Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
Inventory
Last week we talked about how “zoning” could help create order in the kitchen. I hope you were inspired to organize and label those kitchen cabinets (post some pix to my FB page!). But the devil is always in the maintenance. How do you keep history from repeating itself (jammed cupboards, things falling on you) the next time you go shopping?
The magic word is inventory. In order to maintain your zones, you need to keep your inventory constant. That means when you go to the grocery store, you’re going to take a list of only the items you’ve used up, and you are going to stick to the list. Your fridge and cabinets will be full after grocery day, but not stuff-falling-on-you full. Sticking to the list will help you stick to your zones, so that bag of popcorn that was on sale (but not on the list) won’t end up shoved on top of some platters and forgotten until Thanksgiving.
Planning a weekly menu goes hand in hand with inventory control, and will keep you from overbuying, overspending and eating cereal for dinner. Maintaining your inventory and sticking to your list are great habits, and once you get in the groove you’re going to save money and time, and probably eat healthier by avoiding those impulse purchases. Think about other areas of the house where you can apply the same principals.
Maintain your inventory, and your kitchen cabinets will become part of your support team, instead of an enemy to be vanquished.