Stockpiling 101: Building Your Stockpile

[aturnbg]

I am starting to stockpile for the first time in my life! I didn't even realize I was doing it until I had enough toothpaste and shampoo for 5 months! Then I realized that I could do this w/ dry food items and help my family out. I could use a base item list though to help me figure out how much I should have for 4-6 months. I cook 6 out of 7 days a week. We eat packed lunchs and I have twin daughters I make my own baby food. Any suggestions? I have a tons of diapers and formula to, gifts and stocking up when on sale.

[M_Lexx]

Hi all;

Started a very shy stockpile about three months ago. So far, got toothpaste, shampoo, feminine hygiene stuff, pasta, toilet paper (although there can never be too much toilet paper as, I understand, one of the Couponer Commandments states). The idea of stockpiling is not entirely new to me, as I grew up in circumstances very different from supermarket reality (still have bouts of awe walking with a huge cart along aisles with lots of food) and buy-as-you-need principle. Couponining became one of the vital pieces in the puzzle of stretching a dollar as far as it would go. That being said, I appreciate the efforts it took to put together such a fabulous site and take off in search of endless coupon wisdom.

[thomascaldwell1]

Is it a standard thing to stockpile toiletry items first? That's what I did, too. Toothpaste, Shampoo & conditioner, etc. Just curious if this is the starting point for most people. I'm working on cleaning products right now...

[loladooder99]

I just started to stockpile a few weeks ago and I started with : shampoo, body wash, baby wipes/food, and cleaning supplies. Really thats the only thing I've found good deals on. I have alot of food that I'm trying to eat up and then usually stock up on milk and meat when its on sale. I did get spaghetti sauce super cheap at Smith's about 4 months ago and stocked up on that. Its only my husband and I and our 10 months old son. So stocking up on too much food doesn't make sense it would all go bad.

[cheles2kids]

Originally Posted by thomascaldwell1 Is it a standard thing to stockpile toiletry items first? That's what I did, too. Toothpaste, Shampoo & conditioner, etc. Just curious if this is the starting point for most people. I'm working on cleaning products right now...

I think that because of all the coupons & great sales for these type of items, along with a loooong shelf life, that alot of people find themselves with a HBA stockpile first and then begin to branch out from there.

I know for my family, if I find a really great deal on juice, and it's more of a quickly consumed item, no matter how many I purchase I continually have to add to it.
As for getting a great deal on toothpaste, there's only so many times a day one can brush their teeth, so of course that means that item will also last longer.

[sush]

Originally Posted by jcrmom I have been stockpiling items for years. It started when I was pregnant with my son. My husband and I spent $20 per week to buy any extras we were going to need while I was on Maternity Leave. This worked very well for us. A while back, I found out that one of our "friends" was helping herself to some of my stockpiled items. She and her husband were not working and when she would bring their son over to play, I would have things come up missing after she left. It got really bad when she took the bodywash I buy for my son. He has eczema and I buy one certain brand for him. I knew she took it when we went to their house and she had his bodywash in her bathroom. Needless to say, they don't come over anymore.

How horrible. To lose merchandise and a person you considered a friend. Something similar happens in our house. We live with my mother-in-law because she says that she has a big house and doesn't want to live alone.
SHe refuses to shop with coupons or sales because she says she doesn't have the time or inclination.
Well, I got super upset when she started giving things from my stockpile to anyone who came to the house.
One day, I come home to find that she has given some medicine from bowel irritation from my stock pile to her brother-in-law. HEr reason - it wasn't as if we were using it. Hello!!! I had paid the tax on that free item and god forbid I need it sometime - i iwll have to now pay full price for it.

She did the same thing with some diapers I had purchased to stock up for baby showers. SHe started giving it to people just because I have such a big pile.

I finally had to have my husband talk to her that since I pay for these items with my time (couponing, visiting sites, driving around to different stores - sometimes more than once a week) and I pay tax on these things - they are mine and not FREE to be distributed by her.
Thank god for that.

[what a deal]

Is there a calendar out there with sales cycles in it. There is a calendar for everything else.

[mama22qts]

here you go.

[EmtChick]

I am new to this whole thing and this site.
The main paper I use to get no longer has daily delivery service and they really really limit thier coupons now. Guess its a financial thing.
The service is now Wed, Fri, Sat and Sun.

How do I get more coupons?? Thanks.

[ComeOnGetDown]

hi! :)

i've been couponing and collecting a little stockpile for a while now (i live alone so it's a small stockpile) so, i'm familiar with the concepts discussed here.

however, i have been considering starting a stockpile for baby items. the catch is, i'm not married or pregnant or plan to become pregnant in the next year. but, i'm 25 now, so *hopefully* it'll be in the next 3-5 years. i just keep seeing these great sales, and if i can get items for free, i don't see why i couldn't get prepared now.

the only problem i'd have to overcome is storage, which should be pretty easy, i'm buying my first house soon so lots of extra bedrooms = lots of extra storage! w00t!

i guess my question is, does baby shampoo, diapers, wipes, and other things like that ever expire? should i just wait until i'm actually expecting? i think part of this comes from my love of a good deal, and part of it is my biological clock is trying to tell me something :hectic1:

anyway, i'd love to hear your thoughts, ideas, advice, concerns, etc..