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Angel
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| Posted: Aug 09 2010 at 4:14pm | IP Logged
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I just cleaned out my fridge, freezer, and pantry in preparation for moving. Considering that I'm about to set up a new home, I am thinking about ways I can make these areas work better... ways I can use more of our food before it goes bad... keep everything better organized so I know what I have...
The freezer and refrigerator are particularly tough spots to keep organized around here. I think I saw in another thread -- don't ask which one -- that someone had used a labelmaker to label her fridge shelves? Do any of you keep fridge/freezer/pantry inventories?
I know that everything works better when I dedicate a day each week or two weeks to clean out the refrigerator so I know what I need to use up and plan meals accordingly. Unfortunately, we've been in crisis mode since late May so things have slipped considerably. But I'm hoping to set up our new house to run more efficiently and frugally!
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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JaysFamily
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| Posted: Aug 09 2010 at 4:17pm | IP Logged
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 I love this topic and can't wait to hear all the recommendations, and how everyone else has their system set up!
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Jaysfamily
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: Aug 09 2010 at 4:33pm | IP Logged
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One thing that can help.. is if you can have a shelf where most of the leftovers and such get put.. then it's a quick search to see what's there.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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Erin
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| Posted: Aug 09 2010 at 4:43pm | IP Logged
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Angela
I keep a pantry inventory, in fact I believe it was one of your posts my friend, that inspired me to get my act together 
Inside my pantry door I have a taped a master list (click on the master pantry tab) which mirrors the shopping list. But as you can see it has numbers, this is the quantity I like to keep in the pantry. (I shop monthly) The night before shopping I stand there with a child and shopping list in hand, I call out "Rolled Oats", child replies "3" I note from master list I am meant to have 8, so I jot down 5 on shopping list. We also move to the freezer and fridge during this recording.
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Paula in MN
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Like Erin, I keep a master pantry list and freezer list. When something is removed, it gets marked off the list. I check the lists weekly so I know if there is something I need to purchase. My weekly menu is based on food on hand, consequently my grocery list is relatively small.
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 Paula
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Angel
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| Posted: Aug 09 2010 at 5:02pm | IP Logged
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Erin wrote:
Angela
I keep a pantry inventory, in fact I believe it was one of your posts my friend, that inspired me to get my act together
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 Maybe I need to pay attention to myself??
I think an inventory will be much more doable for me in our new house. The freezer will be up on the main level, in the utility room right off the kitchen. I am excited about this, as I think it will make it much easier to manage. I'm an out of sight, out of mind person, but I think a posted freezer inventory where I can *see* it might work pretty well.
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Angela
Mom to 9, 7 boys and 2 girls
Three Plus Two
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KristinTX
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| Posted: Aug 21 2010 at 8:16am | IP Logged
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My fridge was cleaner when I followed the FlyLady's recommendation to clean out the fridge the day before I did my big shopping trip for the week.
Good luck with the move!
Kristin
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4Real Forums : Our Lady's Loom, Larder, and Laundry
Topic: pantry,freezer, fridge management
