Frugal Friday: PFTPL Pantry Challenge

This week, for Project Simplify, we've been working on our fridge, pantry, and freezer.

By about Tuesday, though, I realized that what I needed was not a new organization ....

but TO EAT THE FOOD!

Do you know that we have 6 boxes of cereal in our pantry. Six!

Most of us Moms have noticed the price of groceries these days.

How much money is sitting in my pantry and fridge?

Paid for.

FREE FOOD!

So, in an effort to save money, AND clean out our stockpiles .... We're going to start living out of the pantry and fridge. Let's see how many days we can do it! We might be having cereal for dinner, but are we going hungry? NOPE!

If you dare .... join me ....

The 1st Annual PFTPL Pantry Challenge

The details:
** Leave a comment on this post letting me that you are participating
** Live on less than $20 in groceries per week (think milk, bread, etc)
** Use your $20 to buy staples and items that you might need to finish off another food
** If you do not spend all of your $20 each week, then you can roll the change to the following week.
** Fresh fruits and vegetables are excluded. Eat all of those you want!
** Check in on Fridays and comment on the post that I will make for those participating.

The prize:
** The person who can go the longest eating out of their pantry/fridge will get a $5 Starbuck's gift certificate sent/delivered to you.

Good luck!

Project Simplify: Pantry/Fridge

Now that we're back in town, I'm jumping back in to the Project Simplify for this week. After the first week of cleaning out our Master Closet, I'm thoroughly convinced. I still get this moment of joy just peeking in to our closet and seeing it organized.

So, this week's project is the pantry and fridge.

I'm thoroughly convinced that the best way to clean out the pantry is ..... just eat the food. Do you realize how much money is sitting in there? How much food just waits from week to week to be eaten?

So, I'm challenging you to join me in doing some .... EATING! and cleaning!

Click HERE for all the info from Simple Mom about the Project Simplify challenge.

Project Simplify Challenge #1: Master Closet

Well folks, I have to say that both hubby and I are both very pleased with the result of some work during the week and quite a bit of time today.

We decided to introduce a new way of organizing our clothes. Previously, we had stored clothes based on season. Since we both have gained baby weight, we realized that we have multiple kinds of clothes and multiple sizes. We decided to go ahead and group our clothes by size and not by season. So, I have a box of "Medium - size 8-10ish" clothes, "Large 12-16ish clothes" and then what is hanging in the closet right now is "XL size 18+". I have a separate box for maternity. I'm only allowing myself one extra bed box of each size. This will make it so much easier as I drop the pounds to pull out what fits and only keep in my closet those items.

So, *drum roll* here are the BEFORE pics for you ....

AFTER ....

room enough for the kids to play

Room enough for the dresser, too!

If you're interested in joining in this week on the next challenge,
click HERE for the Simple Mom website. The new challenge will be
introduced on Monday for another area of your house!

Project Simplify: Week 1 - Master Closet

I hope you're jumping in to the Spring Cleaning spirit and trying out the Project Simplify.

Can I tell you that I already LOVE this! I worked on Monday afternoon for about an hour on our closet and I can tell a big difference already. I actually LOVE going in to my new cleaned out closet. Yes! Really!

I will post here my BEFORE pictures.

A fabulous reader asked me,"What are you doing with the stuff?"

Clothes that are worth anything I'm giving to Goodwill. A few  items I will try to sell on Craigslist. Some things are just going in the trash can.

 It's been a work in progress that I put things in the trash can. You see, I have a default that says that somebody, somewhere must be able to use "X" and I'm going to try and find them. OR, I was going to try and find them. Now I've realized that I live in a world where almost everybody has not just what they need, but also what they want. I don't have the time or energy to find that perfect somebody for my stuff, and I do a disservice to my own family by wasting my time finding them.

Purge and move on!

Here are the BEFORE pics!

Behind the door

Can't wait to show you the AFTER pictures this coming weekend!

If you're interested in joining Project Simplify, it's not too late! Click HERE for the info!

 



Introducing Project Simplify

As I've been working on clearing out our house this year, I've realized that even when you're highly motivated, it can be hard to know where to start. Once you make progress in one corner, you realize the 10 other places that could use an hour or two as well. There is always another "hotspot".

When I saw the Project Simplify challenge on a Blog that I follow, I was instantly thrilled. Here's the basic premise ...

Each Monday, a hotspot is selected and posted. You take a "BEFORE" picture of that area. Then, over the week, you work on that one specific area. Declutter. Clean. Maybe ... decorate?? Then on Friday, you post your "AFTER" picture. Then, sit and revel in progress and accomplishment.

This could be a great way to get a few specific places tackled.
Here is the original post introducing Project Simplify. Check it out!