Stockpiling

[zacsmum]

Does anyone here stockpile? This is a money saving techinique i'm thinking about using and would love to know people's personal experiences with it. I won't be stockpiling with coupons because we don't have grocery coupons in my part of Australia but i was planning on stockpiling loss leader items we use regularly as well as items we pick up from factory outlets and markets for good prices. What is your system with stockpiling, what are the risk factors i should look out for and what is the safest storage techniques for certain items? I want to stockpile everything from food to cleaning agents.

[PrincessPerky]

Re: Stockpiling

Don't stockpile if you wont use it, or if a cluttered cabnet makes you not want to go in it.

I have an overstocked pantry and it irritates the err something out of me. I also have a stockpile of clening stuff and discovered it is cheaper and as effective if not more to use vinigar for most stuff (but not laundry detergent which I do have 3 months worth neatly up top in my laundry room)

I also discovered that if I have it I will use it, so buying twice as much of something doesn't neccessarily last twice as long, but that is me. I can make the meat last as long cause it is frozen and can't be used on a whim.

Clothes wise I discovered I will guaranteed be wrong on the season and size for the kids, so I don't spend money on it, but I do occasionally keep handme downs that may or may not be seasonal when my kids fit them. But I do not keep ALL of the clothes for the next one, it only makes the closet cluttered and then the kids (and I) get irritated (I keep the special stuff though) So far I have never had a naked kid .

Carwise, well if DH can't find it he will buy a new one, not much sense in stockpiling till I get his garage straightened out (or get him too) Not his fault, the 'good will get it out of my house' stuff is still in there, but we are working on it.

[cicy33]

Re: Stockpiling

Food is a hard thing to stockpile cuz it expires. I had about 4 jars of mayo awhile back and we don't go through it that quickly so it is expiring. The toothpaste I bought a year ago, some has expired but we are using it anyways. Paper products can be stockpiled well, cleaning solutions sometimes. but not for more than a year I would think.

[jmjj215]

Re: Stockpiling

A search for "provident living" on google returned quite a bit.

[zacsmum]

Re: Stockpiling

Thanks Jesse, i wil look at that.
Basically what cicy33 and princessperky are telling me is if i do stockpile, to be smart and not overdo it. I should have mentioned that we will be living in a two bedroom unit and won't have a whole lot of space for storage so we might stockpile a range of different things but not a lot of each item for lack of space. You guys have given me a lot to consider so thanks for that. Does anyone have any good experiences with stockpiling?

[marjorie]

Re: Stockpiling

Stockpiling can be very advantageous, but make sure you never buy more than you will want before it expires. Think of items like laundry detergent, deodorant, and other high ticket items that can be purchased much more cheaply on sale/coupons/rebates... I've seen people get pretty inventive with storage... like adding a top surface to cases of canned goods, and using them as bedside tables/end tables, you get the idea! Another consideration is that is doesn't pay to store much. Think about buying enough to last until the next similar sale, here often in 6 week cycles.

[mjrube94]

Re: Stockpiling

Regarding the storage space, be creative. You can use rubbermaid totes to store under the bed, in closets, etc. Regarding the stockpiling itself, I try to go through my pantry and freezer periodically (every few months) to see what I have and what will soon expire. For food items, I try to incorporate them into my menus, for toiletries/cleaning products, if you can't use it in time, donating it is a great idea. Keeping a price book also helps, because in addition to allowing you to see what you pay for items, it also lists when you bought things, so you'll have a better idea of how quickly you go through things.

[zacsmum]

Re: Stockpiling

Thanks for the storage ideas, they're great!

[Tree0164]

Re: Stockpiling

I stockpile on paper goods, canned goods but no more than 6 months worth.

[baselle]

Re: Stockpiling

I stockpile also and use nice big wide shelves so I can see everything and can get at everything comfortably. Got my shelving at Overstock.com. You also want to have a cycling system so you can use the oldest stuff first. If you can keep items cool and dark you can stretch the expiration dates a little bit (weeks, not years).

[terry1156]

Re: Stockpiling

We stockpile for up to 6 months depending on the discount and what it is. Most things we have a 3 month supply as sales usually come about at least once every three months. We don't stockpile anythign that can go bad in a three month period - we just find that we end up throwing too much away if it does expire.

[mom-from-missouri]

Re: Stockpiling

I stockpile everything. If it is on sale, I have a coupon, and its cheaper than normal and cheaper than generic, I get it. Some items I keep in the refrigerator. (I have an extra refrig). I have a small rubbermade tote I keep extra lipstick, deoderant and film in. It keeps it out of the heat and it lasts longer. (I don't keep my air on during the day or when we are not home). However, now that we are planning on moving, I find it a pain in the rear I have to move all this stuff, so I am no longer buying, but using. After we move, I will again start to stockpile, as our new house is 18 miles out of town, and 17 miles from the nearest store--and, it has a huge pantry. When I was off work for a month with a sick little one, my stockpile kept us going. I don't stockpile items that are flamable though--including a whole lot of TP.

[Bluezy]

Re: Stockpiling

Cheers hun!

I stockpile on foil products (everything is reused and hardly ever taken to recycle), glass jars with their original lids (for canning), toilet paper and laundry soap bars.

The glory in stockpiling is that you now can start using everything and will only have to move what is left. It might be aggravating but you won't have the extra expense of buying those products after your move.

A large pantry would bring me to nirvana. Enjoy hun! Good luck with your move

Bluezy

[CRFSaver]

Re: Stockpiling

Growing up we had a neighbor that used to pay her real estate taxes in the following way. She would get coupons for every single sample item that was free and stockpile it through the year. Then once or twice a year would have a garage sale and sell the items at 10 and 20 cents a piece. Not sure if its technically legal but talk about a pro at stockpiling...

[cicy33]

Re: Stockpiling

Knew a couple like this. When IGA would have their triple they would come first (of course!) and fill several baskets with free stuff and then have garage sales. They were actually a big reason IGA started limiting the number of free coupons we could use to 5. A lot of people complained. I personally don't like it when people do it just to resell it. But that is a personal opinion. I feel that there are people like us who really need the products. I don't per se have a problem with having a garage sale and getting rid of your excess stockpile, just don't like when that is the express purpose of getting the free stuff. Just for the record I wasn't one who complained, I figured first come first serve!