Blog: Managing Your Money
Clearing Out Kitchen Cabinets to Save Cash

Managing Your Money: Groceries By FRANCES DAMATO If you were to open your kitchen cabinets and pantry how many duplicates would you find? If you are the average person the answer would be plenty. To save money now and in the future let's begin a systematic review of just what we have. Before you begin, allocate a certain amount of time and have a goal. One goal may be to clear out the top-level cabinets in my kitchen in the next two hours. Arm yourself with a big pad and perhaps a magnifying glass to see the small print for the expiration dates on the items. This project will allow you to take inventory, to clean the shelves, and to also trash all materials that have expired use dates. Begin by emptying one shelf then read the expiration dates. Throw away any items that have an expired date. Clean out the shelf, categorize the items and list them on your pad. Replace all good items that you will use. Repeat this procedure till you have finished all the shelves in the goal area. Repeat the whole procedure with each section of your kitchen till all cabinets and the pantry have been investigated. If you discover duplicates ask yourself why you have so many like items? If it's because you use these items frequently that's fine; if the answer is they were on sale be cautious. Stores know we like bargains and that we also buy items close to the sale items. If you want to save cash don't fall into the trap of buying what you do not need. Resolve to make a shopping list before you enter the store. Also check your own cabinets to be sure you are out of the item. If an item is not on the list don't buy it. Only buy items that you need and limit yourself to just one item in reserve for each category. When shopping with a list you will avoid buying duplicates. Eventually, your cabinets will empty out and you'll have more room for the things you really use. Let me know who much money you have saved by implementing the plan. Ccfld7/12/09

posted on: 7/17/2009 11:30:00 AM by Frances D'Amato
category: Finances

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Managing Your Money

by Frances D'Amato

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About Frances:

Frances L. D'Amato, M.A. M.Ed. is an Organizational Psychologist as well as a working artist. She founded the Tree Group in 1981 and has been helping Organizations reduce clutter and streamline systems for more efficient management. About ten years ago she expanded her focus to include individuals who work at home and then individuals who need help decluttering their homes. Frances works with the individual to discover the meaning of clutter and develops a process to allow people to let go and live in a more clutter and stress free environment.

Frances's Other Blogs:

• Clutter-Free Forever
• Organizing For The Physically Challenged