Stockpiling Tips

Thinking about starting a stockpile to save money? Here are several tips to get you started.

Get organized- Before you start building up your stockpile it’s important to decide where you are going to store it. Will it be a part of your pantry? Stored on shelves in the basement? Tucked in storage boxes under beds?

Determining the location of your stockpile will help you to determine how much you can buy and what items you can store safely.

Make a list- Decide what items you’d like to stockpile, and then determine how much of each item you’d like to have on hand. This will require you to become more familiar with your family’s eating habits. For example, if you decide you’d like to stockpile a months worth of cereal, you’ll need to know just how many boxes of cereal that is.

Many stockpilers find it helpful to create a master list for their stockpile. This would typically show how many of a particular item you have on hand, as well as how many you need to add to your stash.

Learn the sales- For effective stockpiling it’s important to know how frequently stores place items on sale. Each time an item you need goes on sale jot down the date. If you do this for a few months, you should start to see frequency patterns. For example, you might discover that apple juice seems to go on sale every six weeks and that hamburger seems to go on sale once a month.

Then, once you’ve determined the pattern, you’ll have a better idea of how much you need to stockpile to avoid paying full price for any grocery item.

Know the prices- To get the best prices on all of your stockpiled items, start a price book to record the price you paid for each stockpiled item. By doing so, you’ll be able to determine if a current sales price is worth acting on. It will also help you to determine which store offers the best price on each item.

Pay attention to expirations- Stockpiling only offers a cost savings when you are using all of the items that you’ve purchased. Be careful not to overbuy, or you could find yourself with more product that you can use before the expiration date.

Stockpiling is a great way to cut costs. Start building a stockpile for your family, and before long you won’t be able to believe that you ever paid full price for your groceries.

-Erin Huffstetler

  Erin Huffstetler is a freelance writer specializing in frugal living tips and tricks. Her work has appeared in numerous print and electronic publications including Family Circle, Guideposts For Kids and Pregnancy. As the stay-at-home mom of two young kids, Erin is always looking for new ways to live better for less. For fun decorating and craft project ideas check out Erin's "Trash to Treasures" and "Bead Making Basics" courses at Suite101.com.