Organize Your Refrigerator to Save Time and Money

Description: Easy tips for organizing your refrigerator before you go to the grocery store.

The refrigerator can often become a black hole of things forgotten and things to become (i.e. where things begin to grow - yikes!). Having an organized fridge can prevent you from wasting money, space and time. Have you ever bought something at the grocery only to come home to discover that you already had it in the fridge? Arggg! A few simple rules and habits can ensure your fridge stays clean and organized.

1. Throw away expired or rotten food before going to the grocery. This is a good way to see what is in your fridge and makes putting away the groceries quicker when you come home. The less time the milk sits out on your counter while you rearrange your fridge to make room for the new gallon, the better!

2. While putting groceries away in the fridge, bring items already in the fridge to the front and put the new items in the back. This is an old inventory practice referred to as FIFO (First In, First Out). If it was in the fridge first, you should use it first - this minimizes the amount of waste due to expired food.

3. Keep your milk on a low shelf, not in the door. This will help it to last longer. When you keep it on the door, each time the door is opened it is exposed to a blast of warm air. Also, since warm air rises, it is best to keep milk low to ensure its freshness.

4. Group similar items together. Keep drinks together. Keep vegetables in the crisper. Keep cheeses and lunch meat together - a drawer is ideal.

5. Think about size. If you put yogurt in the back, you'll never see it and likely never eat it. Put larger containers in the back - such as spaghetti, jelly, or salsa jars. Put smaller containers in the front - such as cream cheese, yogurt, margarine, etc. Condiment bottles work great in the door shelves - such as salad dressing, ketchup, mustard, etc.

6. Consider creating a door shelf or part of a door shelf for each member of the family. This is the ideal height for small children to reach to access or store their 'sippy cup' when not in use. Also, a great place to put a child's afternoon snack - this allows you as a parent to monitor their diet and prevents them from rummaging through your perfectly organized refrigerator!

7. If you're the type that tends to cook once and eat all week - make sure you have plastic containers that work well in your fridge design. Reserve a space in your fridge for leftovers! This will make preparing dinner the rest of the week quick and easy. No more hunting through the fridge to find the mystery plastic containers!

Hopefully making these changes to your fridge will make you happy when you open it. A good cleaning out never hurt either. A side tip - if you do decide to put on the rubber gloves and scrub it down - start at the top, as you wipe each shelf the crumbs and liquids will succumb to gravity. <>If you're just getting started - get ready, aim, organize the refrigerator!

Theresa Finnigin is a professional organizer, speaker, writer and owner of Ready Aim Organize. Theresa is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) and National Study Group of Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD). The mission of Ready Aim Organize is to rid homes and offices of clutter and chaos to ensure time is not wasted and each day is more productive and peaceful than the one before! Although currently based out of Northern San Diego County, Ready Aim Organize serves clients all over the country through virtual organizing. Sign up now to receive the FREE Ready Aim Organize e-newsletter (http://www.readyaimorganize.com).

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