"By the Month" Food Storage Plan

My neighbor showed me her home management binder yesterday, and I was very inspired to get on top of my life.  Today I've been typing up and modifying and getting my own binder organized and ready to rock my family's word.  She had a section on how to build your food storage by week & month, which was a handout she had gotten from church many years ago.  I took a picture of each page she had, they looked all cutesy like this:

So as I've been working on my binder today, I typed these up and updated them a little bit for myself.  Here's a link to see/print it, or copy and paste from below:

By The Month Food Storage Plan

1) Each week buy the items listed and store them
2) Use a permanent marker to write the date purchased to aid in stock rotation.
3) Buy the largest quantity you can sensibly afford and store.
4) If you miss a week, skip it and go on.  Don’t get behind.
5) Replace items as you use them.
6) Store & Organize properly, as improper storage can lead to waste.

       
January
Week 1 - Popcorn: invest in a pop corn popper if you do not have one.
Week 2 - Detergents, bleach and other cleansers.
Week 3 - Essential Oils, Medicine, Feminine products.
Week 4 - First aid supplies, band aids, Neosporin, hydrogen peroxide, etc.

February
Week 1 - Canned meats: chicken, corned beef, chili, etc.
Week 2 - Personal products, soap deodorant, toilet paper, shampoo, lotion, etc
Week 3 - Peanut Butter & jelly/honey
Week 4 - Solid shortening & oil (shortening stores longer, but buy oil if you prefer.)

March
Week 1 - Juices: Avoid watered projects; look for 100% lemon, orange, pineapple, etc.
Week 2 - More first aid products, gauze patches, swabs, cotton balls, tape, etc
Week 3 - Mixes: Cake, brownies, pancake, muffins.
Week 4 - Spices and Herbs: Buy the ones you use the most often, pepper,         cinnamon, bay leaves, oregano, etc

April
Week 1 - Toiletries: Toothpaste, floss razor blades, shaving cream, etc
Week 2 - Pasta & Noodles: spaghetti, ramen, whatever your family likes
Week 3 - Rice & Soy milk (Dry milk if you want (blech!): 40 ounces makes 5 gallons)
Week 4 - Assemble an emergency sewing kit, thread, pins needles, buttons, tape measure, scissors, etc.  Keep it compact and handy

May
Week 1 - Flour, white wheat pastry, rye etc.
Week 2 - Dry soups and crackers.
Week 3 - Gelatin and pudding mixes.
Week 4 - Garden seeds: don't forget the radishes they grow fast and are full of vitamins

June
Week 1 - Toilet paper, diapers, baby wipes
Week 2 - Safety week: replace flashlight batteries, check smoke detectors practice your fire escape routes
Week 3 - Cheese: buy shredded or in large blocks, cut smaller & freeze
Week 4 - Paper towels, aluminum foil, sandwich bags etc

July
Week 1 - Condiments; mustard, catsup mayonnaise relish pickles etc.
Week 2 - Jams and jellies (or Canning supplies, Certo or Sure jell canning lids)
Week 3 - Fill or refill water jugs.
Week 4 - Bath Supplies: soap, shampoo, conditioner, towels

August
Week 1 - Baking powder baking soda, cornstarch etc.
Week 2 - Canned fruit, buy it already canned or can some your self.
Week 3 - Tomatos: canned, whole stewed, sauce or juice, or Can/freeze it yourself.
Week 4 - Vegetables: canned or frozen, or can/freeze them yourself

September
Week 1 - Sugars: white, powered and brown sugar
Week 2 - Canned seafood: tuna, salmon, shrimp, etc.
Week 3 - Dry beans, peas, rice, and legumes
Week 4 - Sweeteners, Honey, Corn Syrup, Molasses, maple syrup etc

October
Week 1 - Vinegar. apple cider, white (removes odors in laundry and great cleanser)
Week 2 - Canned Soups, try the low salt and low fat varieties or make your own
Week 3 - Apple week: applesauce, apple butter, juice, pie filling
Week 4 - Nuts, Walnuts pecans almonds, (They will freeze well)

November
Week 1 - Iodized salt. it seasons preserves and in a pinch is a toothpaste
Week 2 - Vitamins a good multi vitamins extra C for Flu and cold season (ladies do not forget your calcium and vitamin D!)
Week 3 - Treats for baking, cocoa, coconut, chocolate chips, vanilla extract, etc.
Week 4 - Rolled Oats, cornmeal, hot cereals, get what your family eats

December
Week 1 - Cooking Oils: Canola, olive and peanut oils are the healthier choices
Week 2 - Candles and matches: put them where you can easily locate them in the dark.
Week 3 - Merry Christmas! You've given yourself a great gift - security
Week 4 - Hope you saved a little for those after Christmas sales!  :)