I have to say...it's been quite an experience and we've learned many lessons along the way. At first it was something that I didn't even know for sure that we could do, but, with the Lord's help and guidance, we did and what a blessing it's been! We saved money (in fact, we didn't even miss the money that we were shorted at the beginning of the month), cleared out our cabinets, cleaned out our freezer, and was, literally, able to start all over with fresh food and a fresh, new food plan.
After discussing what a blessing this project has turned out to be, John and I have decided to do a repeat performance come January. We figure mid-winter and after the holidays would be a great time to go at it again. If everything goes as well as it did time, we plan to make this a regular biannual event. Saving money and doing with (and using up) what we've got on hand is always a wise idea.
Now that we've got the food situation is in hand, our next focus is to clean up toiletries and cleaning supplies that have been sitting in the cabinets before buying more. I've got several partially used bottles of shampoo, conditioner, body spray, body lotions, and liquid hand soap that needs used up. Many of them are seasonal.
For instance, I've got several partially used bottles of pumpkin-scented lotions and liquid hand soaps that were purchased last fall at Bath and Body Works. When Christmas 2016 came, I set the lotions and soaps up in the bathroom cabinet and that's where they've been ever since. We have used up several newly purchased bottles of lotion and liquid hand soap since then. No more! Until every drop of what's in the house is used up and gone, I will not be buying anything new. It doesn't matter if we used pumpkin-scented liquid hand soap in October or August. It washes our hands just the same.
Another thing that I have on hand are household cleansers. Some are still here from when my dad was alive. When we moved in, I just put some of those things under the sink and they're still there. I will not be buying (or making) any fresh ones until the old ones are gone. New or old, their cleaning power is still the same and they can be used up.
All of these things put together should result in more $$$ being saved over the course of the next several months.
Well...that's it! The final installment of our dollar-s-t-r-e-t-c-h-i-n-g, cabinet-clearing, clean-up-the-food project for July! It's been a lot of fun sharing this journey with all of you here and I'm already looking forward to doing it again in January!
Have a blessed week ahead!
Until next time...
~Rebecca
