What's Next?

 

          After a month of keeping track of everything you use, you will have a rather frighteningly large list.  The next step is to organize it and then have the whole family look it over again.  No matter how diligent you are, you will leave something out.  Don’t worry, this is a process and there are no grades.  Next month or next year when you remember an item, just add it on.  The purpose of the list is reference.  You will refer to this list over and over again when making your weekly (or monthly or even quarterly) shopping list.  It will jog your memory and keep you on track. 

          Now, how do you afford all this stuff?  Some people use their savings or take on another job.  Realistically speaking though, most of us just plug away at it.  I look for sales on a weekly basis.  Then I also look for sales (including free or cheap shipping) on a monthly basis for the items that I purchase in bulk over the internet.  Then, once a quarter, we make a trip to a larger town and buy in bulk at restaurant supply stores.  Others may go to places like Costco and bulk buy.  Still others join buying clubs.  I like to purchase some items from a dollar store.  Recently we’ve been getting some great batteries that last longer than a certain well-known bunny’s brand. This is also a wonderful place to stock up on pencils! All these are good options that pay off if, you only buy what you will use in a reasonable time.  A gallon of mayonnaise for a couple who only has a small RV fridge is not a good idea!

          And that brings me to storage.  Food especially needs to be stored in a fairly cool stable environment.  How to do that in an RV?  When we first began RV living full time we rented a storage shed.  Many will criticize that plan as not cost effective and will thus do nothing.  Trust me; doing something is always better than doing nothing!  We only did this for a short period of time.  Now we have an extra trailer that we insulated and can take with us wherever we go.  Be creative and you will find somewhere that you can store a little bit of food that will, at the least, help out in a storm when the stores are closed.  Just think outside of the box!