Stockpile

[getforfree]

Does anybody stockpile?

I have items stocked on top of my kitchen cabinets. Those are mostly items ( toilerties and cleaning supplies) that are free after rebate of coupon . It is organized. My Dh jokes that it looks like a grossery store.

My freezer if full of margarine and Sara Lee bread ( I bought butter to get free bread with coupon, so basicly for each 98c I got 2 lbs of margarine and one 24ounce bread). I had about 40 of those coupons. If we would stop buying food except for milk, juice and produce, we would be ok for the next 2-3 months. Now in the summer we use less milk and more juice.

My kids are set with almost all clothes for the next 3 yrs. I usually buy clothes a year ahead when they are 75-90% off ( usually february and september). I have lots of new socks and undies for me and Dh, enough for a few years.

I recently stocked up on diapers for my DD ( size4,34-pack for 4.99, plus, when I bought them, for each 2 packs I was getting free 8 oz package tomatoes with coupon).

I also have lots of fem pads which were free after rebates, I haven' actually paid for anything like that for about a year now.

Do you stockpile? Does it save you money? It does for me, because I buy stuff at the lowest possible price, because if I run out of something that I need today, it might not be able to get it at that price.

[Thrifty Ray]

getforfree- where do you get all of your rebate forms? I am using one of the coupon trains, but I cant seem to find any locally. Where do you get yours?

[getforfree]

I get rebates mostly from RiteAid, Walgreens,LongsDrugs. I get coupons online, because I don't want to pay for a newspaper. I get lots of advertisements from local small stores and often they have a coupon for a free item. I hunt for coupons in the stores. Like I found those coupons for free SaraLee bread when you buy butter, so grabbed almost all of them. I walk through the stores even if I buy only one item and grub the blinkie coupons and use them at other stores that have better prices for those items.

[getforfree]

Oh, and I forgot, I bought coupons on ebay a few times, saved like 10 times more than I paid for them.

[cschin4]

I don't stockpile. I don't buy in bulk. I used to try to "buy ahead" but it never really worked for me. If I purchased clothes for my kids in larger sizes, it seems the item never quite fit right or they just grew past that size, etc. Now, I only buy clothes that fit them, though I do occassionally pick up a jacket, etc for the following winter.
I don't buy food in bulk. I try to buy only what we will eat. When I buy things too large, or things we don't usually eat, I find it just goes to waste.
That is what works best for us.

[banana]

I also stockpile. I like shopping at Walgreens with their rebates, I also use coupons along with it and usually make out really well.

[getforfree]

If I find something perishable at a really good price, I freeze it. Then I have enough time to use it or cook something with it.The problem is I don't always have enough space in my freezer.

Whatever I put in the freezer and if I separate the package for the better fit, I will write the espiration date on it.

I always write the date of purchase on the canned stuff, because they don't always have it.

[boefixepa]

I buy in bulk too. I don't think I do it the same way you do though. I buy 50 lbs bags of flour, sugar, wheat etc. I package and save it. I have rice, beans, oil, etc. etc. I do the basics and then cook from scratch. I've discovered it has been very easy to feed myself for the $50.00 it's not even hard. I've just added a pasta maker and wheat grinder to the cooking arisonal so it's all going well. I have lot's of canned goods, and the such too. And all the spices, seanings, and cooking things you could want, like yeast, baking powder, soda, salt ect.ect. I make sure I have all the things to make it good, like tons of Chocolate chips, cooking chocolate, cans of pie filing and such. I don't use coupons...I don't have the time...I just price shop and buy in bulk. I don't have the back log of clothes you do, but I'm single and don't have kids to worry about. I sometimes think my house lookes like a store too, but I know I could live for quite a while with what I have at the house if push came to shove. I even keep a three bag back log on the dog food...that's about 100 lbs. I even have 4 6-packs of propane camping fuel, and 100 lbs or carcoal. (Note, all must be used OUTSIDE. I camp alot, but keep these for emergencies..aka power outages. They have been known to last days in bad winter storms.)

All my neighbors and work friends laugh and say they are coming to my house if there's ever a desaster. So I guess I'd best be prepared to share, but really it's not that hard to plan and be ready for anything...(more likely unemployment then 'the big earthquake'). For whatever reason I feel very venerable if I don't have this. Another security net I guess.

The old saying....'if ye are prepared, ye shall not fear.'

[Ima saver]

I don't ever buy in bulk, I have things 4 or 5 years old sitting in my pantry now. The only thing I stock pile when on sale, is toilet paper and diet sprite!! Give me a mixed drink and a bathroom and I am happy. [Automated by GetSmile]

[getforfree]

I stock on the toilet paper too. We use a lot. My MIL goes to the bathroom very often, so we use a double roll in 4 days. 2 yrs ago, when our older kid was a baby, we used one double roll for like 10 days for 2 adults. Now I have to stock up on that too.

[gavinmccallister]

If you like Honey Bunches of Oats cereal and live near an Ingles they have them for buy one get one free so the price works out to be $1.49 a box compared to $2.98 I bought 14 boxes last night I completely wiped them out.

[getforfree]

Thanks. I have plenty of cereals. I get it from Wic, and my kids just can't eat all of them, so paying for more cereals, would be wasteful, But thanks. To bad, it's not allowed to exchange or give wic food, I would give you some. Sometimes, I choose non-sugary cornflakes and use it in the meatballs instead of bread crumbs.

[flash]

Okay, don't mean to be a party pooper, but just a reminder it is illegal to sell and buy coupons. It is not encouraged on this forum.

[boomeyers]

I like to stock up, but only if it is a great deal and we will use it!
I may have to look into Walgreens.....

[lrjohnson]

Flash-I don't see you as a party pooper. I'm glad this forum is a stickler about some things. So thank you.

(I don't coupon, but man oh man if there was ever an inspiration to start....you're budging a boulder!)

[Bookie]

Like others, I tend to stockpile paper goods, toiletries, and staples when the savings are significant. Aside from that I like to have a backup for everything. My comfort zone.

The challenge for me is to keep track of what I have and to use it in a timely fashion. (I bought so much canned tuna I started dating the cans with a marker.) I'm especially careful with acidic canned goods that can have a surprisingly short shelf life.

[poundwise]

I definitely stockpile.

I get multiples of the best coupons I can, from coupon trains, sites like TheCouponClippers.com, and etc. and then I buy items on sale, with the coupons, and put them on shelves in a storage closet. I mostly do non-food items this way, but also have some dry goods and canned goods in stock.

[lillyb]

I kinda do like the Tightwad Gazette teaches. When I see a really good sale in the sale ads and I KNOW we'll use it I stock up.

Seems like there hasn't been any good sales lately and my pantry and freezer are dwindling down. Still saving money by shopping the sales, but nothing fabulous to really stockpile on. Grrr....

[Ima saver]

I try to have 2 of everything,foodwise. I do stock up on toilet paper, I figure I can trade for other things if there is a disaster!!

[shengmei]

Stockpiling is a great idea as long as you do not follow the expiration dates.

Expiration dates are for the companies to make money, IMO