Frugal Friday: tips & tricks

Bouncing off of last week's tip to keep a "live" grocery list, here's a tip on how to virtually never run out of a stock item at home.

Don't you just hate it when you run out of aluminum foil right when you need it most? Or when you're in the middle of preparing a meal and you can't find any canned tomatoes because you used the last can the night before? Or - heh - what husband hasn't had to make a trip to the supermarket to pick up some feminine product for his wife? Yeah, you've seen him there - standing in the checkout line, said feminine product mixed in with a few other non-feminine items such as a sixpack of brew or a bag of potato chips (in a paltry attempt to salvage what's left of his masculinity).

Well, to avoid such unpleasant experiences, simply follow this rule:

Whatever item you need, buy two of, with the second item being your "virtual reminder". When you, eventually, take the second item out of your pantry it serves as a reminder to add the item to your "live" grocery list. Thus, on your next shopping trip, you pick up the item needed and stock it in your pantry, where it then serves as the reminder.

For example, you purchase two rolls of aluminum foil, using one and placing the other in your pantry. When you use up the first roll, you take the second roll out of the pantry and add "aluminum foil" to your "live" grocery list. The next time you go shopping you buy one roll of aluminum foil and place it in the pantry. Unless you use up an entire roll of foil between shopping trips, you won't ever run out of foil again!

Aren't concrete sequential thinkers great? (or... do concrete sequential thinkers think too much?)

Comments

[LotharBot]

There are certain items I always keep a backup of -- things like detergent, soap, shampoo, and tissue.

Whenever I run out a container, I hold on to the empty until I've actually walked to the grocery list and written it down. Then I throw away the empty container. For example, if I run out of shampoo, I'll throw the empty bottle on the floor to remind me to add it to the list when I get out of the shower. If I run out a box of tissues, I'll carry the empty box with me until I've added it to the list. That way, I never forget to add something to the list, so I always replace my backup.

[Bonnie]

Gosh, Rusty, you must have lots of pantry space!

I pretty much do the "live" list thing, only I keep the list in a drawer because it's not guaranteed to stay on the fridge :-). (A dry-erase board doesn't work for me 'cause I can't take it to the store. Well, I *could*, but...)

I write stuff down before I'm out of it (I mean, when the supply is getting low), so I'll have the new package before the old one is completely gone. I do keep extras of very commonly-used items, however. And I've tried to "stock up" before but then I forget that I stocked up and I buy more, so then I have too much... (I don't have a perfect system of organization yet...)