Help me to get started stockpiling

[coupon diva sunday]

Hi I am a newbie here. THere is only me and my dh. I normally buy 8 sunday papers a week (i use 4 my sister uses the other 4). I have been reading most of the posts today. I havent started my stockpile yet but do have a pretty good assortment of coupons. Not sure where to start. Please give me some ideas. As for where to put stockpile I have one room that has a built in bookcase floor to ceiling which would be a good start. Thanks so much

[belinda2]

I would suggesting spend at much time as you can learning from this site before making any major changes to your home or buying large quanities of product.

[motherofmolly]

take your time and you will slowly build a nice stockpile. which stores do you have? it is good to start with a pharmacy store too..because you can find great deals there on the health and beauty items. which is also a good way to start your stockpile.

main forum, store deals. go there and find your store and start reading.

[coupon diva sunday]

thanks for responding. My local stores are walmart, walgreens, freds, super dollar discount, piggly wiggly, dollar and family dollar stores.

[KmmCo]

Sometimes it helps to figure out how long it takes to use certain items. For example, put a date on the next bottle or box of something you open and see how long it lasts. Say if your laundry soap lasts 2 weeks, then 52 divided by 2 is what you would use up in a year - so you know that a maximum of 26 is what you would want in your stockpile.

After getting a general idea of what you need, then collect the items as you can. You don't have to go out and buy it all at once. If you find a real deal on something or "freebies" then by all means grab what you need (plus a few extras to sell, trade, or give away as you see fit). It just takes time to built up a stock if you are starting from scratch.

Sometimes I will kinda alter what I cook/eat just to take advantage of really good bargains. I found a great deal on pork roasts a couple of months ago, so even though that is something I had not fixed a lot before, I am finding creative ways to serve it so that I am not using so much expensive beef in my diet. At one time, I found a huge bargain on sliced ham so we used it for lunchmeat and made lots of casseroles with ham until it was all gone.

When you see pictures of huge stockpiles that some people have - keep in mind that someone having 7-8 kids needs way more than 2 people - so don't overdo it! I probably have more that what the average family of 3 would keep, but I am also generous in feeding my sons friends and taking treats for Scouts, etc. It just depends on your lifestyle what you really need/want for yourself. I also tend to have more in the winter because of the possibility of being snowed in - I purposely run my stockpile down in the summer in preparation for being out of town in Sept for a long vacation - then I rebuilt it in around the holidays with the bargains I find that time of year.

[~~Who,Me?~~]

There's a lot that goes into building a good stockpile. Basically, anyone can start a stockpile anytime--but what matters is your stockpile price for items. I would start with just one or two stores, learn their promos and their policies. Learn what couponers in your area regularly get for free and start there.

I don't usually list stockpile prices on here, because it's highly personal. The example I always give is that a friend on here said her stockpile price for soda is $2 a 12 pack. I won't get it unless it's free, because I have very little desire to keep soda in my home. Same can be said about lots of items--what may be desirable to me and I'm willing to pay for, you may have zero interest in that item.

What you can learn on here, however, is what items in your area routinely go on sale for very cheap or free, and what are stockpile prices for couponers in your area. I'm also lucky to live in a land of true doubles, and some live in the land of no doubles. So a lot of different factors come into determining your stockpile price.

But, pull up a chair and stay a while! There's so much information on here.