Which kind of stockpiler are you??

[dancinmama]

I too am an extreme stockpiler - a Type A that has Type B sized stockpiles. I too will purposely buy items that we probably will not use if they are a MM (either through rebate or in EBs/RRs). Those items are donated to the local food pantry. Or if say toothpaste is a MM, I'll buy as many as coupons/stock will allow and rotate the new into my stockpile and donate the old before its expiration. I do that with almost all health and beauty items - donate what is in the stockpile and replace it with the new purchase.

I have over one year's stockpile of items that have an indefinite shelf life: laundry soap, bath tissue, Kleenex, dishwasher detergent, dishwashing liquid, soft scrub, window cleaner, sponges, aluminum foil (thanks WAGs), toilet tabs, furniture polish, etc.

As far as food items, I have enough of the following items to last a year: tuna, canned veggies, pasta, pasta sauce, salsa, egg noodles, refried beans, soup, bacon, and many others.

Our home HAD to have been designed by a stockpiler. There is absolutely a TON of storage space even though it is not a HUGE home.

[mnopqr]

I'm an A.

I started stockpiling a few months ago and already I am stressing about expiration dates. A few boxes of crackers are expiring now and we couldn't possibly eat them all. I buy a lot of stuff to donate, but wouldn't donate out-of-date items, although I'm sure crackers are good for another month or two or more. I gave them to a friend who said she would eat them.

Managing the stockpile is more stressful than purchasing it! Sure is fun though.

[Dengineer]

I'm a type B. I almost never get anything just because it's free unless I KNOW we are going to use it. I did make an exception today though and got a Contour meter for the $5 RR. But I spend most of my effort getting food items. Over the past few sale cycles I have stockpiled over 100 cans of Progresso soup. I didn't get them for free but I paid less than half price which is good enough for me. Although I definitely prefer free and look for that whenever I can get it! We lived off our stockpile for most of last summer and I don't ever want to be without 6-12 months of food again!

[mama2kangaandroo]

I will get almost anything of quality that's free, if I have the time. I love supporting the foodbank this way! I'm always looking for free or cheap foodbank staples like cereal, pasta, pasta sauce, canned veggies/fruits, rice, tuna, peanut butter. It's funny--I'm a vegetarian but I get sooooo excited to find free tuna!

My goal is to have a year of cleaning supplies and HBA, and 3-6 mos of other foods, especially the ones we use a lot. I have a year of Electrosol , kleenex, shampoo/cond, most OTC meds, makeup, napkins, lotion. For food we have a lot of pasta, Ragu, canned tomatoes, rice, LifeWater (for DH), oatmeal, crackers, applesauce, nuts, green giant frozen, yogurt, and instant breakfast (DH has 1 every day). Probably 40 boxes of cereal, but that's only about a 3 month supply for us, lol!

I would love to find a deal on canned beans! No such luck so far...

[VivaciousJewelz]

ive had 3 people say my stockpiling will have me on an episode of hoarders

I am an extreme stockpiler.

i don't buy a "few" i get a ton.

i also don't buy "just because it's on sale" i buy when it's a rock bottom price (pref. free)

so i guess i don't fit in either group. lol

This is what I want to be, but I'm not there yet! I admire you, Manders!!

[lauramama2]

I guess I would be A. My #1 goal is saving money, being prepared for the unexpected is a pleasant side effect. I do have more than a few months worth of a few things (like some condiments and canned items) but that's only because they were as low as the price goes here and I had the coupons to get the stuff. I generally try to stock up for about 3-4 months when something hits rock bottom so it lasts until the next rock bottom. If I had the cash I would probably be more B, but sense starting with coupons I just cant bear to pay much for things either so I still doubt I would stock up on anything that wasn't rock bottom prices. Space is an issue for me too. We have 1800 square feet but with 3 adults and 2 kids more than half of it is eaten up by the 4 bedrooms and our dining room is homeschool central so we just don't have a lot of storage space.

[nichol]

I am both. I started as an A. Stockpiling toothpaste, bodywash, etc and the tidy cat from two years ago is still going strong. TP was huge. However, my schedule during the school year is so crazy that for the last two years I have not done much during the school year. (teachers aide, plus all the after school running for two kids). We had so much we gave garbage bags full to our relatives everytime they came to visit and gave lots for christmas to teachers for gifts and my grandmother. Food is much harder but I am getting better and better at it. I think it is because I can focus on that now b/c I only get the other stuff if free or prety close to it. We do donate also. Our stockpile is rather low b/c we have been trying to only buy perishables and live mostly off the stockpile and with me not restocking its super low. (to me not to others lol) This year, because of budget cuts I almost did not have my job. It was an eye opener so we have focused on paying bills down and off which is why we have lived on stockpile. Recently, the state of Indiana has announced statewide massive funding decreases and I am sure I will not have my job next year. SO, we increased the food budget and are doing what we can to totally get restocked. I will start with good sales and coupons. Then I will add to it with really really good sales and really really good coupons and eventually be able to be picky enough to only get the great deals. I do buy coupons on ebay or a couple cutting sites, but only for things I know I will use. I am really surprised right now as we get back into the coupon and deal game at how the scene has changed. When I started a few years ago, it was easy to go to cvs and get 5 of the free's and there were several every week (almost). Now the limits are 1 and there are only a couple items worth the trip (at least right now, maybe its off wek or something). However, Krogers is making up for it with the mega sale so I can't complain. Just a different mind set. I am also looking at canning and freezing much more out of the garden this year which after I have will hopefully affect what I am purchasing and the budget, too. I have enjoyed reading this thread and how others think . Very interesting.

[thecouponclippa]

To be honest I'm a little of both. It seems harder for me to stockpile food, but if it's free or at a great low low price, I will get a year's worth. But being this is like my second? year in stockpiling, I have a tendency to misintrepret what a year's worth is. Apparently I now know 20 bottles of ketchup will NOT last me a year.