Taming the Stockpile

Ok!  We are down to the nitty gritty of Taming the Stockpile now.  I have been eating from the stockpile, and I even defrosted my freezer last weekend! Today, I want to talk about organizing your stockpile.  (Insert hubby’s laughter here.)  Remember, I am working on things right along with you.  I am not perfect, and most of the time, I am not organized!

First, let me show you want I really want but can’t pay for right now…a storage unit for can rotation!

I contacted the company for a review and giveaway, but I didn’t hear back. I really wanted one and wanted one of you to have one too. This can device makes it easy to see and rotate your stock.  Something I often have trouble with! If you can afford it, this would be an excellent addition to organize your stockpile!

My second tip is utilize what space you have!  I try to use every space available to store and organize my stockpile. What you see below is my pantry door and an over-the-door hanger.

Next, I am going to recommend something I don’t do very well.  I am planning to implement this.  Like now.  When you come into the house with items for the stockpile, you should put them away right away.  Move the old stock forward on your shelf or in your cabinet, and put the new stock behind it.  Immediately. I have to admit as I am telling you this, I have 3 bags of groceries from my shopping trip this week sitting in front of my stockpile shelf. We all have room to improve right?

I decided to share the before and after with you via vlog.  Remember, this is my second You Tube video ever, and the first one I had to edit together, so please be kind! If you can’t see it in this post, you can go directly to You Tube to view it.

Finally, while you are organizing, take either a mental or written inventory. I made a simple written stockpile inventory for you.  If you can do this once a month, it will make a big difference in keeping your stockpile organized and full!

What is your stockpile organization nemesis?

If you didn’t already check out how we are Taming the Stockpile by “eating it”, read part one and my menu plan before tackling today’s challenge.

Taming the Freezer

First of all let me say that I have two freezers, one in my refrigerator and one small chest freezer in my laundry room.  I highly recommend having a separate freezer for your stockpiling.  It aids in purchasing clearance meat and other frozen products at a discounted price.  If you don’t have an extra freezer, consider taking some of your grocery savings to purchase one if you have the space.

Freezer Problem #1:

The first common freezer problem is organization.  (At least I hope it is not just me.)  When you have a full freezer, it is hard to remember what is at the back or in the bottom, which leads to the second problem.

Solution:

If you have two freezers, put different items in each one.  I find that my meat, frozen pizzas and ice cream keep better in my chest freezer. I put items I use more often in my refrigerator freezer. Label everything you package yourself, including date packaged.  Put leftovers for freezing in labeled freezer bags or stackable containers.

Freezer Problem #2:

Freezer burn is an enemy of stockpilers.  You don’t want to get a bargain on roast beef, only to find it two years later at the bottom with freezer burn.

Solution:

Package the food tightly in freezer safe containers, bags or freezer paper sealed with freezer tape.  Many stockpilers use a handy machine called a FoodSaver to store their food properly for freezing. Remove as much air as possible from the storage package.  Finally, don’t store items for too long. You can check online for typical freezer times for different foods.

Freezer Problem #3:

Frost.  Even if you buy a frost-free freezer, frost can still form.  My chest freezer has a bad case of frost right now.  Frost can cause your freezer to run less efficiently, and takes up important space too. Frost is caused by humid air inside the freezer, which can come from opening the freezer too often or putting warm, moist foods into the cold freezer.

Solution:

First, make sure your freezer isn’t in need of repair.  When possible, allow foods to cool completely in the fridge before placing them into the freezer. Put your freezer in a room with low humidity (unlike my laundry room). Finally, if your freezer has a case of frostbite, defrost it.  Choose a cold day, and move all your food into coolers or other freezers.  Unplug the freezer and allow the frost time to melt.  Use towels to soak up as much moisture as you can before refilling and reorganizing the freezer.

Whew!

If you can do all that, you certainly have taken a big step in Taming Your Stockpile.

Have you been blogging about your stockpile?  Link up!

Tell me the truth, what does your freezer look like?

What is a Stockpile?

A stockpile is a collection of household items purchased at the lowest possible price. The idea behind stockpiling is providing for your family at a very low cost.

What if I don’t have a Stockpile yet?

I would love for you to still read participate and click on any links.  You can learn how to build a stockpile from this series and from my Savvy Shopper Course.

How are we going to Tame the Stockpile this week?

Ok, if you have a stockpile that is well-rounded, but a bit out of control, this week is for you (see picture above for details)!  Do you remember the Eat from the Pantry Challenge from last year?  Well, a whole bunch of bloggers dedicated themselves to eating meals from items in their pantry.

What are the benefits of eating from your stockpile for a month?

1. You save money that can be used toward other things.  I plan to use any money saved during the Taming the Stockpile challenge to pay off my personal loan.
2. You can take a break from clipping coupons and hunting deals, which leaves you some spare time for cooking a little more often. (Of course, I don’t spend too much time doing that anyway.)
3. Most importantly for this challenge, eating from the pantry can make sure your stock gets rotated and used before expiring.
4. Finally, if by the middle of the month you have a smaller stockpile, it will be easier for you to get organized which is another part in our challenge.

I am challenging you to plan the majority of your meals from your stockpile in January. If your stockpile is still small, plan meals around the items you have the most of, along with items that are on sale for the week. I have several menu examples and recipes here for you too.

Come back on Monday to see my first menu from my Stockpile!

Does this mean you can’t shop? No!  Most households will still need milk, bread, and fresh produce.  Some households will need even more than that.  But any meal cooked from your stockpile is a meal that you saved money to make!

Now it is your turn!  Leave a comment or link up a blog post telling me how you plan to do this part of the Taming the Stockpile Challenge. There will be a linky each Friday to show off your progress!