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Never Run Out of Anything – Without Stocking Up
Nothing breaks flow and messes the plan than finding that you don’t have things you expected you had. When in kitchen, this could be salt or sugar. While working, this could be a pen or a notepad (or anything else that you use regularly). Simple, basic stuff which you use everyday and expect to be there – but realize last minute that you already used up the last one you had and forgot to refill/re-stock. Even worse, you are half way into your task and realize that you don’t have enough to finish what you started. Last minute shopping for things you need is a harrowing and irritating experience. Especially, if you had planned your day around this activity and now realize that it’s going to take a lot more time than originally planned.
For me, it became even more essential to come up with a plan to never run out of anything. Not just because I don’t want my plans to get messed up. But because, I would have to wait for whole week or two till our next shopping trip to get what I want. Not having a grocery store near by and not having a car/transportation for every day use pushed me towards planning better (We rent car once every two-three weeks).
Add to that, unpredictability of our stay – we might have to move anytime. Sometimes to other cities in US and a very low probability of moving back to India – on short notice. This basically means that I can’t stock up on non-perishable items for the year. Our purchases have to be on as needed basis so that we can move quickly without incurring too much loss.
So the basic question is how to ‘not’ run out of any item while using it, ensure that you refill/re-stock enough of the item, and do this without buying in bulk. Following is what has been working well for me since last one year:
Have two sets of the required item. One in use. And one for backup. While these sets can be of different sizes/quantity, I prefer to keep it same/equal for sake of simplicity.
This means that for items which I purchase in small boxes, like salt/sugar, I buy two boxes. One for use and one for storage. For items I buy in large packets like rice/flour/tissue, I divide it in two equal parts, one for each.
The size/amount of item in storage/backup has to be enough for two weeks use (period varies based on your need. I shop once in two weeks hence ‘two weeks’). This will ensure that the storage item too doesn’t get over before I get a chance to refill it.
The item in use can be kept at whatever location seems ideal (item’s right place is where it’s easiest to use and place back). The item in storage (backup item) is kept in pantry/storage section.
It’s important to keep ‘in use’ and ‘for backup’ items in different locations – this will help while making your shopping list. Everytime you pick an item from the pantry/storage section, add it to your shopping list. If you make your shopping list last minute, you can still scan storage/pantry to figure out which items are missing and add those to your list – this becomes tough if ‘in use’ and ‘for backup’ items are kept in same place.
What I like about this method is that I don’t have to go all around the house, check each and everything and try to figure out whether I have enough – whether I need to shop for it this time or next time. The logic can’t get simpler than this – if you use something from storage/pantry section, purchase to restock it. The flexibility to make shopping list (real quickly) when I want to and yet not forget to add any item is of course an added bonus.
What is it that you do to ensure that you don’t run out of anything?
Do you remember any incident where you realized last minute that a required item is missing? What did you do then?
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Hi Avani,
I like your idea of having a back up. That way when you pull that one out, you know it’s time to add it to your list. I use that method for a lot of my office supplies. There’s nothing worse then running out of printer ink in the middle of a project.
If I end up in a situation where I need a common food item, fortunately I can knock on the neighbor’s door as her and I both like to cook/bake so if one of us runs out, the other one usually has it.
Barbara Swafford´s awesome post ..Is Blogging Fullfilling Your Objective
Barbara, having a neighbor to borrow stuff is great. Quite common in India – keep our doors open all day long.
Printer ink is a good example. I was wondering what would be better than pen & notepad as an example … printer ink fits well. And yes, running out of printing paper or ink while printing on a deadline is a nightmare
Wow, you are super-organized – I love it! I do like to plan at least for what I’ll need for tomorrow.
And really, you could move any time? That sounds kind of exciting? Nail-bitingly exciting.
Jannie Funster´s awesome post ..Ridiculously Green — Austin’s “Ladybird Lake” Hike & Bike Trail
Jannie, yeah, we could move any time. The last time we went to India for three months, we had less than a week to manage everything. Have got used to the unpredictability of our stay now.
Eating raw vegan has completely simplified everything for me. Especially now that I’ve been eating this way for years. I don’t need much anymore and don’t stock up on much either. The stuff I do buy in bulk, I buy on-line which is cheaper anyhow. There’s such freedom in not cooking, both in the material items you don’t need and life. I love it.
Dimond, life free from cooking sounds like heaven. At least for a few days
Just wondering … don’t you still have elaborate preparations to do? Chopping vegetables, making puree or dressing etc.
Hi Avani, enjoying your blog.
I keep everything very simple so meals usually take about 5 min max to make. My Vitamix & electric mini chopper help make things super quick. Also, it’s good to have some things pre-made to last a couple days or so. Now that I’ve been raw for awhile, my diet is even more simple. This is because your body requires less food the longer you eat this way. I actually enjoy food more now than before. If I want anything more elaborate I can just order it on-line, go to a store/restaurant or attend a raw potluck. There are others that love cooking (which I never did) that make more elaborate raw meals and have many appliances. Email me if you have any more questions. I love helping people be healthier. 
I agree with Evelyn on having toilet paper, & I don’t like to be overstocked either. Good thing there is Charmin Ultra Strong Mega which takes up less room & lasts awhile. It’s one of the only things I haven’t gone natural on. Though since it takes the place of tissues as well, it saves me money & space.
Dimond, good to know that you are enjoying my blog. Vitamix & electric mini chopper … now that makes sense.
HI Avani,
We are also in a similar situation as you when it comes to moving to different cities. We do move often….so the fact that kirana shops are always around just a phone call away helps immensely.
How organised of you…wow!!
I will be honest….i am all pampered by my hubby in this department. Especially since my little one was born, I dont have the time or the patience to go shopping for nedless hours…so, he gets all the veggies when he comes home from office. I just have to call up and tell him. And the rest of the groceries come on the phone form the nearby kirana shop. Ahh the pleasure of living in india
And if i ever run out of anything…my darling hubby is very adjusting…so we always alternate…and dont really mind it! See we are all flexible people…my mum still doesnt understand our lifestyle…but hey we are happy;)
Zeenat{Psotove Provocations}´s awesome post ..Stress Less
hahaha, I can imagine what goes in your mom’s head. Kirana shops making home delivery seems to be in these days in Mumbai/Pune. At my place in Mumbai, huge orders for dal/rice etc gets home delivered (even veggies from some vendors). Times are surely changing.
When in time crunch, my hubby does go shopping alone. But usually we try to go together.
Ohh Avani, My offer on a collaborated post still stands. Let me know what topics you can think of and we will take it from there. You can email me the details.
Regards.
Zeenat{Positive Provocations}´s awesome post ..Stress Less
Zeenat, have emailed you. Looking forward to create something with you.
I’m a fan of having a place for my things and things in their place, and I like to keep the supply line “right-sized.”
J.D. Meier´s awesome post ..The Way Things Are, the Way Things Should Be, and the Way You Want Things to Be
JD, me too. I also like to place baskets/containers at most table tops where we tend to empty our pockets and dump everything within – like house keys, money, coins, receipts etc. Helps to stay organized while being disorganized
You ask “What is it that you do to ensure that you don’t run out of anything?” I would say it is toilet paper for my home! I don’t like to be overstocked though. I prefer to have just one or two additional pieces to one item on standby but not more.
Evelyn Lim´s awesome post ..Angelic Reiki Healing with Angels, Archangels and Ascended Masters
Evelyn, missing out of tissue would be a serious problem. Especially if you realize that later on
. In India we use water, so that’s usually not a problem.
Interesting blog post. What would you say was the most common problem?