Stockpiling is one of the best ways that you can save money. It isn’t one that will save you immediately, but it will save you big in the long run. It doesn’t have to be some complicated event that forces you to go broke right from the start. That would defeat the purpose. Instead, follow the tips here in our Stockpiling 101 series this week and build yourself a nice, solid stockpile that stays within your grocery budget.
Stockpiling 101: Getting Started
To really be successful at stocking up, you need to understand why you’re doing it. Yes, some of you may have other reasons, but the biggest one is likely to save money. Now you need to understand how it saves you. The most basic explanation I can give you is this; by stocking up on things when they’re cheap, you can avoid having to buy them when they’re not. If you keep your reasons in mind, you’ll end up doing a better job than if you are just trying to stock willy-nilly.
To start your stockpile, you’ll need to figure out how long you want to stock for. Maybe it’s just a month, maybe it’s a year and maybe it’s even longer. Once you know, sit down and make a list of the items your family uses on a regular basis. Try to cover everything on the list and make sure to include things that aren’t food based like laundry detergent and pet supplies. Make sure you keep this list in a safe place, because you’ll want to add to it or remove things from it as you go. If your family doesn’t use a certain item anymore, you can remove it because you no longer have a need to stock it and if something new pops up that gets used a lot (say…diapers if you have a baby), you can add to it.
You’ll also want to make sure that you have plenty of room to keep your stockpile. As you get going, you’ll realize very quickly that you’ve outgrown your kitchen cabinets. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just some extra place. Closets, spare rooms, even a shelf in the living room or under the beds can work if needed. If you’re going to go big on how much you stock, you may want to consider getting some dedicated shelving. Garages and sheds are also a great storage option, just be sure that what you’re stocking in there isn’t temperature sensitive.
Once you’ve got all of that set up, you’re ready to go! Stay tuned for part 2 of our series tomorrow for how to maximize your savings and really get down to the nitty gritty! Also check out how to maintain your stockpile!
Leave a Reply