building a stockpile?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

How much do most people set aside to build stockpiles with? I am setting aside $50/month for diapers/baby stuff, $50/month groceries.

Is this reasonable? I usually do less on groceries, but was wondering about the baby stuff?

[BillK]

We spend $90-$110 each week on groceries. This is for a family of four. We are conservative on our shopping and have our own garden and beef source from a family member who farms. Your food budget really seems light.

Not exactly sure your definition on stockpile, but wanted to give you a reference.

[investingnoob]

$50/mo on groceries!? do you mean just for yourself?
Average family spends about $500/mo on groceries

[Alex_Adviser]

$50 per month for Groceries is very less. Even an average family spends averagely around $100 - $150 per month on Groceries itself. My monthly spending on grocery is never less than $150.

[disneysteve]

I think you folks misunderstood the question. I believe LAL is budgeting money specifically for stocking up, buying in bulk. Not saying they only spend $50/month on groceries but that they spend $50 extra to build a stockpile.

Personally, we don't do this so I'd say we spend $0 on stockpiling. We do sometimes buy in bulk, particularly to take advantage of really good sales, but it isn't something we do on a set schedule or with a set budget.

[ktmarvels]

I don't specifically set aside extra money for this purpose, but I don't follow that strict of a budget. Perhaps that's a good idea though. But I wouldn't stockpile things I pay at full price. Basically see what's on sale that week, at a really deep discount, and buy as much as you can/want to have on hand. Its a slower approach, but eventually you'll have everything you want, and know you got it at a really cheap price!

[KTP]

Is this a Mormon thing? I heard a rumor that Mormons are supposed to have a year's worth of food or something stockpiled according to their beliefs.

My end of the world plan is just to make sure I know which nearby houses are Mormon.

[ktmarvels]

Originally Posted by KTP

Is this a Mormon thing?

I've heard that too, but most of the people I know of who stockpile stuff do it for the cost savings and ease of having everything you need right at your fingertips.

When I was doing it I mostly did it with toothpaste, shampoo and conditioner. I was able to get the packages for free, or only have to pay tax. So when I got to the end of a bottle I'd grab a free one off my shelf (or more likely, from a box under my bed), rather than run out to the store and spend $2 or $3.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

No, it's just that I've been getting back into coupon shopping but now for the baby. I have 13 packs of diapers and paid something like $5 for them after coupons and deals.

I don't usually coupon food, but am considering trying. I'm trying to set aside $50/month for baby diapers/wipes and stuff and see if I can come in much less.

[disneysteve]

Originally Posted by LivingAlmostLarge

I have 13 packs of diapers and paid something like $5 for them after coupons and deals.

I think I mentioned this before but be careful about stockpiling diapers. You can't know in advance what size the baby will be or what brand or size of diaper will fit well and not leak.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

Got a luvs, pampers, and huggies. I have size 1 and 2 an 3 and only 1 package of newborns. I also have a ton of wipes.

[MonkeyMama]

$0.

I also wouldn't stockpile any diapers. You'll likely try a lot before you settle on a brand, and lord knows what size baby will be.

We "stockpile" whatever is on sale as far as groceries. The first few months you may find you spend more, but eventually you don't need to regularly buy stockpiled things, so it all kind of evens out - for us anyway. There's a "startup cost" but should save you in the long run, right?

[wincrasher]

I generally don't plan or budget my food or household supplies shopping.

I don't wait until I'm out of something to buy. Since I have a pretty good inventory of stuff, I generally buy bulks of items on sale (especially if I have a coupon too).

Like right now I have 6 packs of 24 rolls of toilet paper. Does a single guy really need that much TP on hand? But if it goes on sale tomorrow, I'll get 6 more cases. I do the same thing with just about everything - especially meat - have lots of meat in the freezer.

Sometimes I think I waste alot. Expiration dates on canned foods and dry goods - generally you get a year - and I pay attention to those dates when I'm buying stuff. But I try to donate stuff that is getting near the end date. So if it was cheap to begin with, it's not really a big deal.

[LivingAlmostLarge]

I figure the diapers can be easily exchanged, I already asked CVS, Walgreens, rite aid. Bring it back with receipt that I taped on the package.

[Staceyy]

We don't have a set amount, it varies.

[zakity]

I don't have a set amount. I just am always looking for what is a good price. If I find something that is a good price, then I pick up as much as I can afford or as much as they have.

[Like2Plan]

I would stockpile cash to buy diapers, et'c before I would buy a whole lot of diapers. They grow like weeds when they are little and it is hard to predict how long they will be in a particular size. Your little one may have a sensitivity to certain brands. Trust me, you are not going to want to be taking a bunch of stuff back to the store after your little one arrives.

[BillK]

Ok, I now understand what you are trying to do with stock piling. It is kind of like what a lot of us did in 1999 for Y2K. It is also what many of us do who live in a rural area who want to reduce trips to town and have the convenience of just pulling it out of a pantry or storage.

Your budget will catch you up where you will want to be at. What is just as important with stockpiling is determine what your usage rate is.

A good example is cream of mushroom soup. We use a lot of it since we eat wild game and like it. It is important to take a marker and label dates for proper stock rotation to use the oldest first. If you have to throw it out you are going backward and over stocked.

Other items like dental floss and toilet paper will depend on how long you want to stock for and what the purpose is.

No more someone using the last roll and not having another handy.

[dmontngrey]

My stockpile mostly consists of items I got for free, so I don't set aside a certain amount of money for stockpiling. I'm amazed at what I am willing to eat if I got it for free!

[marvholly]

LGL
Stick w/ the GC challenge group for stockpiling on anything. Several members have babies/crawlers. Follow their lead on that stuff.

I would stockpile easy to prep foods (canned beans if you generally use dry), pasta, chicken breasts, frozen veg. You want meals to be as simple & fast as possible those first 3-6 months.

I would also stockpile paper goods, cleaning supplies, laundry soap (you WILL be doing 1/more load/day-babbies are messy) and paper goods. You do NOT want to have to run out w/a newborn unless you really need to or have planned in advance (hubby or granma to sit).