So, what do I stock up on? Turns out, just about everything. I started making a list and it turned into a Dr. Suess book:
Embroidery threads
and sheets for our beds
Nails, hammers, and saws
Paper party straws
Jars of olive oil
Pots with potting soil
Clothing, hats and shoes
Christmas cards with news
Plates and stands for cake
Crafts I’ll never make
Paint to brush and spray
Games we never play…
I could go on. but I won’t. you’re welcome. The point is, I stocked up on a lot of things. Even things I don’t typically use a lot of. The make-up I bought and wore pre-Covid then mostly ignored for a year? It really shouldn’t be used anymore. Most makeup can last about a year (more if unopened and sealed well) but apparently mascara has a shelf life of about 3 months once opened. I don’t use a lot of mascara, so I balk at the idea of the cost and annoyance of replacing it so often. but….I’ve also had a couple horrible eye issues in my life and after thinking through the cost and pain of those experiences…skipping mascara or buying a new one for the rare times I wear it doesn’t seem as bad as risking expired mascara.
You know what else expires? Almost everything.
Some things may be arguably safe past their suggested expiration dates. There are a lot of things that just get unsafe or unusable. The elastic on old socks gives up. Oil goes rancid. Paint separates and does not apply well or dries out. There are so many things in my house that are not only no longer useful to me, but no longer useful to anyone because they’ve passed their expiration.
For this week, this knowledge means cleaning out as many expired stock items as I can find. For the future, this means not only being thoughtful about purchases in order to limit future waste, but also building into my schedule a routine of checking for items past their usefulness, like checking cans of stain, etc. the week before the county’s hazardous waste disposal days.
It also means – use what I have! Don’t buy the great buy-one-get-one deal, if you’re only going to use one before it expires. Don’t save the specialty culinary oils for a special occasion. Enjoy it now!
Uncovering Real 