picture of pantry
Do you have a stockpile in your house? Do you find that as you coupon more and more, your cabinets and pantries are filled with more and more food? People that are new to couponing often look at me like I have two heads when I mention stockpiling. Once you grasp the concept of stockpiling and once you begin the process, it will become a word that you come to love! When you have a stockpile, you will no longer need to go to the grocery store to purchase every item that you need to make dinner. Instead, you will have many items (like pasta, rice, soups, canned goods, frozen meats, etc) in your home. When you run out of deodorant, you will not need to go to the drugstore to pay full price on a new stick. You will instead, have a few sticks stashed away that you can use. When you have guests staying at your house who forget to bring razors or toothbrushes, you will have the items they need. When you have friends or neighbors in need, you can put together a care package for them out of the items in your own house. You can, “shop your own stockpile” versus going to the store to pay full price.
Definition of Stockpiling: Stocking up on items that are at rock bottom prices so that you don’t have to pay full price ever again.
To create a stockpile, follow the steps below:
1) Remember that sales cycles are typically every 6 – 8 weeks. So – when you stockpile, you want to purchase enough of a rock bottom deal to last at least 6-8 weeks. And, if the item is not perishable, you should purchase enough to last 6-9 months if not more!
2) Rock Bottom Prices are from matching a great sale with a great coupon. If you have a Buy One Get One Free Sale and you use two manufacturer coupons, you are automatically saving over 50% on the two items you purchase.
3) Gather multiple coupons. Buy more than one newspaper every Sunday and print out more than one of internet coupons.
My favorite printable coupon websites:
4) Keep your stockpile organized. Organize your food by expiration date keeping the food with the shortest shelf life to the front so that you use it. Keep good inventory so you know exactly what you have, what you need and what you don’t need.
5) Know when to say when. Determine your families needs on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. Do not become a hoarder. Do not let food go bad.
6) Give it away! These are tough financial times. What is better then to see a family in need and to give them overflowing bags of groceries – groceries you barely paid for from your own pantry!
photo of freezer
photo of linen closet
If you have a stockpile you would like to share with other Addicted to Saving readers, please email me your picture at addictedtosaving @ hotmail dot com (all one word). I will post your pictures for everyone to see!
Thanks for coming to Addicted to Saving! Here’s a little bit about me so you can know who’s behind all these posts!
My name is Liza and I began my money-saving journey in the Spring of 2009 as a way to stretch a limited household income. I had lost my job and my hubby was self-employed. I launched Addicted to Saving in November of 2009 and it has grown by leaps and bounds. Since then, my hubby and I have struggled with the ups and downs of two failed adoptions and are now LOVING being parents to our little man Asher who we brought home from Ethiopia in August of 2013. I feel incredibly blessed to be able to help you save money. My goal is that you will have FUN and become empowered to save more and more money each week..
I am so very new at couponing. Please help. What should I do first. Any suggestions, please email me at [email protected]
I LOVE the fact that you mentioned sharing the items in your stockpile! My stockpile, which God has truly blessed us with has helped so many people…
1. My friend (while in between jobs) was able to shop at my stockpile.
2. I have been able to give several bags of food, etc. to friends and people that needed a little help.
3. I use my cookies, chips,etc. as snack for kids that I volunteer with each week.
4. I have been able to provide toothbrushes, toothpaste, razors, etc. when guests forgot something.
5. I’ve been able to put together a quick gift bag of goodies for college students.
6. I’ve been able to send a care package to a soldier.
Its amazing how God can use us to bless others… beyond more than we could ever imagine!
Thanks for the article, you brought up some things that I have not thought much about. I have a little stockpile and it is reassuring to know that in the case of illness or emergency, I have enough of most everything to get by. I also buy some things on Amazon for non-coupon items that come in cases or multiples and this saves a lot of money also and adds to the stockpile. I have also been blessed in being able to give to the homeless through a non-profit and others in need (including friends and family), to seniors on fixed incomes and to local food drives. Couponing allows me to “pay it forward” with quality name brand items and it feels good. I am so grateful that I am able to manage the process, although I get confused sometimes and do not save as much as I could have (I am gentle with myself when this happens). My volunteer work is limited to couponing and sending positive, healing energy to help others, because of the limitations of my disability ….. so the couponing is very important, gets me out of the house and walking more and keeps my brain active. I am so blessed.
I too love to stockpile! I have 3 grown children with families of their own. A friend of mine told me about her “care package” she gives her daughter every year for x-mas consisting of “goodies” she buys all year long. I decided to try it this past year for my kids. I watched for sales, traded coupons, and used my own coupons to give all 3 of my kids their own care packages at x-mas. They loved it! They had bags and bags of dish soap, shampoo, toilet paper, trash bags, laundry soap, cleaners, toothpaste, deoderant, body wash and a few coupons for “free” items. In these tough economic times having these little “extras” really meant a lot!