Author |
Message |
Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Friday, July 09, 2004 - 6:44 pm
it would be better to put it in excel, and easier to update
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Friday, July 09, 2004 - 6:55 pm
Landi: I have it in Excel, but shortened a version for Vee and Spinner in MS Word. Since they were talking about MS Word, I told them how I sorted it there. My categories are named differently too, in Excel. My plan, when we move, is to eventually, move into a house where I can create a pantry/laundry room that is about 8x10'. In the pantry would be laundry facilities—including a table for folding clothes and a fold-down ironing board. On the pantry side, I'd like a freezer (like my current one) and a small refrigerator (like one in DH's office for drinks). All of the back-up flours, sugars, spices, etc. could go in the freezer for bug-free storage in storage boxes. In the refrigerator would be the back-up opened oils (I mean, a gallon of peanut oil, while cost effective, takes up a LOT of room). That would free up the kitchen refrigerator/freezer for my "Rerun" meals, frozen food for the week's meals, and a sampling of frozen desserts. Someday...
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Spinner
Member
10-27-2003
| Friday, July 09, 2004 - 8:59 pm
I am speechless and in awe in the presence of so much pantry organizing. My approach is, I fear, far simpler: start with a couple of everything and when I finish up a box/bottle/etc. write it on the list. Add things I've never had that are in a new recipe to the list. On the way out, check the overflow pantry in the garage to see if DH has plenty of cokes, chips and cashews (he's the only one who eats these things). Despite this casual approach it's very rare that I have to go to the store mid-week. A few smallish things I intentionally leave off the list because they're available at a market about a mile from the house--I use it as a "destination" when I go walking and needing to buy something generally keeps me from deciding that I'll skip the walk for the day. It's a good hunk of my exercise so I try not to find an excuse to skip it. I should add that I do 95% of my shopping at either Trader Joe's or Costco and only venture into a traditional grocery for things the above two don't have--or as is a problem at Costco sometimes, only available in a huge quantity. And there's only DH and me to shop for; fresh food purchases from Costco are divided into smaller units, zapped in the food saver and refrigerated/frozen. It might be 6 months before I'd need to purchase such items again if I was able to freeze them. They go on the list when I use up the next to last or last portion. But I still want to see LK's pantry list! She may have some good stuff on her list that I've never thought to buy. The Excel file is fine, too--don't bother to move it to Word if it isn't there already.
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Friday, July 09, 2004 - 9:27 pm
Okay, I'm plugging away at reinputting the info. I also found my original format, so that makes me happier. I am trying to set up our place so that shopping (other than fresh produce) only has to occur once a month. I know that I have a lot more baking/cooking staples than most people since I do a lot of homemade substitutions. I miss my Costco card--I loved getting my meat there, if nothing else. I could also save money on toiletries and my cooking oils. I will likely head back over there at some point and obtain another a card. I also like their produce if I am putting up veggies and fruit. I also do my own canned chicken, so getting a lot of chicken at a bulk food price is an awesome deal. A side benefit: Costco is in the area of NB to which we may move. Also, my list, since I do really only get to shop once a month, includes non-food items. One positive note: DH says that if we DO go north, we'll be getting a place with a room for me for my craft stuff. He said he'll also be looking for an attached greenhouse--and said that if he remembers from when he was there before, most of the places had them. A room of my own...that will be helpful when I'm buried to my butt in snow.
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 4:40 am
Ditto for me concerning Excel. I just don't think about that option very often. What exciting news about possibly moving to New Brunswick, Lk. That it would be quite a switch from Las Vegas goes without saying. Have you ever lived in the North before? A craft room and a greenhouse may be just what you need to pleasantly while away the cabin fever months. I actually enjoy cabin fever season, but that's what the Internet is for! At least your green peppers won't be dying on the vine because of the heat. Off to the transfer station and then a cup of coffee with my folks. Have a great weekend everybody.
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 12:14 pm
I grew up in Michigan. The averages seemed better than Michigan for the winter If this goes through, I can handle it. I know what I want to do. I'm just concerned a bit, since we will end up flying bankruptcy over my medical bills ($12K) and the mortgage company decided that they want us to pay $17K on the house--which we just don't have. So, we'll be filing in September, I think (retaining later this month, but probably won't have all the money together until Sept.) So, I don't know how that will look to Canada, but we'll have to deal with that when it occurs. After all, we currently have a perfect payment record with the apartment--and that was WITHOUT a guaranteed income--so maybe we'll be okay. We have, however, learned to live on $18K a year, so if DH gets the amount floated in the discussion, and even after deducting 50% for US & Canadian taxes, we're looking at potentially three times what we live on monthly now. So we're going to be banking the vast majority of the income and making plans for later in life. BUT, we are definitely decluttering more, but I am making lists of items I would like to get (even for staying here) so that, even when we move, there isn't much we would have to buy. I have decided that the 3rd bedroom (or some sort of unassigned area) was a must. I need a place to call my own. All of this are merely dreams. Except for the decluttering. And figuring out where to put the extras I want (like a work table in my craft area!). It can be done--just have to think it out.
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 1:03 pm
Yahoo! I figured out a way to give myself room for a work area in the dining room AND keep the dining room table. It will be tight, but doable. And, when we have someone for dinner, I can move around the craft table and reposition the dining table. That is probably the news that makes me the absolute happiest. What type of work table am I pondering you ask? The FOLDAWAY MOBILE WORK CENTER (Get Organized; Type 0151A in the first search box) would serve my needs nicely. It would match the white of the chifferobe and the shelves; give me more storage; and fold up and be movable. I'm beginning to envision a craft area where there was once a crowded dining room.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 2:46 pm
Wow, LK, that is cool. I am going to look around at this site for a little bit. I am in awe of all of you with these pantry lists. I just write down on a list things I need when I am close to running out, like oils, or when I completely run out, like ice cream. I live in an apartment and do not have much room in my pantry, so I pretty much know what is in there, but I am feeling a need for the freezer inventory!!!
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Spinner
Member
10-27-2003
| Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 3:12 pm
LK, that's a great work center! You WILL have a craft area . . . and a dining room table where ever you are living!
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Citruscitygal
Member
08-07-2003
| Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 4:08 pm
I wanted to thank all of the Flybabies (is that the right term?) for so many wonderful ideas and inspiration. I am a wannabe Flybaby. I have a great need to declutter but lack the time right now. Also don't know where to start. Congratulations to all who are successfully following the Flylady directives.
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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 4:37 pm
Citrus, you know I bet when any of us started we said the same thing: "Where to start?!?" That's what's great about the FL method, you just pick one little corner/drawer/shelf/etc and work 15 mins at a time. You'd be surprised how much you can get done in 15 mins. That way it isn't so overwhelming either, when you know you can get outtathere in 15 mins and not have to have a guilty conscience for not continuing.
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 5:22 pm
i just dropped off 50lbs at salvation army! i can't believe i still had that much to donate!
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 5:34 pm
Okay, here's my Master Pantry list. I think it is pretty complete. You may notice that there aren't many spices or herbs listed. That is because I am currently reevaluating which dehydrated herbs and spices I will use, as oppose to fresh. There are also NO fresh fruits or veggies--mostly because those depend on what I plan to cook for the month. I know things are missing from the list, but I'll figure it out at some point. Anyway, here it is: ETA: WTG, Landi!!!!! Dipo: We're in an apartment too. I've gotten VERY creative with storage. Citrus: Flying is overwhelming at first, but 15 minutes of a time to regain power over your life is an incredible thing.
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Dipo
Member
04-23-2002
| Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 6:53 pm
Wow, again LK, that is some list, I may give it a try!!!
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Saturday, July 10, 2004 - 7:26 pm
Dipo: I hate to run out of anything. My Dad was born in 1921, and the one thing he taught me is that you buy groceries first, and you always have a back-up. He said you may not have steak and caviar, but as long as you have the basics, you'll be able to think and work and get things accomplished. So, for a long time I had interesting trunks set up as coffee tables and end tables. Had anyone opened them, they'd have sworn I was hoarding food. Now I have closet space I've carved out for the surplus.
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Spinner
Member
10-27-2003
| Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 7:07 am
Thanks LK! That's a really good list; I too choose fruits/veggies depending on what's in season, what's in the garden, what I find at one of the many local Farmers' Markets in the area; so many spaces in the menu can be any of several produce items. Ditto, the herbs. This summer I've added one new thing to the morning routine: check the garden and see what's ripe and needs to come into the house. Such a great addition to the routine! (singing, and --sorry!--bragging a bit--I just love my remodeled and decluttered bathroom!} I can't think of any tunes that awkward sentence fits, but anyway. . .
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Lumbele
Member
07-12-2002
| Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 7:27 am
YAY, Landi!!!!!! If I could only lose 50 pounds from my "personal upholstery" (i.e. midriff) 15 mins at a time, I'd sign up with FL all over again.LOL That would be a very good addition to the morning routine, Spinner, assuming my ambition would cover vegetable gardening. Maybe some day - Not too likely, I am afraid.LOL Hope you have celebrated that new bathroom with a good long soak by candlelight, maybe even a glass of bubbly? You worked hard for it, now enjoy!!! Lk, couldn't figure out how to open your list, don't even know if I have Excel, but no time to go hunting. Will have to wait until I can corner DS to decypher it. Don't know if it is still in effect, but years ago every Swiss household was required to have reserves for 3 months in their pantry. Not sure if I could last the full 3 months, but I think I could get dang close to it myself. The only danger there is missing supplies that have to be used within a certain amount of time. Having to throw stuff out can get quite expensive. Well, happy flying/fluttering, everyone. See y'all when I get back.
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 8:20 am
Hello, Citruscitygal! The joy of being a Flybaby is that it is far less overwhelming than any other plan I've tried and extremely effective. When I got my FlyLady e-mails yesterday, I did not have one thing to do. I got to spend my entire day having fun. I'm serious, everything had been done down to the laundry, dusting, hotspots, even the dead blooms off the plants. I was pretty surprised, but happy. This can happen for you, too, and all by just starting with 15 minutes of your time. Lumbele, I left a note in your folder, but it disappeared. Anyway, if you check in one last time before you leave, please know that you are going to be terribly missed around here. Have a safe and fun trip. Lk, that list is a thing of beauty. Man, you covered it all! You have absolutely no need to see my list, unless you need a good hearty laugh. But a promise is a promise so I will send it, if you say so. I just sent you an e-mail, by the way. Hiya there, Spinner...so glad that you are enjoying your new bathroom. After all that hard work, you sure deserve to have a beautiful space. Landi, did you request a receipt for that 50 pounds of stuff? Just wondering...
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 12:19 pm
Vee: LOL. I've worked hard on my list through the years. I've also pared down a lot of the items on it. I mean, I used to have twice the cleaning materials. But, other than the oven cleaner and toilet bowl wands, most of the supplies last a lot longer than one month. Of course, the oven cleaner hasn't had to be used after my first move-in cleaning--I've kept the oven up with just the Simple Green. The windshield wiper fluid makes the best mirror and glass cleaner I've ever had. It's diluted so much, that one gallon lasts me quite awhile. Eventually, if we have a bigger place again, I will likely do the 3 month supply surplus. I just don't have the room for that here in the apartment.
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Landi
Member
07-29-2002
| Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 5:18 pm
i get a receipt every time! i'm gonna have a great deduction next year.
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Sunday, July 11, 2004 - 7:33 pm
Landi: Good for you! The receipts and deductions will pile-up. Just remember anything over $500 has to be itemized... I started my Moving MCL--I have several points already, so that's pretty cool. The more I think about it, the more I hope we can do the move like Fall of 2005 (or even Spring 2005). I would really love for us to have a settled income by then. The plan, as I have it right now, is to use the small (15"x12"x10") banker's boxes as much as possible, correctly labeled/numbered for the room, with a box list that will stay in MY possession. The oversized things will, obviously, not work in that, but the majority of items will. (That's mostly how we moved from the house to the apartment, but we dumped the boxes and then refilled them.) Fortunately, OfficeMax tends to run buy 2 10-pack boxes for 9.99/each, and get a 10-pack free sales very frequently. When we make this move, it will be because we have the money to do it, so we'll be hiring professional movers to deal with the furniture and boxes. I'm even going to pay for furniture disassembly and reassembly. We'll then pack an RV (saving the moving costs on some of the household items that we'll be using in the RV) and drive east--stopping at various places along the way, including my mom's in Michigan, and DH's folks in NY--with the cats, plants, and musical instruments. (In Spring/Fall, it should be safe to send the CDs/DVD/VCR tapes on the truck.) DH agreed, with one exception: I said hopefully, we'd be able to do this by NEXT fall, meaning Fall 2005; he said NEXT fall would be Fall 2004. I said the fall of 2004 is THIS fall. He asked me if this was "a woman thing" of not getting time right. So...is it? I am setting a mental goal of having all of our paper work loose ends tied up by the end of July. In August, I'll finish off our bankruptcy research for an attorney, so we can get it started no later than the end of August and, hopefully, finished by the holidays. I'll also (STILL) be working on our personal property inventory and I'm just going to add a column to the layout for "Moving Box #". Then, it will just be a matter of spending the fall and winter dotting "I"s and crossing "T"s of the various opportunities and setting up when things will take effect. Of course, we'll have to take care of housing and other issues, but I just want things to resolve so I know what I am doing. One thing that really pleases me is that there are some things I'll replace after we get there (new towels and linens; new broom (bad luck to bring an old broom to a new residence); new floor coverings; etc. I can and will lighten our load of stuff even more--and maybe DH will lighten his stuff too. BUT, this will give me plenty of time to handle things in a calm, organized manner, without driving myself insane. Sometimes having a goal makes things a lot easier.
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Vee
Member
02-23-2004
| Monday, July 12, 2004 - 6:13 am
Three more days of mail and still no FlyLady order. Another opportunity to call and talk with her...no, I am just going to send an e-mail with a friendly note that says I will call tomorrow if I haven't heard anything more. I think that it got lost somewhere along the way. There is no way that it should have taken three weeks, but stuff happens. You are planning way in advance, Lk. I'm with you on the "next fall" discourse. Next fall is 2005 and "this fall" is 2004. I dare not say that it's a "woman thing." I'll have to ask a couple of men here soon, if I can find any. I am spending some time this morning working in Excel...wonder who could have given me that idea! Thanks for the reminder about itemizing everything over $500. I probably would have forgotten that and it may be the reason why I have often not requested receipts since it seems like a lot of trouble. Happy fluttering all.
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Spinner
Member
10-27-2003
| Monday, July 12, 2004 - 7:30 am
Vee, sorry to hear that your Fly order's still not there. Has to be lost, somewhere along the way. LK, such a major move . . . it's great you're able to start planning now and yes, I agree that "next fall" will be 2005. Re the itemizing everything over $500--agree totally. And, judging from our experience last week, regular checkups with the insurance people are probably in order for everyone. We had, for literally decades, the same State Farm agent that we first found when we moved here, but then he retired, the next one seemed ok, but we've been through 2 more since--they don't seem to last the way they used to! The latest one suggested we come in just to look over everything we have insured with them; we figured he was hoping to sell us some more but it was probably a good idea so only DH went. He came home to report that in looking over everything, that the square-footage (for the replacement value on the house) was too low--an addition error when some agent, somewhere back along the way had added the top floor to the bottom floor footage incorrectly--and that while there was a note in the file about our security system (which lowers the rate considerably here) the discount hadn't been taken. So they'll fix that and we'll get a credit for the years of overcharge on the security system. This will more than pay for upping the square footage. Also, our roof (replaced a few years ago) was incorrectly coded; there will be a refund and a lower charge from now on for that. We'll change how they're processing the dividends on a matured life-insurance policy which will reduce taxes on that. The "over $500" items were still correct. All in all, a very productive visit. I'd recommend a checkup with the insurance people if you haven't done so in a while. Yes, Lumbele and Vee, I'm enjoying the remodeled bathroom--I love tub-soaking anyway, so now I soak away and look for things around the room that I missed and I'm not finding much. Very enjoyable. Today, I'm back on my usual house routines--badly needed after the push to get the BR done. Thanks again, LK for the pantry file.
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Lkunkel
Member
10-29-2003
| Monday, July 12, 2004 - 10:21 am
Vee: I know I am planning in advance--and I probably shouldn't. BUT, for at least the rest of this year, it's to finish off things that need to be done, but that I haven't gotten to yet. I figure that if, in December, we learn that he hasn't been accepted in any of the programs he's been approached about, we're no worse off, but a lot better off in having the stuff done that was needed to be done. I'm sorry your order didn't show up. I swear, I have never had any problem with them. Spinner: It is a major move--and with the Fibro, I want to plan extra time so I can get everything done. I checked out BoxBundles as per Leanne's advice. The recommended package--2 bedroom apartment, one-to-two people, and total packrats--was $255.00. The package includes: - 30 Small Moving Boxes (15x12x9), for books, collectibles and small manufactured items;
- 30 Medium Moving Boxes (18x15x12), for larger books, collectibles, dishes, glasses and almost all kitchenware;
- 30 Large Moving Boxes (24x18x15), for larger household items such as pillows, collectibles, larger dishes, serving platters, plants, lamps and stereo & computer equipment;
- 10 XL Moving Boxes (24x24x15) moving boxes, for larger household items such as comforters, blankets, clothes, lamps, pillows and any large/lighter items;
- 6 Frame Boxes (41x6.5x34), for large picture frames, mirrors and any large thin item (These are free; other boxes shipped in these);
- 330 yards x 2" Packing Tape;
- 3 Permanent Markers;
- 12lbs Packing Paper (24x36 sheets); and
- 108'x12" Bubble Wrap (perforated/medium bubble).
I look at this list of supplies, and wonder how our crap will FIT into this. Then I realize that some of the stuff will go into the RV (Utensils, 1/2 the dishes; plants; animals; food; cleaning supplies; instruments) and then I realize that I'll still have to drive it back to the US and then fly back to Canada. Which then makes me think that maybe we should just by a used one and then sell it. (Of course, one possibility would be to see if I could fly to Michigan, borrow Mom's, drive as planned, and then return it to their house and fly out from there. I'd happily give them the $1500 rental fee, plus pay the insurance for a month. AND if the journey was moved to early August [as opposed to September], I could probably talk Mom into going with us to see the new place/vacation, etc, just so she's back for her job the week before school started.) So, see, lots of thoughts to process and ponder. In some respects, I think I've waited too long to start thinking. We are finally going to have the MONEY to get renter's coverage next week. I am relieved. It's been weighing on my mind for the last 18 months, but we just haven't been able to afford it. Good thing you had the review of your policy, Spinner, before you needed it in a disaster. That could have been bad. I hope the pantry file is helpful. I think that it's fairly complete, but there are things to add, I believe. (I don't think all of the first aid/bathroom stuff is on there, for example.)

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Autumn
Member
10-29-2003
| Monday, July 12, 2004 - 11:09 am
LK - just wanted to weigh in on the "Fall" issue ~ 'this' fall is 2004 and next fall, of course, is in a year from now. But then again, I'm also a woman. lol! Your moving plans have me eager to move! No joke. I'm reading them and thinking: man, now I want to move ~ there's such energy there! Whoohoo! ((((LK))))
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