You just decided to whip up a hearty meal featuring barley tonight. You head to the pantry
with enthusiasm, ready to grab that trusty box of barley, only to be met with disappointment. There's none left. You remember seeing the opaque barley box sitting on the shelf before your last trip to the grocery store, but it never occurred to you to check how much barley was left inside.
Oversights like these can happen all too
easily. But, with a little planning and some clever tricks, you can ensure you're never caught off guard. Here are seven simple yet effective tips to help you stay stocked up on essentials:
1. Mason Jar Magic: Transfer your dry goods like pasta, rice, and cereal into clear mason jars. It adds a nice touch to your pantry and lets you see exactly what you have left. No more guessing – just a quick glance and you'll know when it's time to restock.
I also keep laundry pods in two large mason jars in my laundry room. Once one of those jars is empty, I purchase more pods.
2. Color-Coded Countdown: Use colored sticky notes or paper to mark different levels of stock. When you reach the designated color for an item, it's time to reorder.
For instance, put a pink sheet of paper in your
printer paper stack as a signal to order more when you get to it.
Use a similar method with sheets of postage stamps. Affix a sticky note to one of the sheets of 20. When you begin using the stamp sheet that has the reminder sticky note on it, it's time to purchase
more.
3. Tank Half Full: Make it a habit to fill up your fuel
tank when it hits the halfway mark. This way, you're less likely to run out of gas unexpectedly and
end up stranded.
4. Calendar Countdown: Jot a date into your paper calendar (or a reminder in your phone) to order printer toner/ink every four months (or however often you go through it). Set a phone reminder so you don't forget to order. Keeping a regular schedule ensures you never run out at the worst
possible moment.
Perhaps put other items on auto-ship (via a company like Amazon) if you pretty much know how quickly you'll run out.
5. First In, First Out: Arrange your pantry so that newer purchases are placed behind older ones. This way, you use up older items first, reducing waste and ensuring nothing expires before you can use it.
6. Emergency Reserve: Keep
a small reserve of essential items on hand at all times. This could include things like extra batteries, toiletries, toilet paper, or non-perishable foods. Doing
so gives you a safety net for those times when you can't restock right away.
For instance, as soon as I'm done with my hair conditioner, I grab the extra container I have on reserve. Then I immediately buy a new one and put that item on
reserve.
With these tips in mind, you can stay ahead of the game and avoid the frustration of running out of the things you need most. By taking a proactive approach to managing your supplies, you'll always be prepared for whatever life throws your way.
