Creating Your Stockpile While Saving Money

Stockpiling isn't just something you do to prepare your family for disasters - it's also a way to save money on your weekly grocery expenses.  With the tools and techniques you learn at a Grocery Smarts class, you'll be able to increase your store of nonperishable items while cutting your grocery expenses!  And it's a painless process.  Since we all have to eat, you're probably already grocery shopping regularly -- decide today to make the process more effective and economical.

1.  Get Started 

Look through your recipes and recent grocery shopping receipts and identify the nonperishable foods you regulary buy.  Look for canned foods (like corn, beans, tomato sauce, soups), staples (like pasta, rice, cereal), dairy products (butter, cheese), and meat (chicken thighs, ground beef, lunchmeats).  Also check for toiletries such as shampoo, toothpaste and toilet paper.  Don't overlook cleaning products such as laundry detergents, cleansers and dish soaps.

Now clear out a shelf or two in your cupboards or pantry and your freezer.  Or find another place in your home (in the basement, on shelves above your bedroom and coat closets) to keep your stockpiled items.  The garage is probably not the best place to store these items because of fluctuating temperatures.

2.  Build It Up

Here's where Grocery Smarts will really help!  Build your stockpile when the items you need are on sale.  Wait for markdowns and use coupons!  Begin amassing coupons by subscribing to multiple newspapers at a highly reduced price through Grocery Smarts.  Use your Grocery Smarts store listings to match coupons to weekly sales and identify items you can get for free or very inexpensively.  Aim for a savings of 60% to 70%.  If you have five coupons for Rice Krispies and they're on sale making the price $0.50 per box with your coupons, you should buy five boxes.  The initial cash outlay may be higher, but you won't have to buy that cereal again until it goes on sale again!

It will probably take three months to build your stockpile and you may have to spend slightly more during that time.  But by the end of three months, your weekly grocery expenses should be cut by 50% to 70% of what it was before you began your stockpile.

3.  Rotate Your Stockpile

Use the First In, First Out (FIFO) method to insure your using your stockpile items before their expiration date.  Take a minute before storing your items and mark the expiration date (not the purchase date, but the expiration date) on the product with a permanent marker (tops of can lids, sides or boxes where the date is visible when stored).  Place the meats you've purchased in smaller freezer storage bags (enough for one meal for your family) and write the purchase date on a sticker or the outside of the bag.  Store the newest purchases behind the earlier purchases so that food doesn't sit on the shelf beyond that expiration date.

Once you've built up your stockpile, you'll only need to shop weekly for perishable items and on occasion items to replenish your stockpile.  Before you head to the grocery store, check your pantry.  Then check your Grocery Smarts list and watch for sales on those items that need to be replenished so you can shop for goods you can get free or for very cheap using your coupons.  A family of three with an original monthly grocery bill of $450 should be spending an average of $150 per month on groceries between keeping up the stockpile and buying perishables. 

Use foods from your stored food to plan your meals.  Plan to cook five nights each week, eat leftovers one night and eat out one night (if your budget allows).  When you've successfully stockpiled, you may find more 'wiggle' room in your budget!  Contact me (303-0171) to schedule a Grocery Smarts class where you and your friends can learn more about saving money on those products you use every day.