Grocery & Toiletries Exile
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| Mon, 07-11-2005 - 12:33pm |
I’ve decided I’m going to focus on using up what I already have in my home as a way to avoid spending any additional money when I already have perfectly good things that I can use. That way I can free up money to apply elsewhere.
Being a lurker on the Frugal Kitchen board I notice that they frequently do grocery exiles where you use as much as you can that you have on hand. They get pretty creative with their meals. So I’m going to do a full assessment of my cupboards, fridge, and freezer to work out some menus. This will allow me to make use of the items I’d forgotten about as well as keep me out of the grocery store.
This will apply to paper and plastic products as well, when I run out of paper towels I’m going to start using towels, washcloths, and rags for those paper towels jobs. Instead of buying more trash bags I’m going to use up all those grocery and shopping bags I have stockpiled in the closet.
I’m also going to take it a step further and use up all the toiletries, makeup, and bath and hygiene products before buying anymore. I have tons of “samples” or products that are perfectly fine yet I keep them for when I ‘may’ travel or vacation one day ~ since there is nothing on the books for that so I’m going to use it up now. I have lots of lotions and soaps that I save for ‘special occasions’ ~ well dang it I’m special enough that I can use them any day! And those scented products tend to lose the scents or go bad after so long anyway so I’m just going to use now.
Anyone want to join me in these exiles?
Tamara
Edited 7/11/2005 1:01 pm ET ET by hrhtamara

Well I have not been to the grocery store in 3 weeks other then stopping for milk. I could probably go another week, but frankly I need more variety in the pantry and refridgerater. I am tired of eating the same things.
But it sure has added to the budget, I may start stocking up to shop only once a month instead of going every other week.
BTW- It was laziness/sickness the promoted my standoff, not money!
Shannon
Shannon
I guess I jinxed myself!!!
After my " I have tons of “samples” or products that are perfectly fine yet I keep them for when I ‘may’ travel or vacation one day ~ since there is nothing on the books for that so I’m going to use it up now. " comment, my director just informed me that we are are going to meet my client in Boston in 2 weeks!!! How odd is that?
Hmmmm...maybe I should discuss how winning the lottery isn't on the books right now either :o) Heehee
Tamara
Tamara,
I'm definitely with you. This month is snowflake month in my house. All our "extra" money will go toward snowflaking.
For groceries, we receive WIC checks because we have an infant. This allows us milk, eggs, cheese, cereal, juice, beans, and carrots. I think there may be something else, but I can't remember. Either way, I'm avoiding the grocery store other than those items this month. Hopefully, we can stay under $25 until the end of July for our groceries (unless theres a GREAT meat sale, and then I'll stock up. . my freezer is almost empty).
For toiletries, I have lots. I have months worth of diapers (all bought with "points" from the grocery store, so they were cheap, cheap). I have lotions stored up that I'm using, but I won't buy more. I also have lots of shampoo, paper towels, TP, etc. . . We may buy DH a razor this month if we find a good deal. He's switching from disposable razors to an electric because the refill blades are SO expensive on the disposable.
Anyway, I'll definitely be joining you. Thanks,
~Denice
Denice ~ that is awesome, way to go! Sounds like you have a great plan in place I bet you'll be able to stay under $25.00 with no problems at all.
Keep up the great work!
Tamara
Hi Tamara,
I'm with you on that one. I do have lots of Shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant and hairspray from my last trip to the States, which I will use up. And the other day, someone gave me 5 Liters (1 Gallon and 1 Quart) of Shampoo :). So I don't think I need to buy any Shampoo anytime soon and if I want to make it luxurious for me, I light some candles and use some of the Shampoo as bubble-bath :). I have purposed the other day to totally clean out the freezer and the refrigerator, before I stock up again and I do have stuff that I used for lowcarb cooking, like Protein Powder, all sorts of seeds, sesame, sunflower, oatmeal bran, wheat germ etc... you know, the typical lowcarb stuff. I guess I could use that for extras like baking cookies. I stocked up on flower to make my own flower tortillas, which, if you, after baking them in a pan of course, tear them up, fry them and put cinnemon and sugar (or sweet&low) on it, makes a great treat instead of potato chips. I also bought lots of noodles yesterday, so all in all, I think I don't need to go shopping till the end of the months. Above all... it is summer. My mom's garden is full of Zucchini, Lattuce, berries, apples and such and I know she is cooking jelly. I can glean some of that. I do still have plenty of kool-aid and Jello-O (which I made some yesterday to use as jelly :)). My mother-in-law is sending me a package of goodies for my birthday. I asked for spices, Kool Aid, chilli, fajita and aother mixes... that will save as well. And I have a fabulous biscuit recipe, that is basically just flower, baking powder and water. Currently i'm finishing the last of the coffee and after that I'm going to drink all the tea I have accumulated 2 years ago. It is open tea, Roibush to be exact, in all variations. Strawberry, orange-chocolate, almond, etc... so we can save on that too. I have lots of cleaning things left which I need to use up and then I have steam cleaner, where you don't really need all the cleaning agents. Anyway, I said all of this to say that.... I'M WITH YOU.
sushi
Tamara,
I'm already with you.
I LOVE to cook and try new recipes so I have found I spend most of my budget on groceries, which is still less than going out to eat, but I'd like to use up a lot of stuff I already have. AND, I"m all about using up lotions and soaps and shampoos, etc, that I have before I buy new ones.
I've been using plastic grocery bags as little garbage bags for small garbage cans for a long time...I also use them when I scoop out the catbox.
I guess my challenge to myself is to only buy when I'm out of whatever I need. To wait until I don't have any left before I get it. Instead of doing the whole storing up nuts for the winter mindset...although of course you keep a few essentials stocked.
cheers,
slojuly
you know, I do the exact opposite with the plastic bags. I try not to get any, when I go shopping, because here in Germany they cost money (I think 7 cents a bag) and that adds up. I take extra bags with me and stuff most of the stuff in my backpack. IF I have to buy a bag, I use it at home as a garbage bag too ... but that doesn't happen too often.
Sushi
This is going great! I do admit I am going to have to stop at the store for some milk soon but other than that I bet I won't have to buy groceries for the next 1 1/2 or 2 weeks! Last night I really dug to the back of the cupboards for a full assessment of what I had and I was amazed (for example I kept buying cream of mushroom soup and last night I found 2 cans pushed to the back that I could have been using). I even discovered I have everything to make some Red Thai Curry so I'm making that this weekend with Jasmine Rice - yummy.
How is it going for everyone else?
Tamara