Organising your Weekly Shopping

One of the many things that becomes a frustrating choir is the shopping. Do you find yourself shopping daily rather than weekly? Do you run out of ingredients or go to the pantry to find you don't have what you need to make that nights meal?

Ok help is at hand here are few key tips to help you get through the weekly shopping and organise your menu regardless of whether you end up eating out or not.

1. Always keep a list of what you run out of and replace it in your next shop.

2. If you use something on a regular basis such as tinned tomatoes, pasta, milk etc make sure you keep a little more of that item than what is needed. 

3. Buy in bulk for things that won't perish such as toilet paper, tissues, deodorant etc.

4. Plan the weeks meals... it is also a great way of coming together as a family and getting the kids to put in their ideas of what they like to eat... even if they do suggest things like pizza it can be made healthy and you could get them to make the pizza dough and get them involved in that nights meal. 

5. When planning the menu make sure you try and use things in the next nights menu that won't allow for wastage eg. If you are making a stir fry on Monday night and you know that you are going to have vegetables left over make sure you are using those veges into Tuesdays menu item so you could do a vegetarian pasta. I am sure you will get the idea.

6. Don't impulsive buy... only get what is on the list so that you don't end up with wasted food at the end of the week.

7. Get the weekly junk mail and compare prices of meat, veges etc before you do your menu that way if Lamb is on special you can create your menu round a roast lamb on one night.  Also take in consideration the weather and the season. If it is winter don't make salad wraps... use hearty meals that will fill up the family that will also stop them from snacking.

8. If an unexpected night out comes up still shop for that nights meal or if you have all ready shopped for that nights meal you have a spare up your sleeve that can be made and frozen for a quick solution.

9. Preparation: If you have a menu that can be cooked ahead of time or you can prepare the ingredients in advance have one night of cooking and preparation so that each night you can throw together the meal in minutes rather than spending time chipping and cooking everynight.

10.Frozen meals: I am not big fan of frozen meals or anything that is pre-prepared for that matter. Usually theses meals are high in numbers/preservatives. Make your own by cooking up things such a s Lasagne and cutting up ready to eat portions that can quickly be reheated in the microwave.

TAX TIME AGAIN!!!

Here are a few hints and tips on how you can organise your tax not just for this year but to get ahead on next year...

My favourite way of keeping tabs on tax receipts and invoices is to place them all in a categorised plastic sheet labelled and placed in a Lever Arch Folder.

Categories: Car Expenses, Utilities, Health Expenses, Insurances, Work Related Expenses such as
Travel, Phone, Uniforms, Tools etc.

Label each plastic sheet and just pop your invoices and receipts under the respective category as you progress through the financial year... you can input the information into a spreadsheet so it auto tallies as you go or just input it all at the end of the year....

Keep a folder for each individual in the house or one for personal and one for business.

When going to get your tax return done just print off your spreadsheet and take it with you to your tax accountant along with your group certificate and other relative info and you won't need to take all the bulky and heavy receipts with you because it all on your spreadsheets.

Fridge & Freezer Organising

Ok so I know when you open the fridge usually you can find most things after moving something out of the way or taking out a few items getting what you want then putting the other contents back in... but what if you could make the fridge and freezer more user friendly??? How??? Well here are a few tips that can not only help you keep your sanity but stop food from going off before you use it and help find items easier...

1. Next time you are in the supermarket make sure you get a few long clear containers that are not too deep.
2. Place containers in the fridge and freezer.
3. In the fridge section use one container for all your sauces on the top shelf.
4. Use one container for your condiments ie: jams, spreads.
5. Use one container for your cheeses. Now you are getting my drift you now how to organise the rest of the fridge.
6. Now the freezer. Use a container for your chicken items.
7. Use a container for your meat items.
8. Use a container preferably with lid to keep a nice stash of ice so you don't have ice cube trays all over the freezer then replace ice as needed.

My final tip is to make sure you rotate your items so that when you buy new food you place it at the bottom of the container so that the older or half used item is at the top and to the front. When you have a well organised fridge you can see exactly what is on each shelf and this also makes for faster cooking and easier shopping... Have fun