Building your stockpile - Beginner's Guide

Have you heard of "stockpiling" as a way to save money? I know the word stockpile always makes me think of war (as in, a stockpile of weapons - sorry, I'm married to a military guy)...so think of this as a war on spending too much money!

Building a stockpile simply means buying items you know you will use at VERY low prices (or better yet, for FREE) and storing them in your home for future use. It really does save money - for instance, since I know we use a LOT of ketchup, I'll stock up at a great price so I'll never have to pay full price (or make a special trip to the store to get some, which wastes gas!).

Here are some simple steps that you must KNOW before you begin your stockpile that will truly save you money (I call these The Seven KNOWs of stockpiling):

• Know what you use - it doesn't make sense to stockpile BBQ sauce if your family hates it, right? So only stockpile things you KNOW you'll use (for example, we stockpile toilet paper, toothpaste, cereal, condiments, shampoo, etc.)
• Know the expiration dates - If it's something that does have an expiration date, check it before stockpiling. Also, be sure to "rotate" your stock (put the new stuff at the back and pull the older stuff forward, so it's always fresh. In retail, they say FIFO - first in, first out.)
• Know what you need - I keep a running list in my coupon box of what we need to stockpile and what we have too much of...that way I know if I see a fantastic deal to buy extra (for example, I saw some salad dressing on clearance and knew we needed some for our stockpile and with coupons got it for .20/bottle!).
• Know your prices - Are you 100% sure that price is a great one? If not, then wait. It doesn't make sense to stock up on something if it's not a super-low price or free. If it's the best deal you've ever seen, then by all means, load up sister!! And if the sale is going on for a while, don't forget you can buy extra coupons on eBay (just be sure to buy through BigCrumbs - see my coupons 101 section for more info.).
• Know where you'll keep it - Are you worried that you don't have enough room in your kitchen? Think outside the box. I know someone who stores baking items like flour, sugar, etc. in the coat closet (in a nice plastic storage bin, behind the coats) and someone else who keeps toiletries stocked in one of those under-the-bed boxes in her bedroom. As long as you know what you have and where you have it - you'll save money.
• Know who else stockpiles - I've got a few close friends and family members who also stockpile. If I see an unbelievable deal, I'll call them with a heads up. I have a general idea of what they're looking for and they return the favor to me. Also, we've had little "trading" sessions before, which worked out great for everyone! Have too much Excedrin, but could use some cough/cold medicine? Too much mustard but need some BBQ in a pinch? Send out an email to your stockpile buddies and see if anyone wants to trade. Works almost every time!
• Know that others need what you have - Even here in America, there are children who go to bed hungry every night. There are people who have a cold who wish they could afford some cough drops and animal shelters unable to provide adequate food for the many abandoned pets in their care. There are often great deals for things that I have no use for....here's one way couponing can make the world a better place! If I can get an item for .25 or less, even if I have no need for it, I will often buy it and DONATE it. You'd bet shocked at how much you can donate, just by spending .10 here and .15 there. Every food bank and church in the world are hurting right now for donations. It only takes a few moments to clip an extra coupon or two and help someone out...Just in the last two months, I've been able to donate baby food; pet food; cat treats; soap; feminine care products and more.

Any more stockpiling tips or questions? Please post a comment! Thanks...