Stockpiling and what you need to know

I've started this several times and never quite got it finished. Today is the day. So grab a drink and sit and read. This will help you realize what you need and what you don't need.

Some of the things you need to know about stockpiling

Do NOT stock pile things you won't use – some people find "bargains", stock pile them then realize that they will never use the product. However, if you know a friend that does use them and you get them for almost nothing or nothing then STOCKPILE it and give it to the friend. I never EVER turn down a free item regardless of what it is.


Do NOT stock pile perishables unless you know you'll use them before the expiration dates – again this would be wasteful.And with this said I think we are all pretty smart to know that that head of lettuce isnt going to last 3 months.

Make sure you have the necessary room for your stock pile BEFORE you buy. Buying 100 cans of soup for $.10 might be a great bargain BUT if you have no where to store them it becomes more of a hassle. But then again there is always under the bed. All kidding aside, I have a friend that uses her basement with a shelving unit sat up and that is where she stores her excess. Kind of like her own grocery store.

Start out organized so that you do not have to play catch-up later. If you throw everything together in your pantry or cabinets well there will be no way for you to know what you have and what you need to use up before it expires. If you let it expire without using it then you have defeated the purpose of stockpiling.


Keep a running inventory of your stock pile.My running inventory is I can see what I have. I know when the toothpaste is getting low etc.


Use the stocking method of "First in – First out": in other words rotate your stock. When you buy more of something put the oldest items towards the front so that you use it first. It takes a little bit of time when you are putting up your groceries but it will help you in the long run.



Here's a good strategy for stockpiling on a budget. Each week commit a certain amount of your grocery money to stockpiling, and even if you do not think you have enough you would be surprised just how far $10 will go if you shop the sales. Get your local grocery store fliers out, if you have and use coupons pull those out too. Circle the sales, and make your list, based on your wish list, the sale fliers and your coupons if you have any. Try to stick with loss leaders, (items that are usually on the front page, and are usually such a good deal, that the stores lose money on them, in an attempt to get you in their store, to spend more money). If you can find coupons to match the sale items then so much the better. As you purchase the things on your list, cross them off.

Another thing to do is when you are making your meals for the week. Look at your stockpile and make your menu's from what you have. You will be SURPRISED at what you save on your grocery bill. What you save can be used in next weeks stockpiling grocery run.

How much you stock pile depends on how many are in your family and how much you have room for. If something where to happen today and I couldnt get to the grocery stores for 3 months. I would be fine. We might not eat the roast and potato's but we would eat and we would be able to brush our teeth.

My rule of thumb is:
1. if it's free, I'm going to take it
2. if it has a long shelf life it's a keeper
3. if it's something I know I'm going to use then it's on my shelf
4. A sale is a sale, I'm there

I hope you have gotten something out of this. How do you stockpile? How much do you keep in your cabinets or how many times a month do you go to the grocery store?

Bottom line: STOCKPILING reduces your grocery bill in the long run

Coupons today and CVS

Proctor and Gamble said they were not putting out coupons this week but they did! $63.00 in savings in the little flyer in todays papers. Looks to me like they are getting a little chincy with their coupons. A few that are in there are:

Nice and Easy 2.00 off one or 5.00 off 2
Herbal Essences 1.00 off one
Pantene 3.00 off 2 or 1.00 off 1
Head and Shoulders 1.00
infusium 3.00
Olay body wash 1.00
Secret .25 (.25? man they are killing us with these little coupons)
Olay Definity 3.00, 1.00, 1.00
Bounty .25 for paper towels
Bounty .25 for napkins
Dawn Hand Renewal dish soap .25, .50, .50
Downey .25
Tide .35
Cascade .50
bounce .25
Charmin .25
Cheer .35
Scope .75
Crest .50, .75
Folgers .25, .50
Duracell .75
Tampax .50
Metamucil 1.00
Old Spice deodorant 1.00
Gillette 1.00 and 2.00
Fusion Razors 4.00

There are a couple more but you get the idea of what kind of coupons are in todays papers. so now we jump over to the CVS ad and how you can use some of these coupons.

Pantene Pro-V 2/7.00
use 3.00 off 2 in P&G coupon
Get 2.00 EBC
final cost makes them 1.00 each after EBC's

Dawn Dish soap BOGO 1.49
use 2 .25 off in P & G
makes them .37 each

Crest 2/5.00
use 2 .75 off in P & G
makes them 1.75 each
I don't think this is a great deal but if you out of toothpaste it's a allright deal

Fixadent 3.99
.75 off in P & G
makes it 3.24
again not a super deal, dollar store can beat this price

colgate Toothpaste 2.00
EBC 2.00
final cost .99

that's a few of the deals at CVS, not a good week for them or Us. But hey there's always next week.