Taking Inventory

Because we are trying to keep our grocery bill very low for the next couple of months, I thought it would be a good idea to take an inventory of what I have. I didn't write down everything, I just focused on the meat in my freezer. Keep in mind that in the spring we bought a 1/2 a pig and this summer we bought 60 pounds of grass fed beef from a local farmer.

whole chickens - 2
ground beef - 21 packs, at least 35 pounds
ground sausage - 7
sausage links - 6
brats - 3
bacon - 8
ham - 2
meatballs - 1
ground turkey - 1 large pack
hotdogs - 1
loin roast - 2
pork chops - 1
beef rib steak - 1 small pack
beef for stew - 1
beef roast -1

By doing this inventory, I can see what I have that needs to be used. I won't be spending any money on pork or beef for awhile, but as you can see I am short on chicken. I haven't been able to stock up on chicken for a few months now, just buying exactly what I need for that week. Kevin prefers chicken over anything else, so I need to spend money on chicken over any other type of meat.

Looking at this list I will also make a list of meals that I can make using this meat. This will make my life easier in the the meal planning department, but it will also let me watch for sales on the items I need to complete the meals I come up with. By supplementing with chicken, I should be able to feed my family for two months with the meat I have on hand. What a relief! Taking an inventory really helps me not stress about food so much.

*This post is linked to Life as Mom's Frugal Fridays.