In addition to making some freezer meals, I mentioned I did a little cleaning today. I decided to straighten the pantry a bit to show you some pics of how it’s currently shaping up. So here’s how I’m ending 2009. Overall, I think I did a pretty darn tootin’ good job. The first picture is my pantry in all its glory, the second are closeups of a couple shelves.
If you’re curious to see how my stockpile has evolved this year, be sure to check out my stockpile category.
After having done this a full year, I now know what items are good for my family to stockpile. Here’s my list of stockpile “musts.” (Again, these are my family - yours may vary!)
Dry & Canned Goods
Pasta
Rice
Canned vegetables
Canned soups – especially tomato, Progresso (found we actually don’t use as much of the cream soups as I thought..)
Salsa
Canned tomatoes & beans
Canned fruit
Cereal
Oatmeal
Condiments – but in moderation (unfortunately, I think I overdid it on BBQ sauce and salad dressing this year)
Peanut butter & jelly
Raisins, dry fruit (I buy in bulk if there’s no sale)
Baking
Cake mixes
Pancake mix
Sugar – granulated, brown
Flour
Vegetable oil
(Items such as cinnamon, baking powder, etc. I now buy in bulk at Winco)
Household Items
Cleaning supplies – bleach, glass cleaner, bathroom cleaner, etc.
Paper towels (although I’m using more and more cloths to save money and waste)
Toilet paper
Laundry products – detergent, softener
Personal Items*
Diapers & wipes
Feminine products (I stocked so well in 2008 – mostly free – that I bought NONE in 2009!!)
Razors
Shampoo, conditioner, hair care
Baby lotion, shampoo, wash
Toothcare
* With the exception of diapers, most items in this category I paid nearly NOTHING for in 2009. It can be done!!
A note on convenience items…at the first of the year, I’d “stock” up if I found a good sale. Trouble was, it’s hard to stock up on foods that have a lot of sugar and fat because we’d eat them faster. Not healthy, and not good. As I end the year, I see how I enjoy stocking up on the basics so I can prep my own meals on the fly. This is also important to me heading into the New Year as I continue on my goal of running another marathon (by the way, I’m down 7 pounds! Hooray!!)
Tomorrow, I’m going to put together a post highlighting the trends I noticed in 2009. For instance, when was a good time to stock up on peanut butter? When are vitamins at their best price? Are razors more expensive in March or November?
You’ll just have to be in suspense until then…
{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
What a great post! As I am new to stockpiling I find I’m getting some resistance from my husband and find it hard to stay focused on what we really need and can use within a certain timeframe. I’m going to use your list as a guideline to start building from so I can cut down on buying all the extras. Thank you for posting that! Looking forward to your next post. I need it!
I agree with your list completely because in a pinch meals can be made from those products. I’m interested in the trends because August was my month for free peanut butter and Ragu which we use on our homemade pizza’s too. I also stockpiled on bags and if I don’t get cleaning products free, I make them homemade. I also stockpile on some convenience foods for my kid’s school lunches as they like cracker sandwhiches and granola bars. Good Job and good luck with your next marathon!
My list will be up later tonight – it’s gonna take some time to sort through my last year’s worth of posts to see what I can muster.
If you look at my pantry, you’ll notice there are a few convenience items lurking – mac n’ cheese, crackers, and I do have a few items such as chicken nuggets and string cheese on hand. The items that I’ve learned I cannot/should not stockpile are items like Pop Tarts, Bagelfuls, cookies, etc. We’ll just eat them too fast!!
Tonight I wanted to make my kids cookies. Guess what? Instead of pulling out a box – I had everything on hand to make a fresh batch of oatmeal raisin cookies. Perfect!!
In the end, it’s all about balance and what works for your family!!
Love this. My stock pile is getting there, thanks to some great Progresso soup sales and the beans and tomato sales at Freddys. I’ve really looked to your sight as a guideline. Sometimes I have to tell myself “You don’t have to do EVERY deal!” Plus my husband would kill me if I came home with more cereal!!