Get ready for a cozy and healthy winter at home by giving your goods a sustainable stock up score. We’ll help you prep.

Photo of four large mason jars filled with grains

And just like that, it’s late October. The end of this long, long year is almost here. In a typical year, Halloween kicks off weeks of festivals, parties and gatherings. We decorate, we travel, we shop and we celebrate.

In winter 2020, we prep.

There may still be pandemic pod parties and small, socially distanced celebrations. But to pull it all off while staying safe and healthy this winter, you’ll need to be prepared.

If the great toilet paper shortage of March was the warm up, this year’s flu and holiday season is the stock up Olympics. Note: We did not say the hoarding Olympics. Stocking up is more of science. Which means you need a method.

We’ve got you covered with a simple three-step process.

Step 1: Define your successful stock up

You know you. You know what will make the next few months feel as right as they can. You know how close you are to local stores, how much space you have for supplies, how much money you’re willing to spend on the front end and how often you’re willing to get out of the house for higher-risk excursions like shopping.

Use that as your basis for defining what a successful stock up looks like. Your successful stock up might look something like this:

I have one all the basics on hand to prep a meal, cook the meal, clean my home, and practice personal hygiene and self care for one full month.
I have what I need to engage in at-home activities that bring me joy and comfort.
My shopping/stocking aligns with my value of sustainability.

Try it! Answer these questions for yourself.

How much back stock do you want? A couple of weeks? A month? All winter?
What do you want your stock to accomplish? For example, do you want to be able to easily whip up a family meal? Have ingredients available for kids to serve themselves? Feed your pets? Clean your space? (Don’t forget teeth brushing, showering and other self care needs).
What activities do you want to maintain and what events do you want to prep for? Maybe you enjoy movie nights with the family, crafting or drawing? Maybe a birthday is on the horizon? List the supplies you need for these moments, so they remain joyful when the time comes.
What values do you want to maintain and how can your stock up plan align? If you’re working to reduce waste, trash and plastic, then consider your sustainable options throughout the process.

Step 2: Make your master list

Now that you’ve defined what stocking up means to you, make a list of everything you might need. You can do this systematically by starting with your usual grocery and supply list, and then thinking through a whole day from start to finish. Missing anything you need for the day? Add it!

Then repeat the process with your week and your month. Don’t skip over movie nights or birthdays. No need to be caught off guard without popcorn or cake supplies.

Step 3: Give your items a stock up score

This is where the magic happens. You probably don’t have the space to have a three-month supply of everything or the extra budget to buy it all now. So how do you know where to begin?

Introducing the stock up score. Use this method to identify the items on your list that will most benefit you to stock up on.

It works like this. You’ll assign points to everything on your master list. Then identify your highest scoring items and stock up.

Is this item essential to me or my family? Must have = 2 points Nice to have = 1 point
How often do I buy it? Weekly = 2 points. Monthly or less = 1 point
Does it go in the landfill when I’m done with it? (Think nonrecyclable packaging). Bound for landfill = 2 points. Recyclable = 1 point. Renewable, reusable or compostable = 0
Is there a bulk, reusable or lower waste option. Bulk/reusable version = 2 points Lower waste version = 1 point
Can I store the alternate option? Yes = 2 points Yes, but I’d have to buy something new to do it = 1 point

Now add up the points! What are your top scoring items? Have any 10s?

Bulk, dried beans are a 10 for our family. So is nut milk and coffee. So we stock up on dried beans from the bulk bin, almonds to make our own milk, and bulk or reusable coffee supplies.

Work your way down the list, from your highest scoring items to your lowest until you’re as stocked as you want to be.

Stock Up Troubleshooting

As you go through the process, you might find yourself in a pickle. Literally in some cases, since the only way to stock up on fresh cucumbers would be to pickle them. In those cases, revisit your stock up goals. If you’re not interested in growing your own broccoli or milking your own almonds, then don’t! The goal is sustainability, and that includes your time, effort and enjoyment.

Happy stocking!