I lived in China for a few years many years ago….
I’ve been watching ramen too, and it’s going up here also, and sometimes it’s almost cleared out! Ramen on a cold, rainy day is so yummy!
finally got my household inventory revamped to a single page, kinda like yours! The past month has been rough as we keep running out of stuff we use regularly but I can’t just stock up on… like milk. So, going to give this a go and see if the single page is less overwhelming. Glad for digital storage, I can keep my other system saved so I can go back to it when I’m ready or I need to!