Since retiring my goal every year has been to use up what I already have on hand before purchasing anything new. I had stocked up my home in anticipation of retirement and college kids so I had a lot to work with at the begging. This year however, I took it a bit further as I have re-evaluated each item I stock prior to repurchasing with a new set of eyes. I needed to determine whether or not I even need this item and if so, how much I truly need. It has been both rewarding as well as eye opening.
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| I tried the store brand sponges this year, but I like Scotch Brite better |
At the beginning of the year I still had a lot of cleaning and laundry supplies in the linen closet. I also had a fair bit out in the motor home so I decided to remove everything from there except the toilet paper as it is RV specific TP and added it to my stockpile in the linen closet. The supplies in the motor home have been out there for a few years exposed to the elements so I decided I should probably use them up before they aren’t usable any longer. With all that I was able to use up, along with some calculations on actual usage, I now feel like I have a good grasp on what I realistically need to keep on hand moving forward.
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| I haven't needed to open this yet, but soon 😀 |
I no longer have a plethora of open, partially used cans of Comet in my home. I got them all used up and now I only keep one can under each bathroom sink plus one backup can in the linen closet. I used up the last of the dishwasher tabs this year and replaced them with two new containers on sale with a digital coupon. I finished up a refill bottle of dishwashing liquid along with the bottle from the motor home purchasing one new refill jug on sale at Costco. I bought three small bottles of Fabuloso at Dollar Tree after using up what I already had on hand. I used up one and now have one partial bottle that I am currently using under the kitchen sink plus one backup bottle in the linen closet. I also picked up a ten count box of Swiffer duster refills and one container of Lysol wipes both on sale with a digital coupon. The Swiffer duster and Lysol wipes are not necessities, but it doesn’t hurt to have a little luxury in you cleaning repertoire as long as it is practical and affordable.
At the beginning of the year I had used supplies I already had on hand to make and fill a half gallon Mason jar with homemade laundry detergent. I used that up this year along with a leftover bag of laundry soap pods my daughters did not need while in college as well as a box of dryer sheets. This year I replaced my homemade laundry detergent with two jugs of liquid detergent I purchased on sale with a digital coupon after determining it would be more than enough to get me through 2026 and was less expensive than buying new supplies to make my own. I also picked up two boxes of unscented dryer sheets, again on sale with a digital coupon, which will keep me going throughout 2026 as well.
I used up the last of the diluted shampoo and conditioner to refill the pump dispensers I keep in my shower and bought a new bottle of shampoo and conditioner to replace them which are still in the linen closet. I still have a partial tube of toothpaste and some flossers in use and one tube of toothpaste, a package of flossers and four toothbrushes in the linen closet. I also used up an open box of cotton swabs and I have a large unopened full box of cotton swabs in the linen closet to refill the container I have in the bathroom. I did use up two bottles of Bath & Body Works lotion, two bottles of shower gel and several small bars of soap from my soap jar under the bathroom sink. I no longer have the soap jar full of hotel soaps after I decided to let that go. I still have plenty of lotion, gel and bar soap to work through in the coming year.
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| Behind the paper towels (I only used 1 roll this year) is the 10 pack of Kleenex (unopened) I bought at Costco this summer |
My pandemic TP hoard has really been reined in and I am now down to just five packages of twelve jumbo rolls plus a few rolls under each bathroom sink. Knowing how much TP I actually use each year now that it is just me living here my plan moving forward is to only keep one case that is open and in use and one as a backup. I only plan to keep a dozen boxes of tissue on hand too as I use about one a month. I did purchase a replacement package of ten boxes of tissue at Costco this year because it was a super good deal. I now have enough TP and tissue on hand for 2026 and I’m sure I will not need to purchase anything new until the end of the year, possibly not until the first of 2027.
I made a lot of gifts using my craft and sewing supplies this year and I still have a lot more to work with in 2026. I did not purchase anything new this year. I also used up quite a lot of my office supplies, used up a stack of colored papers for journaling and making journals and was able to consolidate it all of my office supplies into one drawer. I made a point to use those post it notes and cute little notepads I’d been hoarding for making my grocery and “to-do” lists as well as for notes. I only purchased one package of loose leaf notebook paper this year, a bottle of Elmer’s glue and three rolls of tape. I also made a good dent in my gift wrapping supplies and probably still have plenty left to use in 2026.
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| Shelf liners |
I made myself some gifts as well by first finally making the flannel shelf liners I had long wanted for my shelves in my kitchen cabinets. Then I made myself a couple of aprons that I use a lot, especially when I am meal prepping. I love, love, love these aprons and the shelf liners have been absolutely wonderful!
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| This area holds canning supplies, pet food & pet supplies |
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| This area holds everything I need to maintain the house & vehicles plus the deep freezer |
In the garage I used quite a few of my supplies to do maintenance around the house and on my vehicles. It was really nice not needed to run to the store every time I worked on a project so for that I was really grateful. I reused containers and lids that I already had on hand after decluttering this year to reorganize areas throughout my home and in the garage. I have streamlined and consolidated that area of my home a lot this year. I also got rid of a ton of “just in case” cardboard boxes I had been storage sending them off in my big blue recycle wheelie bin each week until they were gone. Along with that I gathered up all of the Amazon bubble mailers I had been saving and let those go as well.
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| Kitchen freezer |
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| Garage deep freezer |
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| My long term food storage area |
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| We added this small freezer last month to extend the LTFS It has been really helpful to keep things better organized too |
As far as my food stores I was able to pretty much use up or pass along a lot of things I was overstocked with because I wasn’t consuming as much of those items as I thought I would. Pasta was a big item I was able to move along as well as some extra canned goods. I have since modified my pantry list now so I am no longer overstocking on things I don’t eat that much of and increasing the amount of some items I do use more often. I’m also utilizing the pull and replace method so as I am not running low or out of anything as well as the first in-first out practice so that everything is new and within date. Nothing languishes and gets too old or freezer burns and ends up going to waste. Thinning down my open condiments in the refrigerator was also something I focused on this year. In addition, I did a two month pantry challenge and even put a moratorium on meat purchases the month after just to make sure I used things up and didn’t overstock.
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| Holiday decor, BBQ supplies & camping equipment |
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| Canning supplies |
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| This month I restocked the vacuum sealer bags & replaced the canning lids I had used on my latest projects - pull & replace 😉 |
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