Declaring Jan. "USE IT UP" month

[rnorwo1]

As a crafter, I am planning to use up most of the 3,000 sheets of paper I have...because I counted all my paper and came to the startling realization that I need to stay out of the craft stores and use what I have before buying anything else. I have already started on four projects for Christmas 2011 in order to use up some of that paper.

Oooooh, what are your projects?? I Doubt I have 3,000 pieces, but I may be close! I cleaned out/organized my dining room last night (it's the staging area for clothes and stuff that are either hand-me-downs or that I bought on clearance last season), so maybe I can get to my craft room next. I guess I can go on and start on my MIL's calendar I make for her every Christmas, but that'll only use 12 pieces of paper

 

[susieb16]

I can totally relate. I am, once again, resolving to be more organized so that I know and therefore use everything I already have before spending money. I'm starting with all those "free/nearly free" toiletries I have on hand. I'm hoping this will free up money for a great vacation this summer. Good luck everyone.

 

[hffmnheidi]

My projects are:
-Disney calendar for Grandma(make her one every year)
-ABC book for my niece
-Color Book for my nephew
-Disney trip albums for California and Florida

 

[shortbun]

I know what you mean. Last night was a leftovers night. today, I cleaned the frig again after the Christmas overload. I will begin searching through drawers tomorrow. I can do a drawer at a time while I watch the parade and football games.

 

[rnorwo1]

My projects are:
-Disney calendar for Grandma(make her one every year)
-ABC book for my niece
-Color Book for my nephew
-Disney trip albums for California and Florida

Thanks! I love the ABC book idea!

I cleaned out my freezers, what a shame the stuff I had to throw away! We just do not eat individual meals frozen, so I guess I need to enforce the left-overs meal each week.

Bathroom cabinets are next!!

 

[lisam427]

im in on this. from couponing and cvsing i have stockpile a ton of stuff. also my mom gave me a huge rubbermaid bin with hb supplies. im on my last bottle of hotel sized shampoo from our disney trip and from what my friend gave me in june so thats progress but i really have sooo much stuff. my fridge and pantry could also use a pantry challenge.

 

[PaulaSue]

Im in. I actually have started this a few weeks ago with starting a job after being a SAHM since my oldest was born. No time to stockpile.

 

[rszdtrvl]

I actually cleaned out the chest freezer and defrosted it on the 30th. I had purposely not purchased a lot of groceries when I went shopping so I could do this.

I was hoping to go to Costco yesterday, but DH had other plans. Now they are closed today.

We are going to HAVE to go tomorrow.

I mean, DH opened the freezer last night and said "Where is the food???"
(We ended up getting Pizza Hut for dinner.)

I refuse to pay $4/lb for hamburger.

We need to get convenience foods (heat and go - pizza, taquitos, etc.) and meat.

I did clean out the hall closet that contains bathroom stuff. I ended up organizing it, and picking out a few items that we won't or don't need. I organized the stuff in boxes, so if we can't find something, we just take the box out and check to see if it is in there. A lot easier than having stuff buried in back of other stuff.

I am on my way to both declutter and "using it up".

 

[karice2]

I am with the group on this one. I have a bunch of body washes, candles, rice and lord knows what else in the freezer. I have started my inventory of stuff and have created some menu plans.

My mom and I are going to do some batch cooking this weekend and split it up between me, her and my grandma who doesn't cook. Hope this helps to get rid of stuff.

I am with you on the journals, notebooks, pads of paper. I also have a ton of building supplies since I have been renovating my house. My goal is to finish all the little projects that I have around and donate some of those supplies.

I am scared to look in my casket freezer because of how much stuff I don't know is in there.

 

[nunzia]

As a crafter, I am planning to use up most of the 3,000 sheets of paper I have...because I counted all my paper and came to the startling realization that I need to stay out of the craft stores and use what I have before buying anything else. I have already started on four projects for Christmas 2011 in order to use up some of that paper.

LOL!! Ditto! I have SO MUCH scrapbooking stuff...I have a good chunk of a whole room full of it! Then, when I need to say, get some puppy stuff to make DGD birthday pages I search for doggie stuff. We don't have a craft store here, so off I go to JoAnns.com for a 'few' things..then I see all the great sales so stock up..wow...I need to just use what I have,and really there are many creative ways to come up with stuff to match my themes. I have tons of stuff stored nicely (my second job is at a books/music/video store and as they have gotten rid of some fixtures over the years I've brought them home. My best find is a HUGE unit that are like vertical shelves that we used to use to display coloring books..they work perfect for all the 12 x 12 paper and books. Anyway..I need to stay away from JoAnn.com!)

I also have a stuffed freezer I need to utilize in a better way, and a stuffed pantry (I always say I was a child of the drepression..I really need lots of food stored to feel secure.) I plan on doing a better job with that this year..DH will add a couple shelves to the pantry..they are high shelves so we stack cans and it would be easier if they were all on one level. I've also started marking in sharpie the month/year we buy stuff to be sure things are being used oldest first.

 

[ilovejack02]

DH is a hunter, bagged two deer this fall. I am determined to use it all before I go buy any more meat. I have pork from last years late winter hunt, which he smoked a ham from yesterday. I will pick up some chicken breasts this week and ground meat, cuz we all love spaghetti but that is IT !!

I don't really stockpile, so not much in the bathroom cabinets extra. LOL my goal is to actually get a decent stockpile with toothpaste. I did it once last year, had about 9 boxes of it, but I think we are down to one left.

 

[Virgderon]

My freezer looks like I am an epic hoarder with frosty packages of who knows what.
My pantry looks like I am some sort of bean friendly survivalist.
My shower looks like we live in a crowded girl's dorm with all the half used shampoos, conditioners and samples. (there are still tiny bottles of shampoo from our Jan trip to Ft. Wilderness)

I am going to use it up! Thanks for the great thread OP.

Oh man. Thanks for making me laugh!!! I just threw out the 3 little packages of tortillas that we never end up using from the taco mix box, and the candy corn from Halloween. It's a start.

 

[disneydreamersx4]

I'm in with this challenge! I have some meat in the freezer and my pantry is pretty stocked too so it will be nice to save some grocery money! I also have some conditioners and toothpaste stockpiled. Oh and some necklaces from Kohl's for DD's to give for birthday presents. That's about it for me.

 

[Teacher03]

Count me in! I also probably have close to 3,000 sheets of paper that I need to use before I step foot into the scrapbooking store. I am cleaning out closets and cupboards to see what I have and am determined to USE IT UP!

Thanks OP for the push!

 

[Minnie Lor]

I need to do this so thanks for the push. My deep freeze is full as is my freezer. I think we're eating out of it but I keep buying food I have lots of shampoo and soap. I just bought more. Why do I do this? I'm on board to use it all up.

 

[tinkarooni]

I have a new plan....I'm going to attack one cabinet, closet, freezer or shelf everyday. Today I did general cleaning, tomorrow a cabinet before I go to work that is filled with pet supplies.

How are you attacking your stored stuff?

 

[annsteere]

How are you attacking your stored stuff?

OP here. I'm not "attacking my stored stuff." That sounds like decluttering and I honestly do not have a lot of 'junk' around here. The house is pretty neat.

My plan is to try to think before I put anything on the shopping list and make sure I don't buy anything I already have but in unusual form.

I want to FINISH the little bottles of shampoo, if the cheese is getting dry grate and freeze it before it goes green or combine some small denomination stamps and mail one letter.

Yesterday I made tortilla soup for a party. It took more than one but less than two baggies of frozen pre-browned hamburger. I need to pop that 1/3 pound of hamburger back into the freezer and USE it later.

Maybe I should do a short round of "attacking stored stuff" where I mentally inventory what I've got bits and dabs of. That's part of what I'm hoping I'll figure out by reading other people's posts here.

 

[rnorwo1]

OP here. I'm not "attacking my stored stuff." That sounds like decluttering and I honestly do not have a lot of 'junk' around here. The house is pretty neat.

My plan is to try to think before I put anything on the shopping list and make sure I don't buy anything I already have but in unusual form.

I want to FINISH the little bottles of shampoo, if the cheese is getting dry grate and freeze it before it goes green or combine some small denomination stamps and mail one letter.

Yesterday I made tortilla soup for a party. It took more than one but less than two baggies of frozen pre-browned hamburger. I need to pop that 1/3 pound of hamburger back into the freezer and USE it later.

Maybe I should do a short round of "attacking stored stuff" where I mentally inventory what I've got bits and dabs of. That's part of what I'm hoping I'll figure out by reading other people's posts here.

I think de-cluttering and using it up work hand in hand. I had to first clean out my freezers and refrigerator (and keep them organized) to know what I had. When the refrigerator is disorganized, that's when perfectly good food is pushed to the back and wasted because I forget it's there. Today I cleaned out my bathroom cabinets, where I keep most of the stored stuff, now I have it all nice and organized (just used small rubbermaid containers, labels, ziploc bags, and grouped like items together, etc), everything has a home and one quick glance will tell me when I need something. Before I just saw this mess, couldn't find anything when I needed it, and so when I'd go to the store I'd pick up a new tube of toothpaste "just in case." Well, after organizing and de-cluttering today, I now know that I have enough toothpaste to last at least 8 months! And if I can keep the cabinets organized, I'll be able to see immediately when I open that last tube instead of thinking I've opened it and later finding 5 more hiding in the back.

This evening I'm going to attack the kids' cabinets in their bathroom. Tomorrow I'm going to start on my office/hobby room... that may take a while with those 3,000 sheets of paper! But just last week I wanted to make card and so I went to the craft store and spent $5 on supplies I already had, I just did not have the energy to dig through these cabinets to find them!

Hopefully this thread will keep me going though, thanks so much for starting it!

 

[DawnM]

I just need to PURGE! Old make up, old medicine, sheets we don't use because they never stay on properly, etc.....

That will help free up space tremendously!

Dawn

 

[Minnie Lor]

I just need to PURGE! Old make up, old medicine, sheets we don't use because they never stay on properly, etc.....

That will help free up space tremendously!

Dawn

Oh I'm guilty of all of the above. Something to note about the med's though. I read that pills don't expire when the package says that it does. They slowly start to lose effectiveness but regular pills can last up to 10 yrs.