How to Stockpile

In these stressful economic times we, as consumers, are looking to save money anyway we can. For over a year now, I have been stockpiling non-perishable foods, toiletries, paper goods, and cleaning supplies. I try to keep a three month stock on hand at all times. Stockpiling allows me to buy goods when they are on sale and I have a coupon for them. Stockpiling stops the need for buying goods at full price.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Shelving for stockpiled goods.
• Sunday Paper
• Internet access helps
• calculator

1. Before you even begin to stockpile you need to organize your cupboards and pantry. Make a list of items that you use often. Write down the name of the product and the manufacturer (to be used later on).
2. Assign a space in your home that is going to be used for stockpiling your goods. I have large metal shelving at the bottom of basement stairs where I keep all of my stockpiled goods.
3. Once a space has been found for your stockpile begin to call, e-mail, or go to the website of the manufacturers that you wrote down earlier. Tell them that you like their products and would love to receive coupons. Not all manufacturers will send out coupons but you would be amazed at all the ones that do.
4. Use the Sunday paper as your stockpile bible. Look over all the circulars paying special attention to their really great deals. Call stores ahead of time and ask them their coupon policy. Do they allow double or triple coupons? Do they allow you to combine manufacture coupons with their store coupons? Do they have limits on the amount of any one sale item you can buy? Do not waste a trip to the store until you have all the information in hand.
5. Begin to make a list of items that are on sale and you have a coupon for. For instance, just the other day Chex Mix Bags were on sale at Shaw’s for a one dollar. I found two printable coupons on the internet one for $1.00 off one bag of Chex mix, and another for $.65 cents off one bag. If I had just taken advantage of the sale I would have gotten a good deal. But because I took advantage of the sale and had coupons I got a great deal!!
6. Sign up for every stores newsletter and special promotion you can find. Often stores send you coupons by mail or in your in-box. These promotional coupons are essential for stockpiling!

Tips & Warnings

• Bring a calculator to the store with you and figure out the unit price of each item. Buying the larger bulker item does not always save you money.
• Also pay close attention to the generic brand of a particular item. Just because you have coupons for a name brand item does not always mean it is a better buy than a generic brand. But if you have coupons and the item is on sale it is almost always the better buy.
• If the Sunday paper has really great coupons in it, go to the store and buy a few more papers. In the long run the money you save on coupons will negate the cost of the paper.
• Go to the customer service center at your local grocery store. Ask if they have any coupons or in-store promotional coupons on hand. Just the other day I ask and she gave a coupon for $10 off a purchase of $50.
• Best to stockpile non-perishable goods. Watch the "best buy" dates and rotate your stock accordingly.