Stockpiling stuff

**boefixepa** · 03-05-2007, 07:31 AM

This is one of those balancing games we all must play. I would never keep stockpile stuff at the expense of having to get a larger space it doesn't make sense...it defeats the purpose. However my largest reason for stockpilling does not have to do with saving money. It has to do with being ready for the unexpected. Job loss being the largest one. If needed I could cut my grocery/food expense to nothing or near nothing, if needs be, for at least six months while looking for new employment. In the event of say a snow storm where I don't want to risk leaving the house for a week, I don't have to worry about having food to eat. Also, if there were some distrubtion in the food distribution chain (as happened to my parents before with periodic flooding in the houston area) where stores are not able to stock their shelves because semi trucks can not get through I have enough to tide me over.

If I were in your case I would not shoot for that year's worth. You simply don't have the space, but would you feel safe with a month? Could you find a way to store and rotate that? At least have a moible 72-hour kit. You can google them. That would allow you enough time to get to someplace better equiped or keep you good until aid agencies like the red cross can set up. This is mainly for disater type situations...ice storms, tonados, flood, etc.

There is alot of information out there. Take it in, and then make your best judgement call on what you can feasibly do and go for it. Most importantly don't compare yourself to others, you are working with different situations and needs.

There is no hard right or wrong answer to this. Do the best you can with what you have and certainly don't stress if you don't have the storage space.

I'm lucky in that I have a 1000 SF crawl space perfect for storing dry goods. I don't have any added housing costs and it's the right environment cool, dry, and dark, for long term food storage. I've not always had this luxury, and I may not always have it. For now I am taking advantage of it.

Good luck to you!

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 03-05-2007, 07:53 AM

I could eat out of my pantry for a month easily right now. We're very good about eating to the bottom of the pantry and freezer. I don't like storing food for a long time so I try to shop not more than a month ahead. So we buy and eat what's on sale and build savings that way.

6 months of not shopping for food might be tough though. We don't have enough meat to last.

**boefixepa** · 03-05-2007, 08:23 AM

As an added cost saver and in an attempt to eat better, I really don't eat much meat. And there are other less expensive protein sources, my favorite is beans of varioius types, that you can work into your diet which do store well.

If you have a large freezer, you live in a warmer climate, and you keep it well stocked, accept the fact that you may loose all of that food during an extended power outage, if you don't have an alernative form of generating eletricity to keep things frozen. Now, that may not be the end all, but it's something to keep in mind. You may not be able to depend on that food.

There are also some canned meats I keep on hand. It's nice in that they don't go bad, nor get freezer burned. Tuna fish, canned chicken, and I believe I have some canned salmon too....truth be told though those are treats for the dogs. So there are other options out there if you want to research them. Just something to keep in mind.

If you keep at least a month of rotating food and are at your storing limits, I think you are doing great. The only advice I could offer is to make sure you have a moible 72-hr kit (like in a back pack) so that if you had to leave all that food behind you'd at least be able to take care of yourself long enough to get somewhere.

**Aleta** · 03-05-2007, 08:51 AM

One of the ways that I rotate the food is how I mark my cans. When I come home from shopping, I take out my Sharpie pen and I write the date of purchase on the food can label. That way, I really do know what is older. I just put 3/5/07 on it. It's good to put the year. I don't bother labeling If it's something that I know that will for sure be eaten quickly.

Sometimes, you could have room in a spare bedroom closet where you can store some extra stuff.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 03-05-2007, 09:02 AM

Aleta already do that. Learned by my grandma. Rotate old stuff first. I label all canned goods and freezer items to make sure I try to use everything up. I am saving money by buying and using what I eat instead of letting it sit.

I guess I need a mobile food pack though. And I'm just wondering what about the cost of stockpiling?

What do people think about that? Is it worth it or not?

**Aleta** · 03-05-2007, 09:09 AM

Somewhere I read that many things can save you regardless of inflation, recession, deflation, etc. In other words, if oil prices contiunue to go up, you know that anythng plastic will rise in vaue, along with the transportation to haul it. Sometimes if I read that a country's coffee business is suffering: I tend to go out and stock up on a few cans before it goes up. Basically, that practice is what being in commodities is all about. You buy cheap on speculation of an event or a disaster or whatever. It never hurts to have extras of stuff around as long as you use it or donate some from time to time.

**sakigt** · 03-05-2007, 01:51 PM

Generally I stockpile using sales, and generally these sales pop up ever 2-3 months or so.

Therefore, theres no need to buy a whole closet worth of food. Using this minimalist method, Im able to fill up my panty and part of my bathroom closet, but nothing more.

You make an excellent point people probably havent thought of. Perhaps the answer is somewhere in between.

**Ima saver** · 03-05-2007, 01:56 PM

I am not a stockpiler, but I do like living in a big house of about 3200 square feet. When a customer comes to look at our house, he wants to see a house of size and quality. (My dh is a licensed builder) When we had the Y2K scare, I stockpiled toilet paper. I figured I could trade that for food. [Automated by GetSmile]

**genmed** · 03-05-2007, 02:01 PM

I stockpile to a certain extent. A year's worth seems a bit much. I like to keep about 4 months worth of things. I can be almost gauranteed another sale in that time and it's enough to make me feel if DH were to lose his job tomorrow or not be able to work, we could make it through the first months without worrying.

**Ima saver** · 03-05-2007, 02:23 PM

I have enough cash stockpiled to live quite a while too.

**JanH** · 03-05-2007, 03:41 PM

Living in a hurricane zone, we stockpile for a couple of months worth. Especially our water delivery. Even after you return from a hurricane, there are things in short supply. We have limited space, so we've had to work on it a bit. We rotate things and also try to eat up most freezer stuff before the season starts. I am trying to stockpile more often-used things so that I don't make as many store trips. Keeps me out of the stores. That's a good thing.....

**PrincessPerky** · 03-05-2007, 03:53 PM

I think stockpiling for emergencies is good, I think having enough stuff from misc free bies to last a year is excessive.

I think the length of time for Emergency stash is an unknown..so make a good guess and live with it (month is fine with me) and remember you will be greatful for food should the need arise, and not so picky on type....isn't about feeding yourself your current food, it is about not starving.

**LivingAlmostLarge** · 03-05-2007, 07:06 PM

I sort of feel if you stockpile into an extra bedroom, you are better off downsizing the home and saving on utilities/maintenance of a smaller home.

**Snoopy2645** · 03-05-2007, 08:26 PM

I stockpile like HBA items I just use like the walls in the basement or cupboards in the basement or the hall closet I dont use a ton of room for this stuff, I use space that couldnt be used for anything else really.

And its well worth it I have so many pads my 3 girls should be set & I got them all for free after rebates.

I havent bought dh deodarant in years I stockpile about 10-15 at a time when I can get them free. I havent bought childrens shampoo in years either I stockpile around 20 bottles of that when they are free.

Oh ya I have a basement closet I use for clothes I get on clearnaced I got sandals last year for $2 & got about 6 pairs for both of my younger dd's & boots will soon go in it when I find them for $1 or $2 & swimsuits from disney store & beach towels practically free. And the girls have easter hats & purses I bought after easter last year at 90% off and more.

Stockpiling stuff