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All this happened around the time that I was getting
ready to move into a new, but much smaller home. As I packed my
family’s belongings, I began to think about how helpful it would be to
print information and barcodes onto blank labels and affix them to my
own boxes. Since my new home was much smaller, I was going to need
to keep a number of items in storage.
I soon bought an inexpensive mobile direct thermal
printer/scanner for about $500.00 and several boxes of blank labels.
After a few evenings getting comfortable with the software, I printed my
very own information-rich label complete with a barcode. By moving
day, I had a complete inventory of our belongings, packed into over 300
boxes, all labeled. As the boxes were loaded onto moving trucks
destined for our new home and the storage unit, I scanned them. 
Our new home had a beautiful kitchen that really
inspired me to cook. As I started to stock my pantry with spices
and other cooking staples, I thought to myself, ‘wouldn’t it be nice to
have an inventory system’ for my ingredients?’ I ordered a few more
boxes of blank label rolls and went to town printing labels for my
ingredients. Using software available online, I was able to
generate recipes based precisely on the foods and seasonings I had in my
pantry and refrigerator. I was also able to prioritize our menus
based on expiration date!
When my son’s baseball team started a candy bar
fundraiser (and I was nominated to lead it), I knew my handy barcode
printer would prove indispensable. Labeling and scanning
each candy box helped me track quantities distributed to each child.
Printing information-rich stickers for moving boxes
and food is not the only use I found for blank labels. In a pinch,
they make for great sealing tape, return address labels and name tags.
We’re at the point now where my family starts to
laugh every time I get out my printer or another box of blank labels
arrives at our doorstop. I don’t hear any complaints, though, when
I help them find their things or serve a fresh multi-course meal
courtesy of my recipe software. Honestly, I think everyone will be
printing their own barcodes on blank labels in the future. I know
I couldn’t get along without them!
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