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Cleaning Up:  Frugality: Just-in-Time Household Inventory?  |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
 Posted - Nov 26 2006 : 09:29:08 AM
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Just was thinking about the stocking up method of household inventory versus the Just-in-Time method...
I work in manufacturing and it has been demonstrated over and over again that having "too much stuff" whether it is raw materials or work-in-process or finished goods contributes to higher costs, whether in keeping track of it, racks for storing it, moving it around, or obsolescence, keeping it clean, or having to rework it due to engineering changes. It costs money and resources if we make more than our customer orders.
But my frugal family has always been a "stocking up" kind of family. Buy it when it's on sale, or buy it when you are in town, or get it while it's still available....My grandmother, having lived through the depression, had stacks and stacks of empty margarine containers in her cellar when she moved out. She helped to raise us and I know the pack-rat syndrome definitely rubbed off on me.
The year I lived in Spain I was amazed to find that people went grocery shopping EVERY DAY! Most didn't have large refrigerators in their homes. So they went out in the morning, bought the food, and brought it home and prepared it immediately.
So how do you balance the amount of household inventory you keep?
Do you:
a.) keep 1 extra tube of toothpaste on the shelf, then restock when you open it,
b.) wait until you have squeezed out the next-to-last bit before you run out to buy more, or
c.) do you get the warehouse specially-priced 6 pack?
I think transportation costs definitely have to figure in to the equation somehow, so if you live way out in the country it might make more sense to do it one way rather than the other.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
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DaisyFarm
True Blue Farmgirl
1646 Posts
Diane
Victoria
BC
Canada
1646 Posts |
Posted - Nov 26 2006 : 10:07:26 AM
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I tend to keep an extra or two of products that we CAN'T run out of...mostly toiletries like toothpaste, deodorant, tp, etc. I buy the warehouse packs of things like Ivory handsoap and flashlight batteries. Running to the corner store isn't possible living here. Food items...I buy case lots of things we use a lot of, for example organic diced tomatoes after I run out of my own, organic chicken broth for soups. I usually have jars of dried beans, grains, rice, pasta, etc. on the pantry shelf and keep them rotated and stocked, but that is more of a comfort (preparedness) thing. Also, organic flour and oatmeal I buy in large quantities and store them in the freezer so they remain fresh. I don't use any canned soups or much of anything canned really, but I figure it's wise to keep a tin or two on the pantry shelf (again the preparedness thing). I don't see the point or cost-efficiency in stocking up on things we may use one of in a year.
The rule here is if you use the last of something or notice we're almost out of it, WRITE IT ON THE LIST!! I grocery shop as little as possible except for fresh produce in the winter months.
Di |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22941 Posts
Alee
Worland
Wy
USA
22941 Posts |
Posted - Nov 26 2006 : 11:03:55 AM
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I stock up when I have the money to stock up. Living paycheck-to-paycheck and trying to pay off debt is hard on us. So when we get a monetary windfall, instead of spending it on clothes, movies, and such like- Doug and I make a trip to Costco. We have plenty of storage space, and since we are paying the same rent no matter whether we use the space or not, I don't mind filling it with useful items. I don't worry too much about dusty my pantry shelves as nothing is going to be hurt by a little bit of dust which I wipe off before opening the whatever-it-is.
Mostly we shop on an as-need basis for fresh items like fruits and veggies. Other than that we are hoarders. :) We went through a rough couple of months a few years ago where we literally had no money to buy food and if hoarding can help get us through tough times- I am all for it :) |
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KYgurlsrbest
True Blue Farmgirl
4853 Posts
Jonni
Elsmere
Kentucky
USA
4853 Posts |
Posted - Nov 27 2006 : 1:18:01 PM
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Brightmeadow--I actually still shop that way (like the people in Spain). I lived in England for a time, and I didn't have refrigeration (a lot of people don't), so I'd decide what I wanted to have around lunch, go to the greengrocer, and the butcher and then home to make dinner. I still shop very much the same way, for food anyhow. It's just the two of us, and unless I make stews or something like that, I'm not that great about eating leftovers. I have the basics in stock (always grains, pastas and flours) and usually a stock of canned tomatoes, legumes and stocks, but overall, everything is purchased the day of. I stock up on meat in the summer at the farmer's market from a woman who has hormone free beef and pork (I bought about 50-75 dollars every other week) and that was a really smart move with my husbands sketchy money these last months. As far as cleaning and household supplies, I head to Target and usually will buy larger quantities, especially with $1.00 off coupons. With 4 dogs and 3 cats, papertowels HAVE to purchased in large quantities, and I really hate buying hand soaps and toothpastes, so I buy those in multiple packs as well.
The only thing that I'm really crazy about having stock off is dog and cat food and chews, treats, etc... when I have a pantry full of their food, I'm somehow content. Also, when we're out of chews, we hear about it!!!!
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
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KellyA
True Blue Farmgirl
237 Posts
Kelly
Johnsonville
NY
USA
237 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2006 : 1:54:43 PM
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Until this past September, the nearest grocery store was 20 minutes away...and it was a small one. To get really nice supplies, we had to drive 40 minutes...so we definitely stocked up on everything. Now the convenience of a store 10 minutes away is mind-boggling! I can get fresh bread every day if I wanted to, I don't have to plan ahead on the main course if I don't want to...it is so freeing! It may not be big, but it has its advantages, and I am learning to like that...a lot!
Kelly
When a cookbook is in hand, life is good! |
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brightmeadow
True Blue Farmgirl
2045 Posts
Brenda
Lucas
Ohio
USA
2045 Posts |
Posted - Nov 28 2006 : 4:08:21 PM
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I sympathize with the long drive. Usually I do my shopping on the way home from work since I drive right past a reasonably-sized grocery store. But Sunday night we were at my parents' house working on a computer issue with my stepmom until late, when I got home I realized we didn't have any milk for hubby's breakfast. So I got in the car and ran out to the store in town, I really hated doing that. It's only about 5 miles but it just seems like it takes soooo loooong late at night when I'm tired. And I hate wasting gas on a 1-item trip. My Aztek gets 18 mpg, so the round trip costs me a half-gallon of gas, about $1.10 this week. When you add that to the cost of the milk, it gets expensive!
I usually try to buy milk when we are down to 1/4 tank, so to speak....
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
Edited by - brightmeadow on Nov 28 2006 4:11:09 PM |
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ali2583
True Blue Farmgirl
404 Posts
Alison
Winnipeg
Manitoba
Canada
404 Posts |
Posted - Nov 29 2006 : 11:56:50 AM
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I always stock up on meat once a month from the grocery store when it goes on sale very cheap. But other than that, I shop for groceries and perishables once a week, and I only buy enough to last me and DH for just that one week. We always know that we have the freshest food that way.
But as far as toiletries and cleaning supplies go, I always stock up. Since DH and I both have stomach troubles, I always ensure there's lots of TP in the house!
"God's gift to you is life. What you choose to do with that life is your gift to God" |
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abbasgurl
True Blue Farmgirl
1262 Posts
Rhonda
USA
1262 Posts |
Posted - Nov 29 2006 : 3:57:55 PM
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Our nearest grocery/town is 20 minutes away, so we are definitely the stock up sort of folks. We too keep a running list that everyone adds to.
We have been stranded without electricity for as long as a week...so it's a big deal to have a well stocked pantry here, including bottled water.
We belong to a food co-op where we shop one a month. For a little extra work, we save a lot of money and get great items that we probably wouldn't splurge on otherwise! I try to plan meals according to what we get each month, and also what's in season during the warmer months.
I'm a one girl revolution. |
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Annab
True Blue Farmgirl
2900 Posts
Anna
Seagrove
NC
USA
2900 Posts |
Posted - Dec 24 2006 : 03:49:59 AM
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Alee,
I know all too well about the paychek to packeck thing we get paid ONCE a month To make matters worse, in December the powers that be think they are doing us a service by providing our January paycheck close to Christmas. That means going nearly 40 days w/ no income until the first day of February (hubby and I work for the state)
So I definitely stock up and store in the fatter months. We have limited storage, so we just get creative -then coast for the month of January |
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Horseyrider
True Blue Farmgirl
1045 Posts
Mary Ann
Illinois
1045 Posts |
Posted - Dec 25 2006 : 04:59:33 AM
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The closest grocery is half an hour away, so I go as seldom as possible; trying to do it every two weeks. I wish I had a nice little greengrocer close by and could shop daily, but I don't; so I combine trips and have two or three shopping days a month. It saves me a ton of time in the car which could be used more productively someplace else, as well as bunch of gas.
I also buy meat in bundles from a terrific butchershop, and try to get more than one of something if it's on my list and on sale.
I've come to a point in my life now where the time means more than the money. |
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mommom
True Blue Farmgirl
854 Posts
Susan
Lancaster
Pennsylvania
USA
854 Posts |
Posted - Dec 25 2006 : 09:45:09 AM
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| Having lost our farm 12 years ago and not having anything, I do tend to stock up when I have the money. It seems to work pretty well for us. Our meat store down the road here has a meat sale wice a year so I save money and when the time comes, buy in bulk, separate it, and put it in the freezer. I also buy shampoos, toothpastes, and stuff like that and put it away. Having a big family keeps me stepping and I try so hard to have on hand what we need. I say whatever works for you and your family is good. After Christmas I am going to start weeding out things we don't use anymore. Susan |
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Cleaning Up: Frugality: Just-in-Time Household Inventory? |
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Frugality: Just-in-Time Household Inventory?
