Blunt that I am...... I'd tell them to mind their own business.

Of course... when you go to their homes the same applies.

Oh gosh, just ignore them. You seem very well organized and I'm sure raising 5 children you had to be. If they persist in teasing you (that's probably what it is - hey mom why do you have all this stuff around when you don't have 5 kids living here anymore) just tell them I hope you learned how to keep a house and stick to a budget from the example I showed you. And smile. One day they'll "get it".

I think it is pretty great that you can shop & store & be prepared without having to run to the store all the time. Certainly handy when the weather isn't good either. You're doing just exactly right, Krissie.

I agree, ignore them. My girls love to go through my pantry, especially the home canned items. I just smile and say "thank you for shopping at Mom's".

I don't think you owe anyone an explanation as to what you keep in your pantry anyway, and if you really want to explain, tell them what you just said here. You aren't throwing things out or buying items you don't use or can't remember what they were for (which I'm guilty of).

I have friends who say if there's a week long power outage they want to live in my basement! Farmers have done the food storage thing for generations. That's how a summer's worth of tomatoes lasts until the next summer, it's that 100+ quarts of canned tomatoes in the basement and the freezer with a whole beef in it keeps the family fed until next year's beef is grown.

Heck, tell them you're just a farmer at heart, LOL.

Annie

Don't feel alone, krissie! I've got a huge kitchen, the cupboards are full of both food and cooking paraphenalia!
When I had 4 kids at home, I didn't have time to use "special" pans, dishes, etc. I understand completely!

I also have a small (6' x 6') walk-in closet full of food. Some is long term storage (25 years, 6 gallon superpails), some is the potatoes and squash I grew or bought locally this summer. I have a 21 cu.ft. upright freezer---full. My kitchen fridge has a bottom freezer---pretty full. My garage fridge upper freezer is about half full.

Let the storms come (weather, financial, whatever!).
I am ready.

When your kids come to "shop" just tell them "THIS is why I have all this stuff. You're welcome!"

Deanna

I'm sure there are those folks who would wonder why the heck I have an extra fridge in the garage and a walk in pantry that is stuffed to it's very limits when it's just the two of us living here.

But, I know what items we use on a regular basis, and it only makes sense to keep stocked up with them, purchasing a lot when a good sale price is on offer. I save us a considerable amount of money that way. I buy many of our meats in bulk packages and freeze them in portions, again saving lots of money in the process.

Krissie, I bet your kids would be amazed at the difference in your per-person food expenditure as compared to theirs if you compared notes. Many people don't even have a real idea of how much they spend on food because of how often they eat out.

I remember years ago, I took a friend who wanted to learn to live on a budget out to grocery shop. He was in the habit of grabbing fast food or store bought sandwiches (with chips & drink) for lunch most days, picking up a coffee and pastry several times a week for breakfast and even eating dinners out fairly frequently.

It was like pulling teeth to get him to load his cart up. He balked at the price of items I bullied him into buying and when he ended up with over a hundred dollars in his shopping cart he about had a fit. It was the spending it all at once that got to him. So, we sat down and I quizzed him on how much he spent on lunch when he went out etc, and then added up his eating-out expenses for a week. That quieted him down about the groceries. ;)

Krissie, you are so smart! I salute your organizational skills -- sounds like you should be teaching classes on this -- and the fact you are so well-prepared for an emergency. Next time one of your kiddos make a comment, just tell them your store is always open and only a few steps away. LOL!

I remember the current Heloise saying that her mom, the original Heloise, always told her to "go shopping" in her pantry before running to the grocery store, that she would often be able to save gas money and time by doing so. That piece of advice has stuck in my mind and I've often done that myself. Wish I had heard it sooner!

IMHO, your kiddos could learn from you -- and I hope they do. To paraphrase Mark Twain, as they get older, you'll get smarter. ;-)

To me, the main advantage of your system is that you can buy in bulk and you can stock up when things are on sale. To me, this in itself is a huge advantage. When you add the fact that you save a lot of money on gas by shopping less often (something I've learned to do myself), that would seem to be a no-brainer.

I'm serious about you teaching classes -- so many people are out of work or working for much less pay these days than before, they could really benefit from your wisdom.

Krissie, my rule is I don't get involved in their lives or make comments about what they do or don't do; so I don' require their comments! I am a hoarder...so was my Mom who lived through the depression....we should be in good shape for the horrible economy. For just the two of us, we have three freezers, two refrigerators and pantry full. My daughter is amazed that I can make almost anything at the drop of a hat....without going to the store.

Now if I can just buy the grain mill and bulk wheat berries....I am set! I still have to buy flour more often than I would like or I am out.

They may be worried about (or amused by) a common condition of older age -- hoarding.

When my FIL passed he had enough boxes of Kleenex in his closet to last him until he was 100 years old.

My father runs to store for bananas when there are still four on top of the frig.

In there case -- too much time on their hands. But harmless. Live and let live.

My husband just came out of his room a few minutes ago, and asked if we had enough food, to not need getting out. We have sort of a blizzard here, and he didn't even need to show up at work because of it.

I have a stocked pantry, and plenty of food in the garage fridge/freezer.

But my girls don't question it. In fact, the oldest (lives only 8 miles away) calls me and tells me, of specials. She picks up extra items for me, if I tell her, it's a good price.

Moni

Ignore them is right. Until they understand, don't let that bother you. If you don't want them to take your food just be up front with them. Unless they are in financial needs and that you don't mind helping them out. I would draw a line i.e. no more than one big of chips for the grandkids when they come over. For the grown ups, they should understand. If they don't, it's time for them to grow up.

When I first got married I didn't understand why MIL dated everything in her pantry. I thought it was strange but of course I didn't say anything.

I started my own food storage a few years ago and now I appreciate how she did it. It's a good "system" to prevent food spoilage and confusion. So let's hope when your adult children finally start their own food storage they will come to appreciate what you do.

We don't have a big pantry but we store our extra food in the basement on shelves and an extra chest freezer. My two grown stepchildren live far away so when they come to visit they use our food but they don't take home our stuff.

Why should you have to explain yourself to them at all? Your house, your food, your meals. I'm with Westelle -- I'd tell 'em it's not up for discussion how you choose to run your household. :)

Just imagining what my mother would have said to me had I helped myself to her pantry once I moved out makes my ears burn. LOL!

Adult children seem to need something to shake their head about when it comes to their parents. Somehow it seems to make them think they have learned better than whatever it is they are shaking their head about. It seems to gives them a little feeling of superiority.

No matter how well you taught your children to try and save money, budget, take good care of things so they would last, etc, it seems the younger generation for the most part didn't learn those lessons well. Probably because they have far more money than we ever did. It would be a shame if we really got into a severely depressed economy because I don't think the majority of them could handle it at all.

I don't care what my adult child thinks about how I run my house and you shouldn't care either. And if my DD should hurt my feelings about something, I don't hesitate to tell her so in plain English and she doesn't do it again. If it's all that important to you though, that they understand why you are doing what you are doing, then I think you should print out a copy of this thread for each child and ask them to please read it.

Thanks for your comments.

One daughter was looking in the closet for something to help with a project they were doing here, instead of asking me where something might be and gave me a hard time about my need to have kitchen stuff in the closet.

Oh well, guess I am not the only one who lives like I do!!! No, our childen do not help themselves when I am not home, sometimes they do ask if I have something and I am glad to share if I have it.

I have overheard conversations among our children in adulthood about their college days and the fact I took them to the grocery store and bought groceries, not junk food and sent back with them instead of giving them money for food. Hmmmm....something told me the money would be spent and no food bought. This way I knew they had food.

I grew up on a farm during/after the depression days and have always been frugal.

The young people now DO NOT COOK. So they don't have anything around. Most school have dropped Home Ec (Consumer Economics) courses and most mom's don't have the patience or time to show their kids how to cook. No wonder no one has a savings account - they spend it on $5 coffees, $10 lunches and who knows what for dinner. But they have to have a fancy kitchen in their new home.

You mean like tonight when my daughter, who lives around the corner, needed a roll of aluminum foil, 2 rolls of which I happen to have in my pantry? :-)

Helene

Awww... you've got me beat Helene! I only have one roll of foil. It happens to be the 1000 foot variety from the restaurant supply place, but just one roll nevertheless!
Hee hee.

My daughter (who lives 2 1/2 hours away) was here last night and said she talked to her co-workers about my chickens and now they want eggs!!! I think it has more to do with the novelty or ease of obtaining them than a true desire for farm fresh eggs. For goodness sake they can get them a lot closer than that!! But.....I'll be taking a couple of dozen up tomorrow when we go....
Mom's grocery is always open! I kind of like it when the kids shop here, as long as they ask and show some gratitude, it's fun!! Hoping they're still learning and absorbing the value in being prepared!

They're 20, 22 and 24 (x2) by the way!!!!

Deanna

When I retired I built a double wide as my retirement castle. I couldn't afford a basement and the two car garage I had built was never intended to hold a car. A quarter of the garage is an insulated room that is the dogs' kennel. The garage must hold everything I need to maintain 5 acres out in the country. I have a huge riding mower, two walking mowers, a huge snow blower, wheel barrow, small cart I can pull with the lawn tractor, the usual snow shovels and gardening tools, multiple 35 pound bags of dog food (I buy only when on sale and buy in bulk)lots of cat litter also bought on sale, my generator, numerous gas cans, all my recycling barrels, birdseed, a wall of shelves for storage that can be out in sub zero temperature, hoses, several large dog crates....you know, all good stuff. My house in 1037 sq. feet, three tiny bedrooms, two full bathrooms, no dining room. Two of the bedroom closets are small. The one in the master bedroom houses a huge water softener and treatment system. I still can't drink the water so I buy 10-12 gallons of cheap bottled water every month. I drink diet Coke and buy a huge number whenever it goes on sale for $1 per 2 litre bottle. Water and Coke can't stay in the garage when it is cold enough to freeze. I buy my K-cup coffee on sale and in huge quantities. My kitchen has a tiny "pantry" cupboard. The two smallest closets hold various stuff, upright cleaner, paint cans, Christmas wrapping, --I'm sure you get the picture. I am not a hoarder and throw out "stuff" several times a year. Even the second bathroom in my house does double duty because there are two large litter pans in the (unused) bath tub and a canister vacuum. I live out in farm country. There is a pretty well stocked mom and pop store 6 miles away but their prices aren't the greatest. I don't know how a family of four is expected to live in a house like mine. One small bedroom holds my computer, stereo and TV. The other little bedroom holds all my light house collection and tons of books. My kitchen can't possible hold everything that belongs in there. I have given up apologizing for the amount of "stuff" in my house and garage. I won't give up buying in bulk while on sale and it is just too bad if you come to visit because the only place you can sleep is on my couch. Tell your kids to provide you with some storage room in their houses!
Nancy

Krissie - Your daughter would probably have gotten a laugh out of what we did at our last house, then. We had a good-sized ktichen as far as square footage, but it was the most non-functional cabinet space ever! Tiny cabinets, nonadjustable shelving, etc. There was a coat closet right next to the kitchen door going unused. DH put four shelves in it, and that became our "pantry". Heck, not like anyone ever hung their coat in there anyway!

Krissie, I agree. There are just me and DH at home, but I have two refrigerators and two freezers which are all full and a fully stocked pantry. I can or freeze vegetables from our garden in the summer and buy alot of items in bulk from Sams club.
One reason is because during harvest I take meals to the field and it takes alot of food, another is I don't want to have to run to the store just to put a meal on the table, even if it is just the two of us.
I have a little building in the back yard that I keep
all sorts of cooking related items in, black eye pea sheller, two canners, two waterbath canners, assorted huge pots and pans, 2 and 3 gallon spigot thermos to take ice tea to the field, just to name a few things. In my garage I have shelving that I keep boxes of canned goods from Sams, gallon size tea bags and an enormous box of trash bags.
My front bedroom has two closets and in one I keep paper plates, take out plates, 44 oz. cups and tops that I buy by the case for taking lunch or dinner or both to the field.
My kids also enjoy shopping at Mom's. When my DIL calls to see if I have something that she needs she will always say "I knew you would have it, I just knew you would." She has also said that I am the only person in the world to get excited about a Penzey's spice order.

Krissie, you are in good company here! LOL! Many of us pride ourselves on our pantries, freezers, closets, basement and under-the-bed storage of food, cooking utensils, special baking pans, home canned foods, etc. We are old enough to realize how much time and money is wasted on last minute, unplanned trips to the grocery store. Even if we are mostly cooking for just one or two, we like to have a supply of frozen, bulk and canned foods on hand to put together a home cooked meal.

Maybe you have some Mormon ancestors that you can dredge up to support your preparedness gene? Then again, you can just ignore any comments the "kids" might make and tell them "my house, my rules - your house.....whatever."

Krissie, other than what all the others have commented here, just ask your kids if they have enough food for a week long blizzard and money in the bank. If they answer no, tell them to re-think their lifestyle.

Krissie,
You're in good company. Looks like most of us here "hoard" food. My parents grew up in the Depression so it was important to them to have a well stocked pantry and freezer. When my DD was in high school she used to be embarased by my shelves and shelves of home canned goods and store bought staples. Now that she is in college and cooking her own meals she understands. And yes she cooks dinner every night by choice so she can eat healthier.

datura-07,
My 22 year old DS was just bemoaning the fact that he never had the opportunity to take a cooking class in high school. He can do the basics but not well so we have been searching for a basic cooking class for him. He MAY have to go to Mom's School of Cooking. DD learned at my side but that's not his style. :-)

My mother and her sister have cupboards bursting with all sorts of food stuffs. They're both in their 80s, and live on the family farm. I don't nag them, but I did convince mom to go through everything and toss the 20 year old boxes of Hamburger Helper and packets of ranch dressing mix. They both love anything new and improved, but somehow never got around to actually trying some of this stuff.

It's not hoarding in a pejorative sense, but there's little value in hanging on to expired jars of Tang, or Crisco so old that it's rancid. I'm not suggesting that the OP has anything like that going on in her cupboards, but it's been known to happen. There's also no reason for the two of them have have hundreds of dollars tied up in bulk purchases.

I replaced the dead spices for Christmas from Penzey's.

You are very fortunate to have your children, and grandchildren, living so close. I imagine there are plenty of forum friends who would love to have your problem.

My parents did what you are doing, only they never really used the food they stored. When they finally had to sell the house and move, we threw out a lot of out-of-date food. I just cleaned out my pantry and again, lots of expired foods. I've had to teach myself not to buy food I anticipate I "might need in the future". Now, other than staples like flour, sugar, salt, and some frozen foods I keep in the chest freezer, I just don't buy extra food to store.