Start the Year Off Right With an Organized Kitchen!

 The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is over for another year, giving you a much-needed break from the kitchen! If you found yourself feeling extra stressed this holiday season when baking Christmas cookies, cooking large family feasts or hosting your annual get-together, your kitchen’s organizational system may be to blame. Now’s the time to get your kitchen in order for a more Zen experience and figure out systems that work best for you when you’re in a high-pressure cooking or baking situation. Here are a few tips for minimizing kitchen clutter, optimizing your counter space usage and getting rid of anything that you haven’t used in a while (or ever) to make room for the things you need every day.

Delete Duplicates

When a couple gets married or moves in together, the chances of having duplicates in your kitchen increases. Suddenly you find yourselves with two of everything: toasters, coffee makers, blenders...you get the idea. The possibility of owning more than one of every small appliance gets even greater when the wedding gifts start rolling in from well-meaning friends and relatives. While it can be hard to part with the Mr. Coffee that kept you sane through all those all-nighters in college, or give away the lookalike food processors you received from Uncle Ed, Cousin Jenny and Grandma Sue on your wedding day, you’ll be much happier when you whittle down your kitchen appliance collection to just one of everything.

Play “Sell, Toss, Donate” With Kitchen Items

Be honest, have you ever used that waffle maker that’s currently taking up valuable real estate on your kitchen countertop? How about the enormous bread maker you bought at a garage sale during your homemade baking phase? If you haven’t used a kitchen appliance in a year or longer, consider selling it on Craigslist or eBay or donating it to Goodwill or another charity-based thrift store. Any kitchen appliances that are beyond repair or are unsafe to use should be disposed of responsibly. Getting rid of appliances can be hard when you think you’re still going to need them one day, but you’ll be rewarded with a sleek, clutter-free kitchen that cuts down significantly on everyday stress.

Devise a System- and Stick to It!

Most of us already have designated cabinets and drawers for the things we need and use everyday in our kitchens. However, when life gets in the way, it can be difficult to stick to an organizational system and put things back where they belong after each use. If you find that your current system is hard to remember or doesn’t make sense to you, maybe it’s time to do a complete reorganization of your kitchen to help you make the best use of your counter space, utensils and appliances.

A new year can be a fresh start- why not begin with your kitchen? By following these organization tips, you can turn your kitchen into an inviting, clutter-free space that inspires creativity, conversation and happiness!

Save Money With 3 Bulk-Buying Tips!

Over the past decade, bulk buying has significantly increased in popularity, with more and more consumers purchasing large quantities of their favorite household items and groceries from stores such as Costco and Sam’s Club. More recently, Amazon has gotten in on the action with services like Prime Pantry and Amazon Fresh, adding convenient, affordable bulk grocery shopping services to its already impressive list of Amazon Prime features. It has never been easier or more convenient to buy large amounts of what you need most in an effort to save money. But before you run to the nearest big-box bulk shopping center and plunk down your paycheck on a stockpile of goodies, it’s important to know that not all bulk purchases are created equal. Here are 3 tips to make sure you are getting the most out of that membership and receiving maximum bulk-buying benefits with minimum damage to your wallet. 

Keep it Dry

Since the purpose of buying in bulk is to lower the overall cost per unit, you want to make sure you’re only investing in mass quantities of things you’ll actually use. If you are a family of three, for example, the odds are good that you won’t actually get through that entire 8-pound box of strawberries before they start to spoil (unless, of course, you freeze them- more on that later). For this reason, it’s best to stick to the non-perishable grocery items, or dry goods, that can be stored for years at a time. Any household or laundry items, such as detergent, dryer sheets, paper towels or toilet paper, as well as any non-perishable foods like cans of beans, uncooked pasta, and protein bars, fall into this category. Be warned, though- many non-perishable food items still have expiration dates, so it’s best to calculate how many items you actually use in a year before shelling out for a bulk package.

Freeze!

Prior to embarking on your bulk-shopping journey, make sure you have ample freezer space waiting for you at home. This could either mean investing in a deep freezer cabinet, or simply cleaning out your freezer to make space for new items. Either way, when it comes to bulk grocery shopping, your freezer is your best friend. Meats, fruits, veggies and more can easily be frozen and stored for up to a year, giving you the edge on savings. 

Pro tip: Package and freeze your bulk groceries in small amounts; this way if you only want to thaw a small amount at a time, you don’t have to sacrifice the remainder of the frozen food.

Space Out

Much like the aforementioned freezer space you’ll need after a bulk-buying mission, it’s important to have enough storage space in your home to accommodate large boxes and packs of household goods. If you live in a small apartment with little or no cabinet space, or if you don’t have access to a pantry, utility room, garage or basement, you might want to think twice about taking the bulk-buying plunge, unless you don’t mind having a living room with boxes of  tissues stacked up to the ceiling!

Got any more great tips for buying in bulk? Share them in the comments section below.