Putting Away, Purposefully : Domestic Cents

photo credit: Average Jane

What happens when you get home from the grocery store or market? It’s likely you empty your bags with husband and children under foot. It’s even more likely that you do it in a hurry. I would like to suggest a different strategy.

When putting away groceries or even leftovers; do it purposefully. Don’t just toss things in the general area they belong, cram boxes into cupboards and shove the older food further back in the fridge. Make life a little easier for yourself.

In the fridge: Put the new milk behind the old one. Throw out what’s left of last week’s lunch meat when you replace it with a new package. When putting leftovers from dinner into the fridge also remove the oldest leftovers container. See where I’m going with this? With the fridge you are trying to avoid the question, “Mom, is this still good?” Chances are, if they have to ask, it isn’t.

In the cupboards/pantry: Organize. Keep things grouped in a way that makes sense to you. This is different for every family. I am short so my eye-level shelf is probably lower than yours. Things that are used less frequently get the more inconvenient spots, while your all-the-time-staples get to be front and center. My very low pantry shelf holds all of my daughter’s snacks, making is easy for her to choose. My highest shelf (so annoying for me) holds all of my unopened back-up supplies. Is there one particular cupboard that aggravates you the most? Perhaps items dive out, cascading on your head every time you open the door. Fix it. It won’t take you long, and the time it does take will be made up in the next couple hassle-free times you use that cupboard.

What you are trying to achieve here is efficiency. You should be able to easily see which items you are low on or out of before going to the store, saving yourself time and money. It will also enable each family member to easily find things without mom having to come help search the cupboards for the cream of tartar (like your husband would actually ever need that!).

Next week I’m going to do something about the cupboards where I store my bulky, small appliances (food processor, blender, waffle iron, etc.). That’s the cupboard that is out of control for me. What about you? What cupboard or area in your kitchen needs taming or quickly spirals out of control?

Why I do what I do ~ because I walked into the bathroom to find 3 electric mixer beaters lined up perfectly on my toilet seat and in my bedroom Barbie® was fast asleep. My life is so unpredictable. You just can’t make this stuff up

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