subject: Saving With Grocery Coupons: Storing Your Stock [print this page] Part of saving big money with grocery coupons is "investing" in a stockpile of the food you buy on a regular basis. But what do you do with all that stuff in y our stock? There's nothing more dis-heartening than saving a ton of money on groceries by stacking manufacturer coupons with store sales, and then having it all perish in a power outage or go bad before you can use it. Here's some simple ways to store your stock and prevent waste.
Pantry Storage
When it comes to storing your stock, one of your best friends is the permanent marker. Keep one handy in your kitchen at all times. When you come home with your groceries each week, find the "good by" dates on every package and re-write it in big numbers on the package where you are guaranteed to see it. That way, when you go to get a jar of mayonnaise, for instance, you know which jar in the pantry you should use first.
All pantry items should be kept cool and dry, which means storage in the garage could cause staples to spoil. Additionally, try to always put new items you have bought in the back of the pantry and move the older items to the front. This will doubly ensure that everything gets used in the right order, before it expires.
Refrigerator Storage
Also, as far as eggs go, you can stock up on eggs and save money because they are good for up to five weeks. Just don't take them out of the package - don't use the egg holder in the side door of your refrigerator. There are a lot of temperature fluctuations going on in the door compartment because it is constantly being opened and closed, so your eggs will not last as long if you put them in your refrigerator's egg holders. Keep your eggs in the carton, with the lid shut, in the coldest area of your refrigerator (generally at the back of the fridge).
Freezer Storage
For freezer storage: take empty juice or milk containers and fill them with water, then place the bottles in any empty spots in your freezer. Why? A freezer that is full will stay frozen longer (not to mention it uses far less energy), so you can ensure your frozen foods will stay good in the event of a power failure.
Follow these simple ways store your stock, and you will be sure to always get the most of your savings.
