Buying ahead at the lowest prices means not paying full retail prices
This page isn't about hoarding. It's about the practice of stocking up on food and supplies you regularly use - only when they are on sale, using coupons on them too -so you only buy at the lowest price possible!
Before you do your grocery shopping each week, check your "store" to see if you already have it to use. I just love "shopping" in my own little store!
Your stockpiled food and supplies may come in handy in a time of emergency, that's just a bonus. It's not advised to rush out and buy up large amounts of food and supplies - that would cause prices to rise even more. But lay aside an amount in your budget each month to gradually build your stockpile over several weeks.
Before you do your grocery shopping each week, check your "store" to see if you already have it to use. I just love "shopping" in my own little store!
Your stockpiled food and supplies may come in handy in a time of emergency, that's just a bonus. It's not advised to rush out and buy up large amounts of food and supplies - that would cause prices to rise even more. But lay aside an amount in your budget each month to gradually build your stockpile over several weeks.
What's in this page...
- How Stockpiling Saves You Money
- Gradually build your stockpile at the lowest prices possible
- My stockpile efforts
- First in, first out strategy
- Date label your stockpile
- Storing food
- Keep food and chemicals separated
- Free printables
- Stockpile suggestions
- What doesn't stockpile well
- Where to store your stockpile
- Stockpiling Links
- Freezing and food safety
- Chest freezers
- News articles about stockpiling
- Bloggers write about Stockpiling
How Stockpiling Saves You Money
Here's some real life examples...
Example 1:
I have small children, and we go through a lot of juice.
Juicy Juice retails at about $2.75 per 64 ounce bottle. Recently, the grocery store had it on buy one get one free sale. I had several coupons to get 50 cents off purchase of two. The free bottle counts as one of the two. The 50 cent off coupon doubles to 1.00 off. So each bottle of Juicy Juice ended up being about .88 cents.
I was able to get 10 bottles. 10 x $2.75 (retail) would be $27.50
10 bottles x .88 cents = $8.80.
I saved $18.70 on just those 10 bottles of Juicy Juice.
So you can see that even if you will need to buy shelving or other storage units, they will pretty quickly be paid for by your savings.
Example 2:
I was able to get 8 packages of Pepperidge Farm frozen garlic bread for .44 cents each after sale and coupons... (8 x.44= $3.52). Considering that it usually sells for at least $2.50 (sometimes more), I saved $16.48. I love having a nice chest freezer so I can stock up on these deals.
Example 3:
Purex Laundry Detergent usually retails for 3.64 at my local Kroger store. When it was on sale, and Kroger had a recent special that offered several dollars off at the time of transaction for buying 10 of participating items. I also had coupons that doubled. So my final price for each bottle was $1.20 instead of $3.64, a difference of $2.44 per bottle. The savings really adds up:
Regular retail price of 20 bottles: $72.80
My final price of 20 bottles: $24.00
Amount saved: $48.80
I also have a hedge against inflation, at least for as long as those 20 bottles last!
I have small children, and we go through a lot of juice.
Juicy Juice retails at about $2.75 per 64 ounce bottle. Recently, the grocery store had it on buy one get one free sale. I had several coupons to get 50 cents off purchase of two. The free bottle counts as one of the two. The 50 cent off coupon doubles to 1.00 off. So each bottle of Juicy Juice ended up being about .88 cents.
I was able to get 10 bottles. 10 x $2.75 (retail) would be $27.50
10 bottles x .88 cents = $8.80.
I saved $18.70 on just those 10 bottles of Juicy Juice.
So you can see that even if you will need to buy shelving or other storage units, they will pretty quickly be paid for by your savings.
Example 2:
I was able to get 8 packages of Pepperidge Farm frozen garlic bread for .44 cents each after sale and coupons... (8 x.44= $3.52). Considering that it usually sells for at least $2.50 (sometimes more), I saved $16.48. I love having a nice chest freezer so I can stock up on these deals.
Example 3:
Purex Laundry Detergent usually retails for 3.64 at my local Kroger store. When it was on sale, and Kroger had a recent special that offered several dollars off at the time of transaction for buying 10 of participating items. I also had coupons that doubled. So my final price for each bottle was $1.20 instead of $3.64, a difference of $2.44 per bottle. The savings really adds up:
Regular retail price of 20 bottles: $72.80
My final price of 20 bottles: $24.00
Amount saved: $48.80
I also have a hedge against inflation, at least for as long as those 20 bottles last!
Gradually build your stockpile at the lowest prices possible
Don't buy more than you will reasonably use within one year (depending on the product). Paper supplies like paper towels, toilet paper, and feminine paper products will not go bad. Check the sales fliers for the lowest prices possible, use coupons, and stock up when it's at the lowest price you can get.
Gradually build your stockpile. Only buy when the items are at their lowest price possible, and only buy what you will have room to store.
If you go by what the store has on sale, you will see that certain items are on sale in cycles.
Gradually build your stockpile. Only buy when the items are at their lowest price possible, and only buy what you will have room to store.
If you go by what the store has on sale, you will see that certain items are on sale in cycles.
My stockpile efforts
...examples of how it pays you
Now I can stock up on the great deals and 'loss leaders' at the grocery store.
I bought a metal 4-shelf unit at Target on sale for $25. I also bought a freezer chest.
If you watch the sales at the grocery store, you will find that the items you buy most will go on sale about every 90 days or so. By stocking up in a quantity that will last you at least that long, you will never have to buy many items at the full retail price.
Use coupons on top of the 'loss leader' prices or a 'buy one get one free' deal, and you will save a huge amount of money. One way to be able to have multiple coupons of the items you use the most is to order the coupons for a small handling and administrative fee.
I bought a metal 4-shelf unit at Target on sale for $25. I also bought a freezer chest.
If you watch the sales at the grocery store, you will find that the items you buy most will go on sale about every 90 days or so. By stocking up in a quantity that will last you at least that long, you will never have to buy many items at the full retail price.
Use coupons on top of the 'loss leader' prices or a 'buy one get one free' deal, and you will save a huge amount of money. One way to be able to have multiple coupons of the items you use the most is to order the coupons for a small handling and administrative fee.
First in, first out strategy
...having a system means less waste, more savings
Stock your stockpile shelves the way the grocery store does. When you buy new stock of an item, it should be placed behind what you already have, so what's been there awhile will be used first. New stock goes behind the older stock. This keeps your stock rotating and fresh.
Pantry and storage organizers
Date label your stockpile
I've found that writing the date on food items is very important. This doesn't have to be an involved, time consuming effort. Just use a permanent marker to write the month and year on the box flaps and jar lids. I like to write the date really large so it's easy to see.
For cereal boxes, I stack them with the flap facing me. I put the boxes that will expire first on the top of the stack. Cereal boxes take less room stacked this way, and it's easy to see what the cereal is, and the date of expiration.
For jarred and bottled things, I write the expiration date on the lids, then I put these foods on the shelves with the items that expire soonest closest to me.
This will really help prevent waste, and ensures that you won't accidentally use something that's gone out of date. You will use your items in plenty of time. If I ever realize I have more than I can use before an expiration date, I donate to my local food pantry.
For cereal boxes, I stack them with the flap facing me. I put the boxes that will expire first on the top of the stack. Cereal boxes take less room stacked this way, and it's easy to see what the cereal is, and the date of expiration.
For jarred and bottled things, I write the expiration date on the lids, then I put these foods on the shelves with the items that expire soonest closest to me.
This will really help prevent waste, and ensures that you won't accidentally use something that's gone out of date. You will use your items in plenty of time. If I ever realize I have more than I can use before an expiration date, I donate to my local food pantry.
Storing food
Keep food and chemicals separated
...avoid cross-contamination
Keep cleaning products separate from food products.
I use one shelf unit for food and another for cleaning products and toiletries. The consequences could be really bad if you stored cleaning products above your food, and a cleaning product leaked! It also makes good organizing sense to keep them separated so your food goods will not become contaminated.
I use one shelf unit for food and another for cleaning products and toiletries. The consequences could be really bad if you stored cleaning products above your food, and a cleaning product leaked! It also makes good organizing sense to keep them separated so your food goods will not become contaminated.
Free printables
- Grocery Stockpile List - Pantry List
- A free, printable list of what to stockpile.
- Free Printable Price Book
- Track your grocery spending with a price book, and ensure you get the best deal every time.
Stockpile suggestions
...not everything stockpiles well
Here are some ideas of things you could buy to begin your stockpile. Remember, don't pay full retail. Wait for buy one get one free specials and use coupons!
Laundry Detergent
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Paper products of all types are increasing in price. They won't go stale. Stock up when they are on sale and use coupons.
Cleaning Supplies
Feminine Napkins/Tampons
Shampoos/Conditioner
If you look at the ingredients on shampoos, most of them are the same as body washes and hand soaps. Look for Suave shampoo on sale, use coupons and stock up on it because it has multiple uses.
Hand Sanitizers (watch the expiration date) - I would also store these up high, away from children and pets, because the alcohol content can be dangerous. Put in a locked cabinet, if you have one.
Bar Soaps
Liquid Hand Soap (watch for this to go on sale for $1, then use your coupons!)
Razors - these do not go stale, and if you end up with too many, they are great to donate to shelters or assistance centers. Personal care items are needed there. I just bought a 5 pack of razors for .75 cents that normally sell for $5.50. The pack was half price,and I had a coupon. They aren't the brand we like, but I bought them anyway to give away.
Laundry Detergent
Toilet Paper
Paper Towels
Paper products of all types are increasing in price. They won't go stale. Stock up when they are on sale and use coupons.
Cleaning Supplies
Feminine Napkins/Tampons
Shampoos/Conditioner
If you look at the ingredients on shampoos, most of them are the same as body washes and hand soaps. Look for Suave shampoo on sale, use coupons and stock up on it because it has multiple uses.
Hand Sanitizers (watch the expiration date) - I would also store these up high, away from children and pets, because the alcohol content can be dangerous. Put in a locked cabinet, if you have one.
Bar Soaps
Liquid Hand Soap (watch for this to go on sale for $1, then use your coupons!)
Razors - these do not go stale, and if you end up with too many, they are great to donate to shelters or assistance centers. Personal care items are needed there. I just bought a 5 pack of razors for .75 cents that normally sell for $5.50. The pack was half price,and I had a coupon. They aren't the brand we like, but I bought them anyway to give away.
What doesn't stockpile well
I have had to throw away salad dressings and mayonnaise that I tried to stockpile. The expiration date is just too close. Luckily I have caught some of it before it expired and been able to give to friends, but I have decided that it's not really saving money to buy something and have it be wasted, so salad dressings and mayonnaise are no longer on my stockpile list.
Where to store your stockpile
"All right, this all sounds well and dandy, but if I start stockpiling, where am I supposed to keep all this stuff?!?"
Definitely space is a concern. I use shelves in my garage, but the garage isn't a good storage space for everything. It has extremes of hot and cold, plus moisture concerns, so only things that wouldn't be effected very much can go there. I keep laundry detergent, spray cleaners, bottled juices, canned foods, toilet paper, paper towels, and that sort of thing there.
In the kitchen, you may have space up above your kitchen cabinets. Weight is a concern there, but it's a good spot to put lighter items that take a lot of space, like paper towels.
If you stock up on flour or sugar, be sure to put them in plastic bags so they will stay fresh longer. The bags keep out the moisture. Keep these types of goods in a dry place. I like to put my overstock of these waaaay back in the cabinet behind other stuff that gets used more often.
Some people have been able to store things behind doors that stay open all the time. You can also get your utility closets to do double duty. Condense your toiletry items and reserve the top two shelves for your stockpiled soaps, shampoos, cleaners, etc in storage bins for easy access.
You can use under the bed rolling storage units for some items. I have heard about people keeping canned goods under the bed.
Some people put a shelf in a spare room, and if the room is used for guests, then they have fixed up the shelf so it has curtains to cover the stored goods.
Definitely space is a concern. I use shelves in my garage, but the garage isn't a good storage space for everything. It has extremes of hot and cold, plus moisture concerns, so only things that wouldn't be effected very much can go there. I keep laundry detergent, spray cleaners, bottled juices, canned foods, toilet paper, paper towels, and that sort of thing there.
In the kitchen, you may have space up above your kitchen cabinets. Weight is a concern there, but it's a good spot to put lighter items that take a lot of space, like paper towels.
If you stock up on flour or sugar, be sure to put them in plastic bags so they will stay fresh longer. The bags keep out the moisture. Keep these types of goods in a dry place. I like to put my overstock of these waaaay back in the cabinet behind other stuff that gets used more often.
Some people have been able to store things behind doors that stay open all the time. You can also get your utility closets to do double duty. Condense your toiletry items and reserve the top two shelves for your stockpiled soaps, shampoos, cleaners, etc in storage bins for easy access.
You can use under the bed rolling storage units for some items. I have heard about people keeping canned goods under the bed.
Some people put a shelf in a spare room, and if the room is used for guests, then they have fixed up the shelf so it has curtains to cover the stored goods.
Stockpiling Links
There are great ideas and tips in articles about stockpiling.
- Couponing, refunding, and stockpiling will make your money stretch by Mary Kenyon Issue #92
- Couponing, refunding, and stockpiling will make your money stretch - Article by Mary Kenyon from Issue #92
- What is a stockpile? at Canadian Freebies, Coupons Canada, Shopping Bargains, Flyers, Contests and Free Samples
- What is a stockpile? at Canadian Freebies, Coupons Canada, Shopping Bargains, Flyers, Contests and Free Samples
- Storing Your Stockpile - Frugal - Families.com
- How do you store your stockpile?
Good storage of your stockpile allows you to take advantage of great deals without having your house overwhelmed with cereal boxes falling from the top of the fridge or soup cans falling on your foot.
I'm always curious as to how people store their stockpiles. - 8 Practical Stockpiling Tips: Save Money! - Frugal - Families.com
- Practical tip 1: Buy up loss leaders. Grocery stores entice you into the store by offering a few items at ridiculously cheap prices. These items are generally on the front page and can be seasonal. So when soup is on sale four cans for a dollar, fill your pantry until the next sale.Practical tip 2...
- Adventures of the Stockpiling Queen (1) - Frugal - Families.com
- This blog is about how a desire to save money and be prepared for anything creates a kingdom onto itself.Are you stock-up royalty? Take this test...
Freezing and food safety
- Freezing and Food Safety
- This fact sheet, formerly called Focus on Freezing, contains information about freezing, how to safely freeze food, and the effects of freezing on food.
Chest freezers
Because I've invested in a nice chest style freezer, I have enough room to be able to stock up on really good deals. One of my latest was 4 packages of Lender's frozen bagels for .25 cents each! (they retail for about $2 a package). If I didn't have my new freezer, I wouldn't have had room for those.
Keep in mind that you want to get the right size freezer for your needs. If it's too big, you need to fill the spaces with bags of ice or something. Otherwise your freezer has to work harder to keep the open spaces chilled. So either plan to keep a big freezer well filled,or buy a smaller size freezer.
If you have children or grandchildren, it's often a good idea to install a lock onto your freezer for safety.
Keep in mind that you want to get the right size freezer for your needs. If it's too big, you need to fill the spaces with bags of ice or something. Otherwise your freezer has to work harder to keep the open spaces chilled. So either plan to keep a big freezer well filled,or buy a smaller size freezer.
If you have children or grandchildren, it's often a good idea to install a lock onto your freezer for safety.
News articles about stockpiling
...it's not a weird thing to do anymore
- Wall Street Journal: ROI by Brett Arends
- Wall Street Journal writer Brett Arends on how inflation and the accelerating cost of food makes stockpiling a pantry a good idea.
Bloggers write about Stockpiling
- Yttrium oxide prices still depressed by ample stockpiles
- Market players told Metal-Pages that some transactions for 5N yttrium oxide have continued to take place at {Rmb38,000-40000/tonne*$5578-5871/tonne before 25% export duty}, and some suppliers have been maintaining their prices at {Rmb42 ...
- Copper Declines in London on Rising Stockpiles, Dollar Rebound ...
- Nov. 26 (Bloomberg) -- Copper fell from a 14-month high in London on speculation rising stockpiles and a rebound in the dollar signal slower demand for the metal.
- Copper Drops as Stockpiles Rise; Gold Demand in India Fall on ...
- Copper slid in London as growing inventories and the rebounding dollar pushed down demand for the metal. Stockpiles monitored by.
Drop me a line...
I would love your questions, comments, suggestions (html not accepted)
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- JenOfChicago JenOfChicago Jul 10, 2009 @ 11:52 am
- Great lens - so timely!
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- ddixonart ddixonart Jun 20, 2009 @ 7:56 am | in reply to Demaw
- it's really worth it. I just have a couple shelves but it's more than paid off.
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Reply
- Demaw Demaw Jun 20, 2009 @ 12:02 am
- I rearranged my home to accommodate shelves for stockpiling.
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Reply
- ddixonart ddixonart Apr 23, 2009 @ 12:12 pm | in reply to stargazer00
- thank you so much!
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Reply
- ddixonart ddixonart Dec 20, 2008 @ 9:17 am | in reply to flowersbyfarha
- you can even store canned foods under beds, so think creatively :)
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by ddixonart
My name is Darla Dixon. I am a mom of 4 - I work from home creating Pencil Portraits. My artwork has been published several times and has sold interna...
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